r/Dryeyes

I recently was prescribed an eye drop containing moxifloxacin and dexamethasone. I was prescribed it since I had localised redness in one of the eye corners ( allergic conjunctivitis).

Once the course of the eye drops finished. I am struggling with eye dryness, grittiness and eye corner itching. It is worse when I wake up and at the end of the day. Post a week of lubricating eye drops, cutting down on screen time as much as i could ( i work long hours in tech) and using warm compresses. I am yet to recover. Does any one know what caused it or what else I can do ?

Sounds very promising!

Hi all, I’ve been dealing with chronic blepharitis and dry eyes for about 4 years now. I only recently discovered heated eye masks through this subreddit and I’m honestly excited to finally try one, because regular hot water compresses just aren’t cutting it. After reading through older posts here, it sounds like Wizard masks are considered top-tier, but they’re unfortunately out of my budget right now (60$ budget). Aroma Season is more great price point and material wise, but from the fabric part of the mask isn’t removable/washable.

I have sensitive skin issues, so I really need a mask with a removable cover or washable fabric layer that I can clean before every use. Does anyone have recommendations for a good USB heated eye mask with a removable washable cover? I also don’t shop on Amazon, so I’d really appreciate direct retailer websites or alternative distributors instead. Thanks in advance!

I finally found a doctor who actually wanted to do his job. With only a sigh, he could see signs of allergic rhinitis and sent me to get an X-ray of my paranasal sinuses. I was super congested, especially in my forehead area. The X-rays also showed that I have a slightly deviated septum and both turbinates are slightly inflamed.

That’s where the allergy, irritation, and dilated blood vessels are coming from — especially in the inner corner of my eyes, near the nose side.

I’m going to start treatment at the end of this month. In the meantime, I started doing warm compresses around my eyes and forehead, and washing my nasal passages with sterile water. I’m already seeing small improvements!!!

Olopatadine didn’t really work for me, so now I’m going to try Bepotastine 1.5% to see if it helps more with the inflammation.

It wasn’t mites, nor was it only dry eye. I’ve had allergic rhinitis my whole life, and for more than 10 years doctors kept telling me it was only allergic conjunctivitis...

So now I understand why sea water and sea wind helped me so much when I lived in Malta.

I’m just sharing this in case it helps someone else. I’ll keep you updated as I continue the treatment and see how things evolve.

This is a long post so there will be a TLDR at the bottom.

In March I went in for my annual optometrist appointment to update my contact and lens prescriptions. Around that time I had been experiencing mild to moderate dry eye with burning sensations for a couple of weeks. I mentioned that during my appointment and my doctor recommended the disposable self heating eye masks followed by gently massaging the lash line.

Before the appointment I had already been using a foaming eyelid cleanser with a gentle silicone brush and eyelid cleansing wipes for on the go for a few months and then I had just got an electric rechargeable heating eye mask.

The cleansers were just to keep lash line clean especially for throughout the day because I have very oily skin and it causes my moisturizer to slide around and ends up in my eyes and makes them burn.

Days after the first episode of noticeable burning pain from dry eye I went from rarely using eyedrops to using them multiple times a day. That provided no relief so I did some research about ways to help symptoms and discovered self heating eye masks and decided to buy an electric one that’s rechargeable. I started using that at night before bed since it automatically shuts off. I noticed that it soothed my symptoms when in use but it didn’t prevent my discomfort. Also, I wasn’t informed about massaging your eyes after heated compresses so I was missing that step.

Since that was no help, I decided to reduce my use of contacts and that allowed me more time before the onset of burning pain came on each day. Then I quit wearing mascara and that allowed more pain free time each day as well. After a few days of longer periods without burning pain, I ended up back at square 1 where I was only fine for 4-6 hours until the burning pain started.

Last week I went to an ophthalmologist appointment and was prescribed Restasis. My doctor did not mention any cause for the dry eye or burning pain and did not give any sort of diagnosis. I was just told it would improve my symptoms in about 6 months and that it’s normal for it to cause burning right after applying.

I genuinely could not tolerate the burning the Restasis caused as it lasted for hours after application and made it so painful to even close my eyes to sleep at night.

I feel like Restasis was blindly prescribed to me, as I even mentioned to my doctor that my symptoms were increasing in frequency and severity pretty rapidly. I think other doctors would’ve considered options that would improve symptoms much quicker than in a 6 month timeline.

My optometrist gave me another referral to a different ophthalmologist for a second opinion and I would like some advice on what to ask about or things to mention at that appointment as my symptoms are significantly impacting my quality of life and I really need to get them managed.

If anyone could provide questions to ask, things to mention that most people don’t think of, or even ANY kind of helpful products or tips for relieving symptoms, I would greatly appreciate it!!

TLDR: Dry eye with burning pain going on for a few months and I’ve tried all of the otc options from eye drops, to heated eye mask, and eye cleansers. Stopped wearing contacts and mascara. Prescribed Restasis after dry eye consult with no explanation or proper diagnosis given. I could not tolerate Restasis as it caused severe burning lasting hours and made it hard to sleep at night. Looking for advice for my next appointment with another ophthalmologist as a second opinion.

