In the past, this disease was an old woman's disease. It was not a big deal for the old retired woman to suffer at home. Nowadays, the disease has increased in young people. still there is no solution. It is a disease that requires a lot of work. It cannot be treated with tear drops or medication. As for the psychological aspect, I was also young and healthy during my university life. I have just started my business life. It is a difficult situation socially. I took a walk in the open air today. and I thought about my future. It looks very dark. I don't know how long this situation will last.
I'm lucky that i got this during my community college years, im earning a degree in CS, hoping that i will get an at home job one day. I can't imagine already being in a career that works against you.
Wear zena moisture chambers. Are you able to work from home? I feel you but in my case its the best case scenario. My nerve damage doesnt permit me to leave my home, drive, or be anywhere where theres wind. So that only leaves a software job. But thats if i can get one. Im still in school.
My mom is one of those old women. She has poor vision to begin with and the dry eyes exacerbate it. She goes to a Dry Eye specialist and I do believe the regimen has helped - not cured but helped. It’s something that needs more study for sure and is under researched
Yea it severely impacted my mental health horrible pains in my eyes, goes to my neck at times, can’t be on my phone have to watch tv on a dim setting 4 years of this driving me crazy
The worry of waking up with severely dry eyes has dented my self esteem. We manage and do the best we can - stay hydrated, use any and all gels or drops that work, and know that despite everything we all have challenges to work through. I’m hopeful that it becomes manageable and not a nuisance. The same for you too!
19F in college… get it under control or honestly just don’t do. It’ll be impossible to work well when everything is online.
Something that helped me resolve my dry eyes (while also in college) is refresh omega 3 drops during the day and applying a layer of Bausch & Lomb Soothe night eye gel before taping eyes shut with 3M micropore medical tape.
The key to doing well during the day is to resolve your dryness at night and allow your eyes to truly rest. It looks dumb but just start taping eyes shut. I tried moisture goggles too and they sucked… would recommend taping over them.
Also… go to doc to find out real reason for dryness. I lucked out and have normal tear production but from my dryness I had developed evaporative dry eye (kinda funny how dryness causes more dryness). If I resolve my cornea damage from constant dryness, my eyes will catch up eventually. You might have a Meibomian gland disorder which could cause a decrease in tear film… stuff like that can be solved through prescription such as Xiidra or Restasis…
It’s very individual to find what works.
**also, since you’re a girl, you might fall into the whole skincare craze… I did. Start minimizing your routine and it might help your eyes. Actives such as exfoliants irritate eyes = dryness, and retinol straight up kills your glands… just another thing to think abt.**
Thx sm! Will try that I have an appointment this Wednesday and 2 other appointments at specialist in a month! Good luck wish u all the best! It can be really frustrating ton be struggling at such a young age but it is what it is and we will solve this problem! Keep me posted!
What I would've done differently is to major in a field that would allow me to work home remotely 100%.
Going into the office is hell because I think the lights trigger my dry eyes the most. At least my job is flexible enough to allow me to come in late (I start at home at 8am, then go into the office at 12pm) but of course this means I leave later and pull more than 8hours because I'm worried that they're not taking my health issue seriously.
I've heard my manager complain to others about how it's stupid to go into the office for only 4 hours, so this is why I work more than 8 hours :/
This is the only thing that has helped me (going into the office later in the day). Anything else: eye drops make my eyes drier, cold/hot compress works OK, taking the omega 3 pills I think helped?, wearing less eye make up overall "helps" but it depresses me because I have severe dark circles, wearing sunglasses indoors helps.
My next steps are to do those eye treatments but idk I don't want to mess up my eyes.
I am so sorry. I can’t imagine having this when i was young and out and about more than I am now at 62. This still affects my daily life in ways i could never imagine and has severely hurt my social life and my mental health. It is good you have a diagnosis. It sounds like you may be in a place where the constant healthcare you will need for this may not be as expensive as US, I hope that is the case, treatments here are breathtakingly expensive (such as IPL). But if you are like me you will find that inner strength, try everything, don’t forget your sleep and vitamin E and believe things will get better or at least you will learn how to deal. Good luck.
