Dry Eyes are Too Wet

[jaygee]

Hi

Wondered if anyone has dry eyes like mine?   Mine are dry all the time, but when they get really sore and dry they burn (as if peeling onions) and then flood.  I then appear to be crying and it is embarassing when people, who don't know me, think perhaps I am distressed.

When I did the shirmer test, the blotting paper actually stuck to my eyes, they are that dry!

I have permanent plugs in my eyes (top and bottom drainage holes) and sometimes, when they are really watering, it makes my nose run too (sorry if too much information!).

Anyone else like this?

[lelole]

Hi, I do find that mine sometimes water when they are feeling particularly dry - which is odd right?  I don't have any plugs yet, so maybe that's why mine don't flood - they just drain away...

Leah x

[eyeamdry]

JG, this sounds like reflex tearing and is common with dry eyes.  Especially if you are quadra-plugged!  When you have something that sets the reflex tears off, it causes "over-run" and there is no place for the tears to go.  You might try this for a few months because it can change after awhile. 

If you are still having this problem after a decent length of time, you might ask the doc to remove one plug each upper OR lower.  When I was still working, I had this problem all the time.  It was usually when I was engaged in conversation with others and something such as smiling can set this off.  These tears are not "good" tears and don't make our eyes feel any better.  Just another nuisance.

Lucy

[lynnmarie219]

I have a lot of tears as well (reflex usually)....but not the right kind! Even though my eyes are very dry...they can tear like crazy...but afterward they only feel worse and burn a lot. When the doc looks at my eyes through his machines...the tears evaporate very fast off of my eyes!

I can not even complete the Schirmers test...I don't know how many times they tried but I just flood the papers when they put the dang things in my eyes...they just say that my tears don't have the proper oil layer so they evaporate fast which leaves dry spots on my eyes! The test always comes up inconclusive!

[missyb]

I was told we have 2 kinds of tears, moisturizing tears and crying tears, the rheum told me that when you don't have enough moisture tears your cryining tears take over and they over run..

[eyeamdry]

Missy- I think your rheum needs to see an ophthalmologist.    Lucy

When my tears are, or were overflowing, I was not crying.   I was usually smiling and in conversation with someone.  A wind will give you the same kind of "bad" reflex tears.  A wind blowing in your eyes will bring on the nasty burning tears.  A yawn will also bring on reflex tears.  Hon, I'm not making fun of you, just letting you know your doc's theory is all wet. 
Lucy

[Rostradamus]

My eyes are very dry, have both bottom ducts plugged and left the top ones open so there is  some open drainage to the nasal passages. My concern eye infections, and it dose help clear that emergency tear response. In use Refresh liquidgel for severe dry eyes., and GenTeal gel as well when needed during the day. At night the gel AND ointment, my eyes can still dry shut to where I have to "blind man bluff" to the bathroom to soak them open, lest I tear a cornea. Special. I have a very good Eye DR., he has me on one drop of Lotemax , twice a day for infamation, which helps irritation. I am very drug sensitive,and wasn't a ploblem until Sjogren's. Thankfully I've studied holistic along whith formal medicine over 35yrs now. I take Fenugreek, two 500 to600mg capsules morning and evening. Instead of 30 or more drops a day, I'm using about half. Fenugreek increases many secreations, used in the Mediterranian as a spice and to increase breast milk for hundreds of years now, whith the only unfortunate side effect of enlarged breasts (only women guys, don't panic) and helps seceations in the mouth (YEH! My lips wre sticking to my teeth and tearing off flesh) and digestive tract. Holisticonline.com  should have it. Hope it helps, some naturel tears can really help the flow thing.

[Patze]

My eyes are like Lynnmarie's, I have a lot of tears, but no oil to stabilize them.  I was always told that this is probably not a sign of SJS, but have learned since that it is now considered a positive sign. 

I've heard that the Schirmers test is quite painful, and I've not had that one done yet.  I usually have the slit eye one done, and it is painful especially if I have a dry spot or two. 

Take care -

Patze

[Chickpea]

Hi everyone

I'd say that the Schirmer's eye test is more odd than painful: it's the idea of having small pieces of blotting paper tucked under your eyelid that's really weird.

Last time I had it done the opthalmologist said I had dry eyes with very few tears, but that the ones I had were of 'very high quality'!!

Chickpea x

[TOB]

Hello there,

I am glad I have come across this post! I am in the 'limbo' stage of being diagnosed with Sjogrens and/or Lupus (Positive ANA speckled 1640, positive Ro60, positive RF). At my first visit to the rheumatologist he asked me if I suffer with dry eyes or mouth. At the time i replied no but once I started to investigate the symptoms of Sjorgrens I thought maybe I do.

My eyes often feel very gritty, tired and sting and are very sensitive to things like smoke, onions. To me I didn't consider them dry as when i get the gritty feeling (which is becoming more frequent) my eyes also run in the corner (corner closes to the ear) and it gets very sore there. The gritty sensation is very annoying and feels 'scratchy' when I blink. The other thing is that I am quite an emotional person and don't have trouble crying a flood of tears!

I have also noticed that I do get a dry mouth/throat and sometimes have trouble swallowing food and have a feeling of something stuc in my throat. Although I have a fair bit of saliva it is quite sticky. I just put all this down to my severe acid reflux but could it be Sjogrens symptoms?

I have my second appointment with the Rheumo on next week. Do you think I should request the eye and lip biopsy test to help determine the Sjogrens?

thanks

[Patze]

Hi TOB,

Have you seen an eye doctor yet?  If not, see if your rheumy will recommend one; if nothing else but to establish a base line for your eyes.

Is your rheumy asking you to have the lip biopsy done?  Will he treat your symptoms without having one done?  The rheumy I see does treat my symptoms even though I'm seronegative.

Please remember that I am not in the medical field (past, present, nor did I sleep at a Holiday Express last night), and this is my opinion only.  I'm a bit vocal on the lip biopsy, and I feel if your blood work points in the direction of SJS, why bother with a lip biopsy?  If you do decide to have one done, please make sure that the doctor that preforms the biopsy knows what he is doing.  Most doctors that do them know what they are doing and do it well; then there are some doctors who don't perform the procedure well, and there are some members here that have had lousy results (like me). 

Next, check out the lab that will be reading the specimen, some are really good and know what they are looking at, while other labs see so few that the reading of it can be incorrect.  There are a few members that had "negative" results with their specimens, took the sample to another lab that was very familiar with the test, and it was positive after all.  It's enough to drive someone crazy!

Hang in there and let us know what the rheumy says, okay?

Take care -

Patze