Let’s face it, when we’ve finally calmed down our MGD, we’re left with telangaestia on our sclera, more than wha we started with.

Has anyone looked into Dr Boxer Wachler in LA, specifically the whiter eyes treatment? I have a freckle on my eye that I want removed bc if basic optometrists couldn’t diagnose me with MGD, they sure as **** aren’t gonna diagnose me with eye cancer if the freckle gets worse.

He’s got great reviews by people who have had it done and it hasn’t returned…. wondering if he could also take care of the prominent red telangestia, not all but the most visible.

We flew to Florida and went on a seven day cruise. I used zero eyedrops. It was marvelous. I had no idea how horribly my hometown dry climate is affecting this condition. We’ve already booked a second trip and are scouting a humid area to retire. Unfortunately retirement is ten years away for us but it gives me hope. Anyone else experience relief in humid areas?

(Apologies to those who already read this screed as a comment on another thread. The thread was then promptly locked; so no advice about sourcing please!)

I’m 71 years old and recently had a horrific dry eyes episode followed by another and another. Biotrue was obviously not working. So, I go to the Optometrist and they say la, la, la … it’s just dry eyes; buy this stuff and use it - here are some coupons and a corporate handout from Bausch & Lomb. Everything will be just fine.

I tell them that I have a history of having had four separate corneal injuries in my life on separate occasions some of them years apart. Apparently in my youth I lacked some instinct that the majority of people have to close my eyes or turn my head when something is headed for my eye.

Doctor says she sees nothing amiss related to these historical injuries and that I just have reduced tear production. This happens to some people apparently. But! I say this feels exactly like my eyes felt after being injured, like when I open my eye or look a certain way to the side I get the sensation that something is being torn off. No, no, it’s fine .. just buy this stuff. Sorry, no it’s not available as a prescription.

The products?

Refresh PM - petroleum bases goop that makes you so that you cannot see. Ok, fine I’m going to sleep anyway - though heaven help me if I need get up and go to the bathroom, tripping over the dogs is a genuine concern. Sleep overnight with eye mask and this non-water soluble goop in my eyes and wake up to it still being there. Takes about 2 hours for it to clear away and even then there are fuzzy zones. (See earlier mentioned problems navigating around my dogs). So, I wake up and somehow get to the kitchen to heat the eye compresses, then just lay in bed for 2 hours with the dogs jumping up and down on me, unable to understand why the food is not forthcoming. Before you suggest that I used two much - as instructed I used a tiny pinhead sized dot under each eye. This is also not to mention that it doesn’t feel to me like it’s covering the whole surface, there are sensitive areas still. So, I hate this stuff, and I think that it doesn’t feel like it’s doing anything useful at all.

Refresh Mega-3 PF - I’m supposed to use this every hour. The only result that I am getting from it is a sharp sting followed by 20 minutes or so of blurry vision. Surely that’s not the intended result.

Refresh Optive Gel Drops - suggested as an alternative to the Vaseline-like goop. Results are basically identical except that I can get the gel out of my eyes somewhat faster by flushing them with Physician’s Care Eye Wash, which also incidentally is the only thing that soothes at all. Note that it is not a B&L product.

I talk to the doctor on the phone, non, no, no just do what you have been directed to do.

It’s making me feel like I’m going insane.

My doctor was recommending collagen punctual plugs but the thought of having something permanently in my eye scared me. I decided to go the Lacrifill route which is supposed to have no downtime and be well tolerated.

The Lacrifill "procedure" (if you can even call it that) is super quick and painless. Immediately afterwards I felt some moisture in my eye and had some excessive tearing for the remainder of the day! I woke up on Saturday and my eye still felt moisturized! On Sunday I started noticing a scratchy sensation in the corner of my eye which was aggravated every time I blinked. I reached out to my doctor on Monday and they said that it usually doesn't happen and that it should go away. Well.... it only got worse. I started panicking because it hurt every time I blinked and I felt like I just made my eye 10x worse. I work on a computer and it was agonizing sitting there and feeling like something was scratching my eye.

I went for a follow-up on Tuesday and they confirmed I had a lot of inflammation and put me on Loteprednol. I've used this a handful of times and it always works well for me - but this time it wasn't even touching the sensation. I think my puncta really did NOT like having a foreign material in it.

About a week later, I couldn't take it anymore and decided to have it dissolved. The dissolving immediately reduced a lot of the sensation, but I still had a lot of irritation/inflammation and decided to do a steroid taper for a few weeks.

When I left the dr. office they said it might bother me for a few days and then I'd be back to normal, but it took a good 2-3 weeks for that area to even feel normal again (while taking the steroid). Around week 3 I was feeling confident and decided to put in contacts. It totally brought back the sensation and the more research I do suggests that the puncta (especially if dilated, which mine was) takes 4-6 weeks(!!) to heal.

I couldn't find any stories online about getting it dissolved, so just wanted to share!

