Dry Eye

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:53 pm

I finally sucked it up and went to the optomostrist today. I laid out all my eye problems to him and said I was ready to try anthing at this point to get some relief. I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but I absolutely detest getting my eyes checked. The bright lights, poking around in my eye, asking me which set of letters looks clearer and not really knowing if I'm right in what I'm choosing..... I always leave with a headache. Anyway, I didn't do very well on the periferal test and had to take it twice along with an extra test from the doc. That part really concerns me since my vision seems to be getting worse. I was told the RX changed but not much. It's my choice if I actually want to get new glasses. He didn't think sterioid drops were the way to go, yet. Instead he placed plugs that should help with the tears. Maybe the dry eye is just that and not related to MC. I'm hoping I'll see a big improvement and eventually be able to wear my contacts again. I'm not that thrilled with the idea of the plugs and hope they don't create additional problems but for now there aren't many other options. I'm not supposed to feel them but I do and don't like it but know I need to give it some time. I'm always skeptical of the seemingly new health problems that are splashed in ads on TV along with the new wonder cures. If I don't see improvement in a month I can have them removed. Sjogren's sydrome came up in converations but it was only a thought. He also mentioned others with dry eye found fish oil to be a help. I might give it a try but I can't remember if fish oil can cause issues for MC.

My head is full of thoughts hoping that the eye problems are separate from the food issues. It'd be nice to have this clear up so I can focus more on why Norman is not a dependable visitor in my daily life yet. It's hard not to relate every health problem with MC. I guess time will tell.

Post by **tex** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:14 pm

DebE wrote:I might give it a try but I can't remember if fish oil can cause issues for MC.

In general, fish oil shouldn't create any problems for someone who has MC. Large doses of fish oil can cause D, but small doses are good for overall health, because of the Omega-3's. I take 1,200 mg daily, along with 1,000 mg of flax seed oil (also loaded with Omega-3's).

Tex

Karen1129 · Post by **Karen1129** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:24 pm

DebE13,

I have had serious dry eye issues for years. Probably 20 years.
I have had plugs for years, and have had no problems with them.
Actually have had several sets because they can come out after awhile.

My opto suggested the plugs, as using the steroid drops long term was an issue as I already have high
pressure issues and steroids do increase pressure in your eyes.

I forget I have the plugs until the subject comes up. I don't even realize they are there, and they have
been beneficial.

Also, plugs have been around for years and really aren't a new fangled idea. I was willing to try anything as my dry eyes were very plainful.

desertrat · Post by **desertrat** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:23 pm

DebE13,

I don't know how old your are but eye problems can certainly be hormonal. I use to think it was MC related for me, but not anymore. I am leaning toward a hormonal and vitamin deficiency with my dry eyes. I started taking bio indenticals and upped my vitamins, especially vitamin D, B, lutein, biotin and fish oils. So far, so good. No more dry eyes for me, praise God.

Mandy

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:21 am

Thanks Tex, I think I'll give the fish oil a try. I have some in the cupboard that are allergen free so hopefully it'll do some good.

Karen- thanks, it's nice to hear from someone who's familiar with them. Years ago I had the kind that are pushed further in and eventually dissolve. At the time, I didn't see a big improvement so never used them again. This time I have the kind that sit on top of the hole to plug the duct. One of them actually fell deeper than it was supposed to and he had to dig it out. There was talk that if he could't retrieve it I'd have to go to another doctor to get it out which made me feel like I had made a huge mistake. He got it out and place it correctly so now I'm hopeful that I will find some relief. I can still feel them but I need to be patient.

Restasis has been on TV alot and I'm always skeptical when it seems like new conditions just seem to appear. I know dry eye isn't new but I'm always wondering if the medical field and drug companies are pushing new treatments to make a buck. It's a fine line between new medical technology that I should be thankful for and the idea that I'm just another guinea pig & cash cow. I'm probably more in tune with it now since it's my own problem.

Mandy- I'm 40 so you may have a good point that I haven't considered. What are bio identicals?

