Hi

i am new on this site, although i do post all the time on the dryeyezone. I have not had lasik. but i do have bad dry eye, i am 21 from the UK, i was just wondering if there are many other dry eye sufferers on this site from the UK? because i have not found many from other forums..just want to know peoples experiances with dry eye in the UK (i especially have not had good experiances). I may be implementing a joint organisation for dry eye in the UK this year along side keretos association in france, so it would be usefull to talk to other sufferers in the UK, and find out if they actualy exist for one thing?

Thanks sara

Hi Sara,

Welcome to VSRN. There are MANY dry eye sufferers who've had refractive surgery; some of them do post here and some are from the UK.

Last night was one of my worst dry eye nights ever. I was awakened by burning, stabbing pain in my eyes, and only after a thorough flush with Unisol 4 and several shots of NutraTear did I have any relief. A few hours later, I had to repeat the routine again. Today, my eyes feel like shredded wheat.

For many people who have dry eye after Lasik, we have noticed a curious phenomenon. While their eyes appear to be sufficiently "wet," as indicated by Schirmer's test, normal TBU time and physical examination, the feeling of dryness persists. Their puncta are often plugged or cauterized. Several of the physicians with whom we work have suggested that this problem originates in the corneal nerves affected by surgery, and not necessarily on the surface of the eye. For that group of patients, there seems to be little relief.

For many others, an underlying preexisting condition was exacerbated by surgery, causing severe dryness, zero Schirmer's score, instantaneous TBU time, and visible areas of dryness. Where there is a combination of nerve damage and serious dryness, the problems are compounded. Not many physicians are truly aware of these conditions, as the vast majority of their patients have no complaints.

Anything we can do to help one another and to educate our physicians is a step in the right direction. I routinely send people over to dryeyezone.com, and because I have used "Dr. Holly's drops" since he first introduced them here, I recommend that patients give them a try.

Hi thanks for the reply, sometimes its nice to know that their are other sufferers in the UK, not that i would wish this on anyone..but i often feel like me and a few others are the only ones with dry eye in the UK, thats why the doctors dont take it seriously and assume that you can live a normal life if you just use artficial tears. At 21 you certaintly cant live any sort of normal life with just this!

When you say: Several of the physicians with whom we work have suggested that this problem originates in the corneal nerves affected by surgery, and not necessarily on the surface of the eye.

Can this happen from other things than sugery, like contact wear or medicaton? mine was induced by antidepressants..and i often wonder where all my really bad symptoms are coming from, because my schimmer is that great but not that to bad, although i do have a fast BUT, and no signs of MGD. It always seems like a mystry to he doctors, becuase i have more symptoms than most they see-with worse looking eyes. By the time i see my next eye doctor it will be the 5th one ive seen..

I don't know the answer to your question, but I do know that antidepressants can certainly cause dryness. For someone depressed over a bad refractive surgery outcome, taking antidepressants to help with the depression can sometimes make the situation more difficult.

Perhaps some of the others who read here will have some insight for you. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

You have a fast BUT but no MGD. When we see MGD, it usually means we can express some congealed meibomian gland oil from the glandular orifices along the edge of the lid. In some cases, there is absolutely nothing to express. Generally, if there is a fast BUT, there is no oil in the tear film. The first question would be, "What have you tried?" Doxycycline? Flax seed oil? Do you have a skin condition or any systemic conditions?

Hi thanks for your reply

I have been using flaxseed, fish oil, various antiimflammotry supplements, like NAC, ester c, i think these have helped somewhat.
I still havent had a firm diagnosis of my condition, and have not been offered doxy..although i did ask one doctor for it, who said i didnt have MGD coz there were no signs of blocked glands. lately ive learned blocked glands are not always the cases with MGD. But as of yet i havent seen anyone who knows much, so havent been given much to try. I have mild rosacea-but eyes are not red and dont think i have any systematic problems.

Have you ever taken tetracycline for the rosacea? If so, how long ago?

You may have a primary reduced meibomian gland secretion as opposed to a secondary reduction (blockage) due to marginal blepharitis. Inflammation of lids will cause red eyes and red-rimmed lids, whereas a primary condition shows no redness. If no blockage is apparent, just a total lack of secretion, then I would think doxycycline might be indicated. Doxycycline is not for blepharitis but to encourage oil flow. I will check some other sources.

thanks so much for this, its actually the first really pluasable explanation for the problem. I have often thought that the MGs have got to be the thing disfunctioning becuase the other options dont add up. But coz i didnt have any blocked signs i scraped the idea. The inside rim of my lids have some inflammation: are abit red. and am on steroids again for the second time but which are again not helping, i keep getting told allergies(i do have some papilly-sorry spelling) which prob doesnt help, but i never had a problem with allergies before antidepresants, and my eyes dont itch.
A guy around my age (21)was told this diagnosis by Dr. Pflugfelder recently, his was also caused by medication.


No i havent tried tetracycline for the rosacea, becuase it is only mild i havent been given anything. I will try to get the doxy again-along with restasis.

oh forget to say may nac be helping to secret the lidids from the MGs in this way?

Dr d hartzok, i was wondering do you see paitents, i am planning to come out there andsee someone, you seem to know a lot about dry eye, and thats hard to come by (well it is over here anyway). My aim is to be perscribed doxy and restasis, do you think based on what ive told you (unofficialy)that you might be able to?

Sazy123

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AW