My eyes were clear. But after using the computer a lot and not getting a lot of sleep it got worse.

Hi all, In the past weeks I noticed an increase in my eye floaters, I have read that it could be a long term retina damage and to get it checked. So 2 days ago I did, the doctor used diluting pupils drops (twice actually because she wanted to "speed up the process"). She said there is no damage to the retina and most likely the floaters are due to aging (frustrating to be with but okay).

I had the side effects of blurry close vision and light looking like the way it would look when you squint at it. I was told that after a couple of hours my vision would get back to normal.

It did in the sense of the close bluriness but I still have the light looking aura-like (like if you squint or gently cross your eyes looking at a far light), so my eyes are still sensitive to light. Ans the dryness - I wake up with severe dry eyes. That its hard for me to open them. Also my eyes are just way drier and gritty in my day to day and I feel it especially infront of a screen

I have not experienced it before and its already for 2 nights. Which shouldve been cleared already?

She prescribed to me systane complete eye drops but I didn't want to take anything because I assumed it wouls be back to normal (then I read its with perservatives so thankfully I didn't).

Now I am lost and anxious that my eye sight or retina is f**ked. I understood that its from the BAK the drops that were used on me.

What can I do to flush it out my eyes? I would like my vision and the non dry eyes I used to have :(

Would love for your advice.

Thank you

We were having storms here a couple of weeks ago and now the weather has become very hot, a few days ago, I randomly developed sore irritated and burning eyes randomly and my eyes feel strained cant even look at the screen for longer.

Movies on my phone are especially straining my eyes and the symptoms will remain the whole day, they'll be sore even if not staring at screen and water.

Twice a day gives me chlorine burning I had with cequa that I did not tolerate, once a day is just very uncomfortable but okayish... Problem is if this is even doing something.

Got the med for inflammation visible in confocal microscopy and partially for mgd. Due to nerve pain most meds are very unpleasant so I kinda ran out of options

I have a referral to ophthalmology and hopefully will get to the bottom of what is happening, but I've been struggling with dry eyes, allergy induced inflammation, and occasional blepharitis for 2-3 years. My top lashes are noticeably thinning, almost missing in areas.

Anyone lose lashes, but then successfully regrow them?

Hey guys! I’m feeling really great right now because I found out my water levels are normal, though my evaporation is very quick. BUT my oil production issues is moderate and my glands aren’t past the point of no turning back 🙏🏻 I have my first IPL session Thursday and im feeling very grateful. I’ll keep you all updated and hopefully I’ll return soon with good news :3 best wishes to everyone with their journey here!

I am newly diagnosed with MGD.

My vision waxes and wanes. On days when my eyes are very dry and scratchy, my vision is very blurry. I have four dogs, and there are days when my dogs are running around in the yard, and I can't view the facial details well enough so as to tell which dog is which. 💔

Is there anybody with blurry vision as a result of their dry eye who has tried either polarized lenses or blue light blocking lenses?

Specifically I am wondering if the polarized lenses improved the poor and blurry vision at all, and if the blue light blocking lenses helped you be able to view a screen for longer than you normally would before experiencing pain/vision problems?

And would you have a product link to share?

I've tried a few moisture chamber goggles at night a while ago. I didn't feel like any of them helped.

The last couple nights I decided to give them another try. I wake up and there's condensation in the goggles but my eyes feel maybe worse than when I don't wear them.

I dont understand how that could be. Any ideas?

Hey there! I started having dry eye symptoms last year after being a long term contact user for 15 years. Everyday use about 16hr a day. I saw an opthalmologist who said my eyes were healthy and he didn't see anything on exam that was abnormal. I saw an optometrist before him who did a test with dye that showed my tears break up fast. Anyways, he suggested I use a few different eye drops and sent me on my way. Told me to use my contacts way less, use the eye drops and come back if it didn't work. Eventually my eyes became more stable and I stopped needing the drops. I also continues to wear my glasses more frequently and switched to dallies.

Almost exactly one year later. In April I notice some eye redness at the top of my eye ball. It stays like this for weeks. I wasn't really having dry eye symptoms otherwise so I just watched and waited. Then the redness spread and became more visible. I started noticing a bit of dryness so I started using the drops again however I noticed no change in the redness. I went to an optometrist who said my eye looked fine and to continue the drops. So now it's been like 3 weeks since this first started. I then notice these greyish spots on my cornea over the iris of my eye. Small dots. I make an appt with the ophthalmologist again who says that the dots indicate there was some sort of inflammation but otherwise my eye is healthy. He also states that he thinks I might have a rare eye disorder called superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis. Apparently is associated with thyroid disorder so he also had me get some labs done and ordered restasis for my eye stating that it would help with the inflammation and redness. The labs came back normal and I have been taking the restasis for 2 weeks but I still have eye redness that fluctuates throughout the day. At this point it's been a month and a half of this. He told me it wouldn't be an immediate change but I was hoping to notice something by now. Can anyone tell me what their timeline was for seeing a reduction in eye redness while taking restasis?