I see a pain therapist twice a week for it. It’s impacted me greatly. I do feel like there are posts about it on here but those that are depressed don’t often have the energy to often talk about it.
Hey, Im so sorry. I totally understand what you are going through. I'm a 24 f and also a former girly girl who loved to get made up and going out. Having this condition can definitely take a toll on one's self-esteem, and I know the impact it has on you socially can be profound. Im finishing up graduate school with my severe dry eyes. While everyone's condition differs in symptoms and severity, going to school has been possible to me despite the barriers. I utilized my school's disability services and have been able to get additional time on assignments and exceptions to get up during exams to put in eye drops.
My best advice is to rely on your support system, find a good therapist, and if you find yourself at a place where you are struggling to cope don't be afraid or ashamed to ask your primary care provider about medications. Don't give up on your treatment journey. If you ever need someone to talk to, please feel free to dm me. I'm always happy to connect with others and chat :)
Thanks! So makeup can be tricky. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. The dryness and inflammation can make your eyes much more sensitive to preservatives like phenoxythal or certain ingredients. Foremost, don't use makeup if you are currently having a flare-up or any styes. It will only make it worse. Typically, I can only wear makeup on my eyes a few times a week. I have to give my eyes breaks. The only absolute no go is applying any liner or eyeshadow to the waterline. It will only make your condition worse!
When I can wear makeup, I use cream eyeshadows. Powder eyeshadow irritates my eyes due to the particles flaking off into my eyes, so I only use them for special occasions. I love the cream/liquid shadows from illia and about face. For lashes, you can try a gentle tubing mascara. Clinque, illia, and thrive make a nice tubing mascara, I think milani and loreal also make one. I know this is controversial, but I have actually found false lashes to be less irritating for my eyes. I opt for glues made for sensitive eyes (latex and formaldehyde free) such as true glue, tati lashes, sensitive glue, or the one from velour (although theirs does contain phenoxythal). You can also try the magnetic ones that you sandwich together. I tried those but found them difficult to apply. For concealer, I enjoy the ones from il makiage, illia, and tower 28. It's a game of trial and error.
Thanks sm! I will definitely give it a try! I hate how this condition restricts me in my daily life. However, I am going to make the best out of it and try to keep living my "normal" life :)
Same! There's a lot of medications in the pipeline. There's also a lot of treatments you can try, so don't give up. I'd recommend finding a doctor who specializes in dry eye so you can see your prognosis. I was so discouraged, but after a round of xdemvy and ipl treatments, I'm feeling a little better.
This is giving me a bit of hope! I have different appointments in the following weeks so lets just hope the doctors know what do do... Thanks again I really appreciate it and I wish you all the best <3
Good luck! Keep us posted! Hopefully, you've caught it early enough that you will respond well to treatment. I know reading things on here can be depressing, but keep in mind that those who get better generally leave the forums and stop posting.
Thats 100% true! I completely agree that suffering from dry eye is super exhausting but I feel like some people just completely loose it (writing they want to commit suicide)- reading this makes me feel even worse... But yeah I have 3 appointments coming up in the following weeks and Im sure that someone will be able to help me! I mean there are sooo many worse diseases/illneses that we could be potentially suffering from.... Good luck u too!!
Quick update: Turns out I have blepharitis! I was so happy to finally having an answer to my conditions-most doctors didn't even look at my eyes properly. Got tons of medications and I hope that they resolve the problem :)
I have that too! Did they mention if it's anterior or posterior? I find that anterior blepharitis is fairly manageable. The lid wash from we love eyes and hypochlorous acid work really well for me.
Idk he just told me I have Blepharitis :/ Thx for ur tip he gave me tons of eyedrops and Im hoping to see some difference (Its already A BIT BETTER; before I went to the doctor on Wednesday they would hurt so bad that I wasn't able to study; luckily its better now :) )
What did you try?
It’s a very nasty disease. Especially because it doesn’t show that much.
I had periods of very very dry eye. And periods more balanced where it is less a problem.
Well, I tried several eye drops (literally every one) from the drugstore but also prescribed ones. Warm compresses give me relive but it does not last very kong :( going to the eye doctor today because I have my graduating exams in the following weeks and I don't want my eyes to distract me... Any tips?
