Does anyone else suffer with DRY eyes and R A ?

[JAC22]

My big problem at the moment is the very uncomfortable condition of dry eyes. I use plenty of eye drops & gel tears, warm flannels, steam , dark specs etc.

The consultant at the eye clinic suggested that i buy a humidifyer -- has anyone else used one and was it helpful ?

Kind Regards

Jane

[earthwitch]

Secondary sjogrens disease is really common with other autoimmune disorders and could well be the cause of your dry eyes. If eye drops and stuff doesn't help, you could ask about punctal plugs - these are tiny silicon plugs they put into the tear ducts that stop tears from draining away, so they keep your eyes much moister. I'm surprised the eye clinic consultant didn't suggest that. If the air in your house is very dry a humidifier might help a bit but I wouldn't have thought it would do a lot if you really have badly dry eyes. Did they do any testing? I have had both the schirmers test (where they put a strip of filter paper under your eyelid and see how wet it gets with tears over a 5 minute period) and a dye test where the optometrist put dye in my eye then looked at it with the slit lamp. Both showed I had a big problem with tear production. Like you I don't get a lot of benefit from drops, though the really sticky ones (more like an ointment) are good at night, and I was thinking of asking about the punctal plugs. I don't have the dry eye problem the whole time though - like the rest of my autoimmune diseases things do flare and then die down a bit.

[JAC22 in reply to earthwitch]

Thank you for the reply -- food for thought. I have had the yellow dye dry eye test only. Like you i don't have the problems the whole of the time, but it is horrible while it lasts -- i think the days when i could read a book are over !! Any close work is a problem.

Take care

Jane

[Bobby17]

I have used one and it s helpful. I also find turning the heating down and keeping the window open helps and only using the car heaters to a minimum

[JAC22 in reply to Bobby17]

Yes i find fresh air is a good tonic -- things will be better when i can get in the garden again !! Thanks for the reply

Jane

[Hidden]

I use visco tears I can freely recommmend them x

[JAC22 in reply to Hidden]

May look into that -- thanks

[sylvi]

I have had my had my eyes cauterised and it made a difference to my eyes as it doesn't let the tears go down into the nose. It has made a difference to the clarity of my eyes,but i still have to put drops in them. They are still not good as i have to put drops in them. I would reccomend having them cauterised. xx

[JAC22 in reply to sylvi]

Was it painful having them cauterised ??Not something that has been suggested to me. Thanks.

Jane

[sylvi in reply to JAC22]

Jane, aneathatising the eye hurt more and i ended up with a black eye. The only thing after your eye has been numbed is the smell of burning. It is such a short op was done in minutes. The only thing you will need to wear sunglasses for a while. It is not a cure but by heck it helps.I would reccomend it. Your awake during the op. I hope i haven't put you off and it is of some help.xxx

[bpeal1]

Hello

I too have dry eyes. I use Hylo tears. I find them to be really good. They are in a bottle with a pump you push at the bottom, much easier than the normal fiddlely eye drop bottles, especailly if like me your fingers aren't great anymore. If you can ask your doctor to prescribe them as they are quite expensive to buy (about £15 i think) but becasue only 1 drop is released at a time you can keep them for 6 months.

Becky

[JAC22 in reply to bpeal1]

Hello Becky,

Yes i do use Hylo Tears as well as Systane and Gel Tears.

I do have other eye problems that cause blurred vision from time to time, and i have type 1 diabetes -- so i do get my meds. free of charge which is a blessing.

Thanks for the message.

Jane

[Tillytop]

Hello Jane

I too have very dry eyes due to Sjogrens and am waiting to have them cauterized as Sylvi has done. A humidifier hasn't ever been suggested to me but can see the logic - I only recently realised why my eyes are so much worse whenever I go to the hospital - it's the air conditioning I think. Hylo Forte and Lacrilube are my current eye meds and they do help to some extent. At my last eye appt the consultant prescribed some brilliant eye cream (can't remember what it was called) but my GP was reluctant to prescribe any more which was disappointing because it helped so much. But at £105 for a tube lasting 2 days I can quite understand why!

Earthwitch mentioned punctal plugs - has your eye consultant suggested those to you? They can do that in the eye clinic in a matter of minutes but they do tend to fall out or just disappear very quickly in my experience which is why cauterization has been suggested for me. I know how debilitating dry eyes can be Jane, so really hope you can get some relief.

Tillyx

[JAC22 in reply to Tillytop]

Hello Tilly,

Thank you for the reply -- i hope the op. goes well -- please let me know ??

I saw my GP today -- she will try and get me an earlier app. at the eye clinic as i usually go every 12 months.

I may consider going private for the consultation, to cut down the waiting time.

Bye for now, take care

Jane

[Tessthomy]

i have been diagnosed with severe dry eyes and now have the punctal silicone plugs talked about above, and they have stayed in for over 18 months now.. They have revolutionised my dry eyes - although i still suffer badly if the weather is windy .. i then have to use non preservative eye drops (Hylo drops or Clinitas are best)- which i normally use first thing in the morning anyway. I also suffered with a cornea ulcer caused from the dry eye before the plugs were inserted . which has now left me with scaring.. this occasionally causes me problems along with the RA and this is now all under control generally - but its a hard job keeping up with it all though!! TT

[JAC22]

Hi TT,

I had an app. at the eye clinic 4th April -- was pre. steroid eye drops & changed eye drops to Hylo Forte. The redness / soreness of the inside eye lids has gone -- pleased to say. Will see the Consultant again . in July -- he may suggest punctal plugs if dry eyes still a problem. The Hylo Forte eye drops are working better for me.

Hope your eyes are keeping good. Take care.

Jane