I have dry eyes after taking steroids nasal spray and antihistamine. I have had lasik surgery any suggestions on how to resolve this please?

[Cheshirecatx]

[polkadotcom]

Hi CheshireCat - I've got mashed potatoes where my brain should be today - do you mean you are on steroids, and a nasal spray and antihistamines?

I've battled with dry eyes for years and I get artificial tears from the pharmacy here - not sure if you can use them as I've no knowledge of the surgery you've had, but there's no harm in asking a pharmacist about it and they are generally much more knowledgeable than doctors when it comes to drugs of any kind - well, it's their job after all!

[Cheshirecatx]

Thanks I took a steroid nasal spray which gave me dry eyes. May I ask how you manage your dry eyes other than drops and do you manage to work with them?

[polkadotcom in reply to Cheshirecatx]

I've managed fine with mine with the drops and with a lubricating spray, although I probably won't need that now for a while - it's always heat/humidity/winds which make mine unbearable. And yes, I worked for several years using a computer and managed very well, although I did cheat and use the drops more often than I perhaps should!

[Polywotsit PMRGCAuk team member]

Hi. The dry eye problem is much more likely to be associated with the lasik surgery than with the steroids, because the laser cuts the epithelium membrane in the eye and this cuts off nerve signals to the glands that produce tears. I have had lasik too and have a similar problem. I need to use eye drops every day and a lube eye ointment at night. When you are short of tears your eyelids can 'stick' to the surface of your eye during the night, then when you wake up, the lids peel cells off the surface of the eye. Ouch! The lube prevents that happening. You may also have some inflammatory blepharitis (try googling this) which might be making the dry eye worse. Try lying down with a hot compress on your closed eyes. This can be very soothing and help to unblock your tear glands.

[Cheshirecatx in reply to Polywotsit]

Kate thanks how did you get over your decision to do laser? I do not think I ever will given the pain I have.

[Polywotsit PMRGCAuk team member]

I was at the point of being practically partially-sighted and it was getting worse. I had worn glasses since age 4 and when the surgeons said that they could do it, I just had to take the chance of knowing what it's like to be able to see well without glasses. I don't regret it, but the discomfort is a real drag, and frankly it's not getting any better, even though it's three years on. I'm getting more self-conscious about having to squint. Which isn't really any better than being self conscious about the glasses, is it?

[Cheshirecatx in reply to Polywotsit]

Has your sight got worse since you had it done and are you concerned about going blind? How do you manage the inflammation?

[Cheshirecatx in reply to Polywotsit]

Dear kate

I have just been told that the dryness will get better in time rather than worse the longer from the point of lasik. This was from the company who did my eyes. Not sure i believe him. I am now on steroids for the dry eye to get get rid of the inflammation and then the dryness. Have ou been told this?