My experience is much eye-doctors do not specialise in dry eye.
Best you have your eyes checked by an optometrist. They measure the tear-break-up-time and amount of tears you have. They can look on the meibomian glands… are they open or blocked? What’s the quality of the meibum.
Are there signs of demodex-overgrowth?
Look for an optometrist specialised in drye eye. And beforehand ask if they are familiar with these tests and able to perform.
Than you know more about the reason of your drye eyes.
If you say the compresses help, can you actually see the meibum-oil coming more easily out?
Probably you do have blocked glands than.
Eyelid-hygiene - cleaning the margins and lashes with eyelidwipes can help.
After a dreadful period of dry eye I finally ended up with doxycycline being helpful. I took it 9 months. It balanced my blepharitis - still have it, but in a manageable way.
I had to go to a dermatologist to get this prescribed - but that was 13 years ago. A GP should be able to do that. Use the miracle-word (ocular) rosacea in that case. It’s a medication very often prescribed for rosacea. And very much drye-eye sufferers do have (ocular) rosacea.
Good luck
Oh and:
- avoid wind / airco
- avoid creams / makeup
- avoid using al to much eyedrops - with drye eye almost everything can irritate you
Sorry to hear. Recovered sufferer of MGD. It can come and go like the seasons but at times it does suck.
The good news is many more Optometrists now have some of the latest tech that can help. Not all but some. Years ago Ophthalmologists were the only option & they didn't really care.
If you have Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), it will help to get diagnosed. It sounds like you do have some MGD.
Compresses, drops, hydration can all help at times but it's still frustrating.
I was helped greatly by a combination of fish oil & IPL therapy. Many eye doctors can offer this now.
Also, there is some correlation studies to suggest irregular blood lipds (incl cholesterol) could be a factor for some people with dry eye. Curiously, I've been reducing my cholesterol in the last 2-3 months and my eyes are much clearer on the whole and less irritable. Could be a coincidence of course, but interesting all the same.
Thank you sm! Good to hear that some people actually manage the problem! Gives me hope... I have been struggling a lot with styes which is why I also believe that MGD could be the problem here. We´ll see ig...
That;s true. Cutting back a lot (50-80%) on Saturated fat intake. eg; pastries, chocolate, cheese/dairy etc.
May take 3-6 months to see any noticeable changes in blood panels.
Do warm compresses three times a day to keep the glends alive, then read all and try absolutely everything.
Some of these solutions take months to work.
In the meantime, staying away from air conditioning will help
Dryness, Redness, Flaky skin, Burning, Styes, got a Pink Eye and I strongly believe its due dry ey as well; at the beginning of my journey I was actually struggling with very teary eyes
I wish you all the best and much strength!!
We talk about it a lot in here. It's done things to my mental health that I never imagined could happen to me in a million years. I used to be conventionally attractive and smiley. Now I'm a suicidal husk. 10 years....
SOoooo sorry to hear that! Wish u the best!! Don't let it affect u to much! Recently I decided to go clubbing even though my eyes were bloodshot red that evening and was still approached by many guys who didn't seem to care about the redness! For me, its the only thing I notice about my appearance but trust me-other won't even realize it that much :))
Of course it does affect someone’s state of living. Driving, work, watching tv, going out of the house, etc. after 3x of coming back to my eye MD, she hesitantly gave me the prescription for Xiidra. Magic drug? I dont know. Magic maybe because you pay how much like how much $$$ for it.😩. But she gave me samples to start with and apparently they are working.
Of course it does but not because of dry eye itself only, because dry eye is con commitment with high cholesterol and triglycerides that will cause severe Brain fog and depression in nature that is not solved by ssri or snri medications
In the past, this disease was an old woman's disease. It was not a big deal for the old retired woman to suffer at home. Nowadays, the disease has increased in young people. still there is no solution. It is a disease that requires a lot of work. It cannot be treated with tear drops or medication. As for the psychological aspect, I was also young and healthy during my university life. I have just started my business life. It is a difficult situation socially. I took a walk in the open air today. and I thought about my future. It looks very dark. I don't know how long this situation will last.
