I work on a computer most of the day and my eyes are very dry and it really, really, really hurts. I do all the stuff like putting in extra jobs, taking a break, take Evoxac ( which doesn't help my eyes), running humidifier in office, etc. I have considered finding another job, but i like this one or trying for disability, but I can still make it to work. My question to everyone is am I damaging my eyes by continueing to work on the computer for a living? I don't want to damage my corneas.
I have the same problem Wynter. The problem is that when we work on a computer, we don't blink as often. I constantly have to remind myself to blink more because otherwise my dry eyes as it is just gets so much worse. I do have to use my drops more often in front of a computer.
As far as the damage to the corneas, I'm not sure.
I blink all the time. I just don't want to damage my eyes by continueing to do this. I am seeing my eye doc tommorrow to discuss the situation. I have lower plugs, but might need to get uppers put in again. I had them last year, but had them removed my all my eyes did was water and they didn't help. When my eyes get really bad the pain gives me a headache and extends into my ears.
Wynter, sorry you are in this predicament..
Must be awful having to think about giving up a job that you like..
I have no answer to this but I do have the dry eyes, so I'd appreciate to hear what your eye Doc has to say on this Wynter.
Hoping he can help in some way to save you having to give up working. Good Luck , Dolly x
Wynter, have you given any thought to maybe getting those Moisture Chamber glasses? Even the little I'm on the computer bothers my eyes and all the hand work I do is getting to me. I'm thinking about looking into them. Especially now with the summer weather setting in.
You might also look into some sort of add on screen to soften your monitor brightness. I think I've seen them in Staples and Office Supply stores.
Just a thought.
Pooh
Thanks for all the advice. I do already have the screen covers. One thing I am looking for are those tinted computer glasses. A guy that I work with has some and he got them at Sam's. I have looked at several placed and can't find them. Anyone know where you can get them. They are like non-prescription readers, but tinted with yellow or pink.
Look for "Onion Glasses" on google. They are cheap, about $20 and great for keeping moisture in. Any kind of glasses will help keep moisture in and breezes, drafts out.
One thing that is recommended is to move your monitor low (or your chair higher) so you are glancing down at thee screen. This way your eyes are partially closed and you can still see what you need to see. And, blink, blink, blink.
Lucy
I was also a computer analyst. I only work part time now. I could only work for 2 hours before I was no longer able to see. When I pushed myself I ended up with headaches. The eye dr told me that our tears need the normal components to allow our eyes to focus properly. In my case the muscles in my head that focus my eyes were swelling causing my headaches. The last time I pushed myself like that I had to go to bed for a few days because my head ached so bad. After that I took a month off and came back only part time. Some days I can work longer but I no longer force myself after I can no longer see the screen. Two things the dr said - make sure your screen is lower than your eyes - looking down at the screen is better because your eyes don't open as wide. The second thing is to make sure you are not under a vent where air is blowing on you.
Tuckerdog
Went to the eye doctor yester day to discuss my problems. Basically, he said the only other thing I can do is so have my eyes partially sewn shut. Something called a tarsel????. I don't think so. He suggested I put upper plugs back in. So, I will probably do that next week, although it didn't help before and just made my eyes water all the time. He also said if I wanted to visit a larger facility he would do a referral. If I am doing everything suggested, I don't see much else that can be done.
Wynter,
My eyes were so bad that there were scars on my cornea. My eyes would get stuck to my eyelids so that I could not sleep. Autologous plasma drops healed the corneas. If I had to go back to computer work full time now I probably could. Those drops gave me my life back. Don't know where you live but people come from all over the country to get them in Houston.
Tuckerdog
Tuckerdog,
I mentioned to my eye doc last week and he didn't know what I was talking about. He did say if I would get the information, he would write a prescription. I don't think there is any place close to me that does this. I am going to get a 2nd opinion later this from another eye doc. I don't think there is much else I can do.
Wynter,
The eye dr that prescribed them for me is Dr. Stephen Pflugfelder. He is with Baylor Eye Clinic and has been doing research with dry eyes for over 25 years. He looks at your cornea for scarring first. If you have dry patches on your corneas then the prescribes the drops. He takes pictures of the corneas so that he can see the changes as a result of the drops.
He also has been trained to prescribe the Boston Ocular Surface Prosthesis. Those run about $5000 for one eye and $7500 for both. His office number is 713-798-4732.
Tuckerdog
Tuckerdog,
Is he in Houston or Dallas?
713 area code is Houston... hope that helps Wynter :)
Dr. Pflugfelder is in Houston
TD
Hi Wynter,
I too am sorry that you're having so many problems with your eyes, it's a maddening run around that we get with SJS, isn't it? I'm glad that your doctor is willing to try to help you, and I realize that a lot of eye doctors are not up on the latest that's being researched; it seems to be a hit or miss on getting a good doctor that is aware of everything that's available out there. Are you seeing an optometrist or an ophthalmologist?
