I have exceptionally dry eyes caused by long term use of Cosopt and Monopost for glaucoma. I also use prescribed Carmellose sodium eye drops 1% eight times daily and HyLo night ointment. I have had three corneal ulcers and one onset of marginal keratitis in the last 19 months. (I am attending hospital appointments for the latest ulcer which was ‘massive’}.
I do take Omega 3 fish oil capsules which are said to help and that definitely do help my arthritis. 😊
I am wondering if buying a pair of glasses with clear lenses would help to keep the eyes moisturised by protecting them from air movements. Bit of a long shot but I am getting desperate.
Has anyone tried this rather crazy idea of mine? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Windflower
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Thank you so very much for your reply. I find it very helpful. Last year the Consultant did mention the possibility of punctal plugs ‘in the the future’. At my appointment this Friday, I will mention it to the Ophthalmologist I see,I will definitely buy some goggles.
Hello Windflower. Wraparound glasses may help as they protect all around the eye and stops and breezes from getting to the eye as long as they fit well. Wraparounds tend to be slightly tinted.
Thanks Trish, I am doing some searching to see what I can find. I have already further reduced my TV brightness, now at 19% and bought a pair of blue light blocking glasses. I have upgraded my sun glasses and have stopped taking my daily Fexofenadine which is an antihistamine that may cause dry eyes. I am trying to keep the humidity up, keep away from fans etc. and keep myself well hydrated. I can’t think of anything else to do.
Following surgery I also have dry eyes which have seemed worse this year in the hot weather especially when the air was full of dust.... as appeared in the cobwebs!
One eye was so painful that I went to see my optician who specializes in Glaucoma. Apparently they have regular dry eye clinics as they have realised the need.
These clinics are private, as sadly not covered with the NHS .
There are many reasons for dry eye and it is often worth getting very good advice to find the best treatment for you. I was told that they have an 85 % improvement in symptoms.
'Longwalks' a member of this forum mentioned how seeing a specialist in dry eyes has made such a positive difference now the correct treatment has been given.
My eyes have improved a bit now but I will keep the clinics in mind.
For me a microwavable hot pack helps, I put it on in the evening for about 10 minutes and it is supposed to help distribute the natural lubricants in the eye lash glands. These packs are available at opticians or on line. As you have had corneal ulcers it would be wise to check carefully before trying anything new.
Thank you for mentioning staying away from fans, I had not thought about that, and we have had a large ceiling fan running which may not have helped me recently.
Thanks for your comments, muddleme, I honestly think the Consultants here in the Morecambe Bay NHS Trust know how to solve my problem. My condition is complex and they have been wonderful with me. It seems to me that currently I am having a lot of emergency treatment and this causes a lack of continuation of who I see. I am treated as a Casualty patient and slotted into different clinics with different doctors each time.
If your dry eye is very severe. Your consultant could discuss with you the option of punctal plugs. It might be worth asking about this at your next appointment.
I have an appointment on Friday, but not with a Consultant. I will bring up the punctal plugs. They have been mentioned twice previously. Always with ‘future’ included. 😁
Very successful appointment. I took with me a letter I had typed expressing all my concerns and the changes I had made of my own accord prior to the visit. She explained that the punctal plugs had not been mentioned as they cannot be fitted when an infection is present. My appointments have all been emergency ones solely for treatment of infections.
She agreed I was doing all the right things but made two very interesting suggestions. The HyLo night ointment that I find very effective overnight, can be used during the day if I am just pottering about the house and don’t need good vision.
Also, she suggested I change my moisturising eye drops I have just chosen and purchased to HyLo Care Eye Drops. As well as sodium hyaluronate, they contain Dexpanthenol to aid healing of the eye surface after surgery or illness. My corneas are very damaged with thinning round the edges, and many abrasions due to infections resulting from severely dry eyes.
She also said there was no restriction on the number of times a day I use these products.
Finally, it is important I continue to use the Cosopt and Monopost drops as prescribed.
She has also made an Virtual Glaucoma Clinic appointment for me at my local hospital, where I can discuss such things as punctal plugs and any other queries I have.
Thank you for all the information. It does seem that your hospital is thorough and have taken trouble to listen and make suggestions.
Do hope the infections settle and perhaps they can then consider the punctal plugs.
At our virtual clinics in Somerset the nurses are good and can be very helpful but mainly just do all the tests. I then have to wait about 8-10 weeks for the results to be sent after they have been seen by the medics.
Thanks, muddleme. Your virtual clinic sounds much like mine. It is at the virtual clinic that I will be seen next month. Tests are IOP, OCT, Visual Acuity, Visual Field Test. There will be only a nurse there and I will have to rely on her to inform the elsewhere doctor about punctal plugs if that is what I want. The Clinic is held at Westmorland General Hospital which is only 4 miles from my home.For emergency treatment I have to go to the hospital in Lancaster, about 20 miles away. I usually have 8-12 appointments when I have corneal ulcers.
I am not usually listened to at all, It is a quick in and out job and then as soon as the infections have cleared, I am discharged.
This time I took a typed note in with me listing my concerns and my research into dry eyes. so I was ‘listened to” AND there was a student present who also examined my eyes. This led to more clarification and interest. I have no infection now, just scratched and abraded corneas.
Thanks for your good wishes. I feel confident now that along with the HyLo Care Eye Drops that came today from Amazon, and everything else I have organised, I will be able to manage these severely dry eyes. Everything works better with a positive attitude. 😄
Like you, I have found written (or typed) communication to be very effective. It means that they have to stop looking at their screens and actually absorb what you are "saying". A recent letter to my GP worked a treat. Woohoo!
It is the second time I have done this, and I am delighted to read that it has worked for you too. I hadn’t realised that they have to stop looking at their screens … I had a lot to ‘say’ but condensed onto a piece of paper it didn’t look too much but covered every point I needed to make. Thanks for responding. 👍
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