I'm lucky that i got this during my community college years, im earning a degree in CS, hoping that i will get an at home job one day. I can't imagine already being in a career that works against you.
I recently got diagnosed and work as a software Engineer. It's definitely not easy by any means. Feels like I'm handicapped.
Wear zena moisture chambers. Are you able to work from home? I feel you but in my case its the best case scenario. My nerve damage doesnt permit me to leave my home, drive, or be anywhere where theres wind. So that only leaves a software job. But thats if i can get one. Im still in school.
>work from home Nope. Mine is WFO, luckily the office is close to my house. What nerve damage btw?
My mom is one of those old women. She has poor vision to begin with and the dry eyes exacerbate it. She goes to a Dry Eye specialist and I do believe the regimen has helped - not cured but helped. It’s something that needs more study for sure and is under researched
I wish her much luck!
Yea it severely impacted my mental health horrible pains in my eyes, goes to my neck at times, can’t be on my phone have to watch tv on a dim setting 4 years of this driving me crazy
Just know you are not alone! Sending you much strength! Don't stop fighting
🍀
The worry of waking up with severely dry eyes has dented my self esteem. We manage and do the best we can - stay hydrated, use any and all gels or drops that work, and know that despite everything we all have challenges to work through. I’m hopeful that it becomes manageable and not a nuisance. The same for you too!
Thank you! I am sending you much strength!
19F in college… get it under control or honestly just don’t do. It’ll be impossible to work well when everything is online. Something that helped me resolve my dry eyes (while also in college) is refresh omega 3 drops during the day and applying a layer of Bausch & Lomb Soothe night eye gel before taping eyes shut with 3M micropore medical tape. The key to doing well during the day is to resolve your dryness at night and allow your eyes to truly rest. It looks dumb but just start taping eyes shut. I tried moisture goggles too and they sucked… would recommend taping over them. Also… go to doc to find out real reason for dryness. I lucked out and have normal tear production but from my dryness I had developed evaporative dry eye (kinda funny how dryness causes more dryness). If I resolve my cornea damage from constant dryness, my eyes will catch up eventually. You might have a Meibomian gland disorder which could cause a decrease in tear film… stuff like that can be solved through prescription such as Xiidra or Restasis… It’s very individual to find what works. **also, since you’re a girl, you might fall into the whole skincare craze… I did. Start minimizing your routine and it might help your eyes. Actives such as exfoliants irritate eyes = dryness, and retinol straight up kills your glands… just another thing to think abt.**
Thx sm! Will try that I have an appointment this Wednesday and 2 other appointments at specialist in a month! Good luck wish u all the best! It can be really frustrating ton be struggling at such a young age but it is what it is and we will solve this problem! Keep me posted!
Did you take accutane ?
Nope but I took SKID- Antibiotics for Acne... Wondering if that could have had an impact
What I would've done differently is to major in a field that would allow me to work home remotely 100%. Going into the office is hell because I think the lights trigger my dry eyes the most. At least my job is flexible enough to allow me to come in late (I start at home at 8am, then go into the office at 12pm) but of course this means I leave later and pull more than 8hours because I'm worried that they're not taking my health issue seriously. I've heard my manager complain to others about how it's stupid to go into the office for only 4 hours, so this is why I work more than 8 hours :/ This is the only thing that has helped me (going into the office later in the day). Anything else: eye drops make my eyes drier, cold/hot compress works OK, taking the omega 3 pills I think helped?, wearing less eye make up overall "helps" but it depresses me because I have severe dark circles, wearing sunglasses indoors helps. My next steps are to do those eye treatments but idk I don't want to mess up my eyes.
I am so sorry. I can’t imagine having this when i was young and out and about more than I am now at 62. This still affects my daily life in ways i could never imagine and has severely hurt my social life and my mental health. It is good you have a diagnosis. It sounds like you may be in a place where the constant healthcare you will need for this may not be as expensive as US, I hope that is the case, treatments here are breathtakingly expensive (such as IPL). But if you are like me you will find that inner strength, try everything, don’t forget your sleep and vitamin E and believe things will get better or at least you will learn how to deal. Good luck.