Dr. Pflugfelder's work sounds fascinating...hopefully his work will become common place soon!
You mentioned that you blink a ton, I find that I'm also doing that too. Do you have any spasm's in your eye lids by chance? I get them in the lower left eye a lot these days.
Hang in there, and keep us updated, okay?
Take care my friend -
Patze
Wynter--I have both dry eyes and use to get severe eye strain usually when using a computer or reading. Often times they are hard to tell apart and can happen at the same time.
It took a while before the eye docs tested my eyes for insufficient eye convergence (eye muscles not working correctly). I ended up with a computer program that exercised my eyes and solved 1/2 of my eye problems.
I also have three pair of glasses for the computer and reading and progressive for other stuff. A pain but it has worked well for me.
John
Patze,
I have had spasms of my eyelids for years - long before I had SJS.
There is actually more to my eye problem story. First I saw a retina specialist at Baylor Eye Clinic. My first opthamologist thought I had a retina problem. Turns out that my retinas are perfect. He explained that a person needs to have the proper tear components or the eyes can't focus properly (This is why just replacement tears don't really work - it is not just the fluid). In my case I could do computer work for about 2 hours then I could no longer see well. He explained that after those 2 hours I needed to get off the computer and rest my eyes. (Continuing to work after I could not see well caused me to get a horrific headache and once that headache sent me to bed for 2 days). The cause of the headache was that without proper tear components there is no way my eyes can focus properly. Continuing to try causes the muscles that focus the eye to swell - leading to my headache. I too have glasses specifically for computer and reading with all the extras to cut down on glare etc. I had not heard of the computer program that exercises the eyes however I suspect that the bottom line is that my eyes don't have the correct tear film and more eye exercises are not going to help. The Boston Eye Prostetic Lens actually traps tears under the lens so that would be the solution for me.
Tuckerdog
Wynter - I take HRT with testosterone - it has fixed almost completely my dry eyes/mouth. It stimulates moisture-secreting glands (testosterone). I am post-menopausal, and with menopause, the hair on my legs practically went away; I have about the same amount now as when a younger woman, but no other (masculine) side effects. Women's testosterone levels decrease with age and practically disappear at menopause, just like the feminine hormones do. Testosterone taken in low doses has very few (i've noticed none, except I have to shave my legs twice a week now, instead of twice a year!) side effects.
I don't know how old you are; if you're not post-menopausal, you might have difficulty getting a doc to give you a script for testosterone or HRT with testosterone, but if people start talking about it, it might get researched and added to Sjogren's therapies.
I hope people will start talking about it. The difference for me has been going from feeling miserable to feeling nearly normal.
Hi zipporah, let me welcome you to the SJS World! Please do look around as there are tons of topics and oodles of information!
You are so lucky to be able to take HRT, I'm not that lucky. I have a blood disorder that prevents me from taking HRT, and/or any form of hormone, synthetic or otherwise. It's hard enough having to go through peri & regular menopause, and then to know that you are not be able to take it just makes the experience even worse.
Hi Tuckerdog, I know what you mean about only being able to work so long before the vision goes. I too work on computers all day long, and there are times that I move away from the machine and I can barely see - everything is so blurred (and forget about trying to read anything else for a while).
Do your eye lids stick together when they become drier? I know that's one of my problems lately, and the looks I get from my coworkers when I try to peel an eye apart, not good.
Take care -
Patze
Patze,
My eyelids used to stick to my eyes and wake me up at night. Not only did I have all of the SJS symptoms but was also sleep deprived. In my case that was cured by the autologous plasma drops. When my corneas healed I no longer had the sticking problem and my life improved immensely because I could sleep through the night again.
TD
Hi TD,
I'm glad that the drops helped your eyes, I've some wonderful things about autologous plasma drops, but I'm curious, it stopped the sticky eyes all together?
My corneas are in fair shape and I'm at the plug stage, so I'll have to see if this mess gets worse. I still have sticking issues, but so far, not as bad as before. Guess it's a wait and see thing now.
Take care -
Patze
Patze,
The autologous plasma drops totally stopped the sticking for my eyelids. Once the corneas healed they stopped sticking. I used the drops daily for about 3 months and my corneas got almost back to normal. After 6 months they looked normal again. After that I only have had to use the drops when my eyes get sore. I have only had to get 2 prescriptions of drops. Actually my first set was nearly gone when hurricane Ike shut off my freezer for 10 days. That ruined the drops. I still have my second set because I don't have to use them much now. I also have puntal plugs and they do help. I use my other medications completely as directed. Dr. P gave a talk at our SJS support group meeting and detailed exactly how each medication works. From that point on I have taken the medications exactly as he directed. I found out that even evoxac works on treating the eyes. I posted a summary of what he said on this site.
Tuckerdog