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:59 am

I had dry eye up until really recently. I used Restasis for about a year and it worked really well, but now, since my radical diet change (I only eat about 15 foods, so more than just gf/df/sf/ef) my dry eye seems to have disappeared. I have no proof that the diet change did it, but it seems the most likely explanation.

Jean

Karen1129 · Post by **Karen1129** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 9:08 am

I tried Restasis for over 6 months and it didn't help me at all. why I ended up getting the plugs.
That was years ago when it first came out. it was the newest "thing".

The doctor said, it doesn't work on everyone. Plus, it was kind of expensive and it wasn't helping,
so I opted for the plugs.

I do still use eye drops , OTC, for severe dry eyes. The doctor said you still have to use eye drops
several times a day.

I started having severe issues with dry eyes in my early 40's, so yeah, I don't doubt one bit that
harmones play a role.

Sometimes I think aging bites.

desertrat · Post by **desertrat** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 9:45 am

DebE13,
Bio identicals is HRT. Hormone replacements. A lot of women need them, especially during perimenopause. Even though you are forty, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get your blood hormone levels checked. You don't need to be in menopause to have your hormones out of whack. And believe me, hormones control everything! Just google whatever your "side effect" is plus hormones/menopause and you will get a crazy amount of info relating to it.

Mandy

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:38 pm

Thanks Mandy, it wouldn't hurt to check that out too. The plugs didn't help much but they're still in. I'm using artificial tears about ever 2 hours and lotemax twice a day. Restasis is next.

Thanks everyone for your comments. It's nice to have feedback since everything seems to tie into MC.

wonderwoman · Post by **wonderwoman** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 11:28 pm

I have been on Restasis for about 6 months and just had my Rx filled again. I too have very dry eyes and I have taken fish oil for years. I have 3 different dry eye drops on my vanity and now dr said to use Systane Balance lubricant eye drops several times a day. I am doing that and still can't wear my contacts for more than 5 hours at a time. I just got two new pair of glasses because I am having such a problem with my contacts. Now I can't see the computer with the new glasses. I will need to get new computer glasses also. Always something.

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 4:25 am

I'm the same with my contacts. Although there was a very long period of time where I couldn't wear them at all. Now I tend to save them for special activities and just wear my glasses to avoid further irritation. It does always seem to be something or another!

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 5:48 am

I first got glasses when I was 9 (and cried) and then got hard contacts when I was 14 (which was the youngest you could get them back then). I wore them successfully for 30 years and then my eyes started bothering me too. I'm sure it was hormonal. I tried soft contacts but never liked them and ended up having Lasik surgery. I still need reading glasses though.

wonderwoman · Post by **wonderwoman** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 8:36 am

I would love to have Lasik surgery but when I inquired about it several years ago they discouraged me. Now I have to wait for my slow growing cataracts to be large enough to remove and then I can have lens implants. I'm 72 and only wear my contacts for special occasions. Dry eyes comes with age along with a lot of other problems. I have to keep telling myself things could be worse.

maestraz · Post by **maestraz** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:37 am

In summer 2011, just a few months post LC DX, and new to GF/DF eating, my dry eye was so severe that my soft contacts were literally falling out of my eyes (once, on the interstate, in traffic--YIKES!) I had the Restasis/plugs discussion with my eye doc, and decided to try Systane instead. But by winter of 2012, I was no longer having severe problems, and this summer, all is fine, which generally parallels my continued progress with managing LC. Additionally, the seasonal allergies that had contributed to the eye issue over the last number of years also seem to have disappeared.

Gayle · Post by **Gayle** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:52 am

For those who are irritated by dry eye syndrome even though using lubricating drops multiple times daily, you

might try switching to PRESERVATIVE FREE eye drops.

Some folks react to the added preservative which is always required in multi-dose vials. When this is the case, continued use of the multi-dose product will only aggravate the situation.

The preservative free version is considered to be a single dose application, and persons using this version must be very careful not to contaminate the tip after twisting off the tab.

Gayle

MICROSCOPIC COLITIS SUPPORT

Dry Eye

Dry Eye

Re: Dry Eye