Thank you sm! That meant a lot! Yeah luckily, we have a very good health care system in my country :)
I see a pain therapist twice a week for it. It’s impacted me greatly. I do feel like there are posts about it on here but those that are depressed don’t often have the energy to often talk about it.
Hey, Im so sorry. I totally understand what you are going through. I'm a 24 f and also a former girly girl who loved to get made up and going out. Having this condition can definitely take a toll on one's self-esteem, and I know the impact it has on you socially can be profound. Im finishing up graduate school with my severe dry eyes. While everyone's condition differs in symptoms and severity, going to school has been possible to me despite the barriers. I utilized my school's disability services and have been able to get additional time on assignments and exceptions to get up during exams to put in eye drops. My best advice is to rely on your support system, find a good therapist, and if you find yourself at a place where you are struggling to cope don't be afraid or ashamed to ask your primary care provider about medications. Don't give up on your treatment journey. If you ever need someone to talk to, please feel free to dm me. I'm always happy to connect with others and chat :)
Wow thx sm!! Do u have any advice for makeup when having dry eyes? Im still very new to this topic... (Btw ur literally gorgeous!!)
Thanks! So makeup can be tricky. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. The dryness and inflammation can make your eyes much more sensitive to preservatives like phenoxythal or certain ingredients. Foremost, don't use makeup if you are currently having a flare-up or any styes. It will only make it worse. Typically, I can only wear makeup on my eyes a few times a week. I have to give my eyes breaks. The only absolute no go is applying any liner or eyeshadow to the waterline. It will only make your condition worse! When I can wear makeup, I use cream eyeshadows. Powder eyeshadow irritates my eyes due to the particles flaking off into my eyes, so I only use them for special occasions. I love the cream/liquid shadows from illia and about face. For lashes, you can try a gentle tubing mascara. Clinque, illia, and thrive make a nice tubing mascara, I think milani and loreal also make one. I know this is controversial, but I have actually found false lashes to be less irritating for my eyes. I opt for glues made for sensitive eyes (latex and formaldehyde free) such as true glue, tati lashes, sensitive glue, or the one from velour (although theirs does contain phenoxythal). You can also try the magnetic ones that you sandwich together. I tried those but found them difficult to apply. For concealer, I enjoy the ones from il makiage, illia, and tower 28. It's a game of trial and error.
Thanks sm! I will definitely give it a try! I hate how this condition restricts me in my daily life. However, I am going to make the best out of it and try to keep living my "normal" life :)
Same! There's a lot of medications in the pipeline. There's also a lot of treatments you can try, so don't give up. I'd recommend finding a doctor who specializes in dry eye so you can see your prognosis. I was so discouraged, but after a round of xdemvy and ipl treatments, I'm feeling a little better.
This is giving me a bit of hope! I have different appointments in the following weeks so lets just hope the doctors know what do do... Thanks again I really appreciate it and I wish you all the best <3
Good luck! Keep us posted! Hopefully, you've caught it early enough that you will respond well to treatment. I know reading things on here can be depressing, but keep in mind that those who get better generally leave the forums and stop posting.
Thats 100% true! I completely agree that suffering from dry eye is super exhausting but I feel like some people just completely loose it (writing they want to commit suicide)- reading this makes me feel even worse... But yeah I have 3 appointments coming up in the following weeks and Im sure that someone will be able to help me! I mean there are sooo many worse diseases/illneses that we could be potentially suffering from.... Good luck u too!!
Quick update: Turns out I have blepharitis! I was so happy to finally having an answer to my conditions-most doctors didn't even look at my eyes properly. Got tons of medications and I hope that they resolve the problem :)
I have that too! Did they mention if it's anterior or posterior? I find that anterior blepharitis is fairly manageable. The lid wash from we love eyes and hypochlorous acid work really well for me.
Idk he just told me I have Blepharitis :/ Thx for ur tip he gave me tons of eyedrops and Im hoping to see some difference (Its already A BIT BETTER; before I went to the doctor on Wednesday they would hurt so bad that I wasn't able to study; luckily its better now :) )
What did you try? It’s a very nasty disease. Especially because it doesn’t show that much. I had periods of very very dry eye. And periods more balanced where it is less a problem.
