[Q139] 26. I would like to share more about how dry eye is impacting my life (optional) Now's your chance to tell us what we missed, or to explain more about any part of this section, from how dry eye affects your daily activities, to how it's affecting work, fun, your appearance, your relationships, etc.
02/28/2021 102532371 Many health conditions of which dry eye is a part. Dysautonomia (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), Ehlers Danlos, Mast cell activation syndrome with anaphylaxis, Sjögren’s syndrome, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS. Stress, anxiety, fear, worry. LOTS of doctor’s appointments. Mostly home bound besides medical. Had to decide against having children due to health. Currently dry eye is not my worst problem but concerned it will be back as it suddenly was previously. Or if Some product i need is discontinued. Or any little change throws it off. Sigh.
02/28/2021 102520970 I was fitted with scleral lenses in the past half year. It was a long, drawn out fitting process because of COVID and an overworked (but dedicated) fitter. I've overcome some of the obstacles (insertion, bubbles, and inside fogging), but eyelid sensitivity is a big problem. My eyes often burn and the lenses get a film over them. I haven't yet isolated a consistent cause for this discomfort (cleaners?, protein build-up?, external conditions?). The surface dries out still with any movement of air and my eyes are still light sensitive. Aside from these problems, the lenses do relieve the gritty, dry discomfort, but only until I remove them, when the gritty dryness comes back with a vengeance.
02/26/2021 102406585 I feel it has made me look older. And made my eyes look smaller and swinty . I often have to ask friends to turn off and redirect the AC or heat in their cars. Or I have to sometimes request changing a seat in a restaurant because the blowers are in my direction or the lights/sun is in my eyes.
02/26/2021 102386923 You have to organize your life around the lenses. A pain. The dry eye/lenses care and feeding takes me about 1 1/2 hours a day. That is a quality of life issue. I used to enjoy overseas travel - is that worth the effort with the burden of dry eye???
02/25/2021 102226919 You know I am stubborn. i have had this issue all my life. I have had made changes to learn to live with it. If I think it is too stressful on my eyes then I might choose to edit with scarf or sunglasses. I don't let it rule my life or I would have never made it to 60.
02/25/2021 102193890 I am not usually in a place where I can remove my sclera lenses to clean them. Fogging and smearing is a big problem for me. The most important advancement in my eye health would be eye drops that I could use which would totally clean my lenses without having having to remove them. Do you know of anything that can help me?
02/23/2021 101889717 I worry about how my eyes will function when I get older and tear production decreases. I worry that I won't be able to see well enough to do my artwork.
02/21/2021 101638063 Had to go to water proof eye liner and to NO Mascara. If I don't have on the eye liner people say I look tired.
02/21/2021 101630648 As for the guilt mentioned above, I had an elective surgery in 2008 on my droopy upper eyelids. I also had some permant eyeliner applied on my lower lashes early last year (2020). I was told by ophthalmologists that this leads to dry eye, or exacerbates it. So now I'm guilt ridden and won't tell anyone close about what the doctors have said, in case my family places the blame on me.
02/20/2021 101602234 My eyes are better since I found a doctor who understands dry eye. It took me two years to find someone who actually knew what was wrong with my eyes. Changed my prescription for glaucoma which helped no preservatives. Using Xiidra which has helped but is very expensive. I am better but my eyes still hurt and they do not look normal. I am just glad that I finally found out what was wrong with my eyes but wish I could have normal eyes again.