Got Eyes Plugged - Didn't Help. Now what?

[Suzie]

I had temporary ductal plugs put in my eyes last week, and the eye doctor said that if they're going to help, I'd feel it immediately. Well, I barely felt any difference. My eyes were still very dry and my eye-ointment still only helped for an hour or so. I had absolutely no tear overflow either, which scotched my theory that they were draining away too fast.

My Tear Break Up Time (TBUT) is less than a second. In normal eyes it's 8 seconds. From what I understand, this means that any tears I do have (not many, because my eyes are both 0 on the Shirmer's Test) evaporate instantaneously.

Tears need a mucin layer to make them stick to the surface of the eye. My foggy brain thinks it remembers reading that mucin in produced in goblet cells that are all over the surface of the eye. I'm thinking that my goblet cells (such a great name - I picture minuscule silver chalices that should be over-flowing with a kind of wine for the eyes) are not working.

I've read about meibomian glands problems, and the symptoms listed are blocked glands (dotted along the inner eyelid, where some women put eyeliner) and crusty deposits. I don't have that. I have nothing. All clean, bone dry, and sore.

I'm putting this out there to see if anyone can tell me what I should ask the eye doctor at my next appointment. He's not offering a heck of alot. If I'm not making mucin or meibomian oils, is there any point in trying Restasis?

Is there anything that can help with this problem, aside from constant eye-lubrication? It's getting to the point where I can use up a $10 tube of eye lube in 2 days. 

Thanks,

Suzie 

[Jellyb]

Hi Suzie,
Have you tried Restasis? I had the plugs put in a few years ago and it did nothing. But I have been on restasis for 7 months and I have seen a huge differance.

Maybe someone else will post some more information foe you, i dont know anything about meibomian glands.

[stephL]

Suzie, are you using a humidifier 24/7?

[Suzie]

Hi JellyB - no, I haven't tried Restasis because it's crazy expensive where I live. And since my daughter needs braces, I'm not likely to be able to try it for quite a while 

stephL - hi. I'm running the a/c 24/7 - do I need a humidifier too? The air doesn't feel dry...

[Nancy60]

Suzi,

Air conditioning takes humidity out of the air, so that might be part of the issue.  I think there are some units you can set the humidity level you want in your home (not sure if they are air conditioners or humidifiers).  My eye doctor said the Restasis will work if your lacrimal glands are still working but if they are too far gone it might not work any more.  It is supposed to increase the amount of tears they produce so it is better to start on it before they are too far gone to maybe get them working better....that's how I understood it anyway.

Nancy

[stephL]

stephL - hi. I'm running the a/c 24/7 - do I need a humidifier too? The air doesn't feel dry...

Yes, you need a humidifier whenever the A/C or heat is on, or otherwise when the outdoor humidity is low. One of the main functions of air conditioning is to dry the air out. I know it doesn't feel dry but if you buy an inexpensive humidity monitor (Hygrometer), you will know exactly how dry the indoor air is. You can buy one in places where household thermometers are sold. Humidity should be kept around 50%. Anything more can produce mold in your home. Anything less just doesn't afford the best relief. I've found that I get the most relief from my tabletop humidifier when I keep it within 4 feet of wherever I am. So wherever I go, it follows me.

[eyeamdry]

First, you need to be using preservative free artificial tears if your eyes are bone dry.  Until you get a routine that works, this is important.  Once per hour won't hurt if it keeps you from getting erosions.  Can use gel or ointment at night.  Humidifier if it will help.

Wear wraparound sunglasses and other glasses if you can find them.  Try a Harley dealership for moisture chamber glasses/goggles.  Just a plain glass if you don't need prescription.  Anything guarding wind, air current inside or out will help.  Get your doc to try Restasis, but it can take 6 months to know if it works or not.

**I am like you in that I do not have crusting, eye gunk, mucous or anything looking like infection in my eyes.  It is normal for people to have a little "sleep" in their eyes lots of times when they wake up.  Since Lasik, I have never once had anything like that and I know that has not helped my eyes. 

There is a great dry eye website with lots of info and some things that might help.  dryeyezone.com.   dryeyestore.com.  dryeyetalk.com........I have no interest in this site.

[Suzie]

Thank you for the advice everyone. I'm grateful to have such good suggestions, and I'm off to look for a Hygrometer now! Great idea, before I invest in a humidifier. My house is open plan, with high ceilings, and I think all that lovely moisture will just float up and hide 10 feet above my head. I should move to a nice damp cave.

I don't know if I've tried preservative free artificial tears. Eye drops sting my eyes. Any brands you can recommend, eyeamdry?

I joined the forum on The Dry Eye Zone. Boy, is there a lot more to Dry Eye than simply having dry eyes.
I think I've got an eye infection, for the first time in years. Aside from the constant ache in my eyeballs, my eyes feel more comfortable from the reflex-tears keeping them nice and wet!

Suzie

[eyeamdry]

I wrote up a nice long response and it's lost in space and it's in the wee hours.

Try: TheraTears, Refresh Tears, Systane (I don't care for that one, but others do.)

Goodnight all.  Lucy

[SueAnn]

I just wanted to let you know that you can get Onion Eye Glasses for about 20.00 to wear around the house.  I got these and they help a lot, I also bought some of the little lenses that you can put in  them to read with.  My eye doctor told me to take flax seed oil and fish oil both 3 times a day.  I started the flax seed oil and it made a big difference for me.  I take 3 capsules a day.  The next time I buy glasses, I want to get the SeeFit Megs which have a moisture chamber and they don't look too goofy either. 

SueAnn

[Carebear]

Lucy - Thanks for the information about the Harley moisture chamber glasses/goggles.  I'm going to check them out this week.

SueAnn - Tell me more about the Onion Eye Glasses.  Where can I purchase them?

Such a knowledgeable bunch of folks you are! 

[SueAnn]

Look for them at the Dry Eye Zone  on line or google Onion Eye glasses.  Just be prepared to look like a motorcycle mama .

SueAnn

[SueAnn]

Check out the Dry Eye Shop on-line at the Dry Eye Zone, they have some cool new products that you might like.

SueAnn

[Sooki]

The Dry Eye Shop also has nighttime goggles.  TranquilEyes makes some and there's another brand for $40.  They keep moisture in the eyes all night and also keep the eyelids from opening a little in sleep.  Same idea but on the cheap side, I use Glad Press and Seal, cut into circles (sticky business) - I put in the viscous nighttime drops (I use Genteal Severe), plop on the circles, and go to sleep (looks bad).  To get up in the night, peel back a corner and squint out - press it back when you're in bed.  Really, many mornings, my eyes feel NORMAL, at least for awhile.  It's great relief.  Saving up for the fashion goggles.

I bought my Onion goggles at our upscale grocery store - it wasn't until I got home that I figured out they're used for cutting onions - lol.

Also, Restasis costs me $250 - it's outrageous.  That's for 60 vials - use one in the morning, 2 drops and then use a second vial at night, 2 drops, lasts one month.  My eye doctor said I could use one vial for two days, 8 drops.  That makes each one-month supply last for 4 months, which helps a lot with the cost.  Still bad though.

[quilt4fun]

Eyeamdry suggested Theratears; there are two kinds, one is a liquid that lasts only 15 minutes and a liquid jel that is a little thicker an lasts much longer.  They will make your eyes a little blurry for a minute, but they sure do help.