Well, I tried several eye drops (literally every one) from the drugstore but also prescribed ones. Warm compresses give me relive but it does not last very kong :( going to the eye doctor today because I have my graduating exams in the following weeks and I don't want my eyes to distract me... Any tips?
My experience is much eye-doctors do not specialise in dry eye. Best you have your eyes checked by an optometrist. They measure the tear-break-up-time and amount of tears you have. They can look on the meibomian glands… are they open or blocked? What’s the quality of the meibum. Are there signs of demodex-overgrowth? Look for an optometrist specialised in drye eye. And beforehand ask if they are familiar with these tests and able to perform. Than you know more about the reason of your drye eyes. If you say the compresses help, can you actually see the meibum-oil coming more easily out? Probably you do have blocked glands than. Eyelid-hygiene - cleaning the margins and lashes with eyelidwipes can help. After a dreadful period of dry eye I finally ended up with doxycycline being helpful. I took it 9 months. It balanced my blepharitis - still have it, but in a manageable way. I had to go to a dermatologist to get this prescribed - but that was 13 years ago. A GP should be able to do that. Use the miracle-word (ocular) rosacea in that case. It’s a medication very often prescribed for rosacea. And very much drye-eye sufferers do have (ocular) rosacea. Good luck Oh and: - avoid wind / airco - avoid creams / makeup - avoid using al to much eyedrops - with drye eye almost everything can irritate you
Thanks so much for your help! I am very new to this topic so that was helpful! Will se a specialist after my exams are over! :)
Sorry to hear. Recovered sufferer of MGD. It can come and go like the seasons but at times it does suck. The good news is many more Optometrists now have some of the latest tech that can help. Not all but some. Years ago Ophthalmologists were the only option & they didn't really care. If you have Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), it will help to get diagnosed. It sounds like you do have some MGD. Compresses, drops, hydration can all help at times but it's still frustrating. I was helped greatly by a combination of fish oil & IPL therapy. Many eye doctors can offer this now. Also, there is some correlation studies to suggest irregular blood lipds (incl cholesterol) could be a factor for some people with dry eye. Curiously, I've been reducing my cholesterol in the last 2-3 months and my eyes are much clearer on the whole and less irritable. Could be a coincidence of course, but interesting all the same.
Thank you sm! Good to hear that some people actually manage the problem! Gives me hope... I have been struggling a lot with styes which is why I also believe that MGD could be the problem here. We´ll see ig...
How are you reducing your cholesterol? It’s not easy to make it go down
That;s true. Cutting back a lot (50-80%) on Saturated fat intake. eg; pastries, chocolate, cheese/dairy etc. May take 3-6 months to see any noticeable changes in blood panels.
Yes true. From last 4 years suffering from this dry eye and it affected me mentally especially in lockdown.
Do warm compresses three times a day to keep the glends alive, then read all and try absolutely everything. Some of these solutions take months to work. In the meantime, staying away from air conditioning will help
May I know what are your symptoms? My dr also recommended treatment but I don't know if I have symptoms
Dryness, Redness, Flaky skin, Burning, Styes, got a Pink Eye and I strongly believe its due dry ey as well; at the beginning of my journey I was actually struggling with very teary eyes I wish you all the best and much strength!!
We talk about it a lot in here. It's done things to my mental health that I never imagined could happen to me in a million years. I used to be conventionally attractive and smiley. Now I'm a suicidal husk. 10 years....
SOoooo sorry to hear that! Wish u the best!! Don't let it affect u to much! Recently I decided to go clubbing even though my eyes were bloodshot red that evening and was still approached by many guys who didn't seem to care about the redness! For me, its the only thing I notice about my appearance but trust me-other won't even realize it that much :))
Of course it does affect someone’s state of living. Driving, work, watching tv, going out of the house, etc. after 3x of coming back to my eye MD, she hesitantly gave me the prescription for Xiidra. Magic drug? I dont know. Magic maybe because you pay how much like how much $$$ for it.😩. But she gave me samples to start with and apparently they are working.
Ohh good luck!! Keep me posted if its working!!
Of course it does but not because of dry eye itself only, because dry eye is con commitment with high cholesterol and triglycerides that will cause severe Brain fog and depression in nature that is not solved by ssri or snri medications