Dry eye

[Bob Allum]

A friend of mine has Corneal Warpage which has very similar symptoms to KC. They are having to use a soft lens under a hard on. This not only causes problems for the eyelid, but most importantly the lenses dry out very quickly. Any suggestions? They have srtificial tears and the like, but any suggestions would be welcome.

I cannot imagine how those of you with this condition feel. My friend has explained it to me and used some pictures they found on the web, but their sight is worse than those examples they found. I want to try and understand what they are going through so that I can help.

[Mark Bennister]

I have been a scleral wearer for several years and am currently suffering a bad period of dry eye or blepheritis. The advice I have been given which tends to work if you are patient is
1. rest lenses
2. warm compress on eyes to stimulate tear ducts
3. clean eyelids with cotton buds dipped in cup of solution of boiled then cooled water containing quarter teaspoon of bicarb of soda
4. gently massage eyelids
these measures are aimed to get oil in lids flowing which provide natural cleaning agents for eyes.
Hope this is help.

Mark

[Sophie Bull]

Hi,

Interesting to hear someone mention blepharitis, i get very dry eyelids and lots of styes but no one had mentioned a connection between the two or anyway of really helping (as most eye products are helpfully not designed to put on the eye lids!), but i now have some info about bleharitis.

To add to your list of helpful things is to clean the eyelids with a solution of baby shampoo and water..make it up 50/50 and use cotton buds with the excess water squeezed off to clean the upper and lower lids.then wipe any left over away witha warm flannel, do this twice a day whilst the ey is dry.

I am also wearing the hard/soft lens piggy backing technique at the moment and I understand about the dryness. The only helpful suggestions I have is to take it out regularly through out the day and let it sit for a short while in some solution. It seems that the soft one really drys out quickly and gets uncomfortable. I know this solution is not always possible..its not esay to always find somewhere clean enough and suitable, but I hope this advice helps. If i come up with any other solutions i will let you know.

Good luck
Soph

[Jacqueline Cheetham]

I have been suffering from dry eyes for about a year or so. It has also caused me the most awful pain in my eyes. In November I had my lower tear ducts sealed, to keep what tears I have on my cornea. I did try the duct plugs first, but they came out... This has made the most tremendous difference, my eyes are a lot more comfortable and the pain has all but gone. This may seem a bit drastic, but it worked for me. Jacqueline.

[GarethB]

Being one of the many KC sufferers who have had asthma and eczema (neither been a problem for years now), my exzema is kept undercontrol using Alpha Kiri bath oil (over the counter froma chemist) or Johnsons pH balanced shower gel and using these when I have a normal wash has pretty much meant I no longer have dry eye lids.

Perhaps these may help.

Gareth

[Darren Woodford]

I have KC in my right eye but on holiday recently my left eye became bloodhsot and sore after wearing my standard soft lens. It then felt gritty intermittantly during the day.
When I went to my local eye clinic they said I had dry eye and gave me some ointment for it and said not to wear my lenses until all felt normal again. It didn't seem to get any better and so my specialist gave me preservative free drops as she thinks I might have had a reaction to the preservative in the ointment.
Finally the dryness went away and I now have special soft lenses for my left eye for dry eyes apparently. Don't know if any of this helps you but perhaps the dry eye lens might be an option.
Hope all works out for you
Darren

[Bruce Robertson]

my specialist gave me preservative free drops as she thinks I might have had a reaction to the preservative in the ointment.

What drops were they, Darren? I find that artificial tears don't last very long and my eyes are as dry as ever after afew minutes. I am using Refresh single dose drops from Allergan and they are pretty good. I have also used Vismed which are better but cost a fortune.

[John Smith]

Have you tried "Celluvisc" drops? They come in single-use phials, and are very viscous so as to stay in the eye for longer.

[Darren Woodford]

Yes. Celluvisc single use vials. That's what they were. By Allergan.
They did seem to help. I couldn't wear lenses for a while though while I was using them, until my cornea had repaired completely.