Source
r/optometry•
ToothJanitor

Severe dry eye

I have severe dry eyes secondary to an autoimmune disease and they have gotten really painful lately. Stinging, burning and constantly being bloodshot, but the discomfort bothers me much more than the appearance does. I have punctal plugs on my 2 lower tear ducts and use those Blink Jell-O type eye drops in the morning (because I sleep with my eyes partially open and its worse then) and regular rewetting drops during the day, is there anything else I can do? I was thinking about plugging the upper tear ducts too, would that help very much? This shit sucks. Thanks.

Posted Mar 28, 2016, 10:01 PM UTC

114
Nuclear_CadillacsOD -9.50-0.50x012, OS -9.25-0.50x005•

See your doc. Autoimmune dry eye often needs the big guns (anti-inflammatory treatment of some sort). In the meantime, hot compresses for 5 minutes twice daily might offer some additional minor relief.

Sorry you're dealing with that. Autoimmune dry eye is brutal and a severe drain on quality of life.

5
EClydezOD•

Restasis. Rx eye drop.

I've seen it work very well but you have to have the right expectations. The drop causes your own eyes to produce more it its own tears.

It does not work overnight. It takes about 3 months before you start to feel the benefits and sometimes 6-9 months before you get the maximum benefits.

It does not give you immediate relief. It actually kind of stings and burns when you put it in.

Just like every medication, you have to stay on it for it to keep working. If you stop taking it, it will stop working.

3
ToothJanitorOP•

I started taking Restasis in 2011. Is there anything else I can do outside of hot compresses?

1
EClydezOD•

So are you currently taking it?

1
ToothJanitorOP•

Yes. It never seemed to help a whole lot though.

1
EClydezOD•

Read my first comment again. You have to use it for months. Consistently twice a day for 3-4 months before you will start to feel improvement.

1
EClydezOD•

Besides the Restasis, Omega-3 FA can be very helpful.

1
ToothJanitorOP•

I have some of this at my house. How much do I take?

1
mckultyOD•

If it's going to help, it should be a big dose, like four grams a day.

I have some of this

If it's more than a couple of years old, buy new.

1
carlitocal•

Scleral lenses might be an option.

1
ToothJanitorOP•

I'm due for an eye exam soon, I'll ask about this. Thanks

1
vixenberries•

Sometimes plugging the upper puncta in addition to the lower can help somewhat. Ask your doctor if you also have meibomian gland dysfunction and if so, whether you are a candidate for Lipiflow treatment. In addition, I have had some success with patients who have Sjogren syndrome dry eye in treating with an amniotic membrane that rejuvenates the eye and helps it heal from ocular surface damage. So that may be something to ask your doctor about as well. There is a new soon to be approved FDA drug known as lifitigrast that may be beneficial for you in the future, so keep that on your radar. :)

1
ToothJanitorOP•

Wow, all that sounds very science-ey and cutting edge. I am lucky to have a very very good opthamologist who specializes in corneal diseases, I'll have to ask her about this stuff.

1