Finally some progress
Posted , 3 users are following.
I got to see the new ophthalmologist two days ago. Some of you will know that the last one I saw, two months ago, was worse than useless, and my left eye seems to be deteriorating rapidly.
The new one was excellent. I spent an hour doing tests with him and his two assistants - vs. literally five minutes with the other guy, who charged me the same fee!
This one did just about every known test, including the Schirmer. Much to my surprise, the result was actually zero tears in both eyes. I was surprised because I'd only been having a problem (severe pain and blurred vision) in the left eye.
That being said, I did a bit of research on the Schirmer afterwards, and I gather it's not definitive. It just gives an indication of what's going on: i.e. >10mm means you don't have a serious problem with dry eyes; and zero means you don't have anything like normal hydration. But it shouldn't be taken too literally.
The reason for the research was that I know I am able to produce tears. Back in the winter, when Belgium was in the grip of The Beast from the East, like the UK, I felt like every drop of moisture was being sucked from my body. One night I was in so much pain, from my left eye and from several fingernails that had split vertically, exposing the raw nail beds, that I had a little self-pitying weep. And I produced tears! A small amount from the bad eye, and less from the "good" eye.
He gave me an unhesitating diagnosis of Sjogren's, but absolutely refused to admit that it could be anything but an eye condition! He wouldn't even allow a dry mouth as part of the syndrome, only RA - though somewhat grudgingly. (But then we've all had the experience that the different specialists only think "their" symptoms count towards a diagnosis, haven't we?)
He also produced the little gem that blepharospasm was entirely psychological, even when associated with dry eyes. I didn't argue.
He was honest too. Although he's actually a cataract specialist and the cataract in the left eye is just about ready, he said he wouldn't operate on anyone who had untreated dry eyes, as this could have a very bad outcome. Others would have operated anyway and trousered the money! (Our surgeons aren't salaried, they're paid by the work they do.)
He said I should continue with the OTC Thealoz Duo eyedrops - min. 6x per day - as they're the best on the market, and prescribed a new ointment for the night. I didn't get on with the carbomer gel, and he said he didn't like it either.
He told me to try the new ointment for a few months, then see a colleague of his who's an eye surface specialist (cornea and conjuctiva) to see where we should go from here. So I'm feeling a bit more upbeat now.
Oh, and he said I had the retinas of a young girl! If only that were true of the rest of me...
1 like, 2 replies
amkoffee lily65668
Posted
It's always so comforting when you get a good doctor.
I suggest you try taking Omega-3. I was able to take it for about 2 years before I had to add drops. and not have to use anything else before my eyes got worse. It was recommended to me by my eye doctor. And you probably already have heard this but you should try putting a warm compress on your eyes several times a day. This loosens up the oils that our eyes produce and will help protect your eyes.
I also got plugs in my tear ducts. They're very helpful for a lot of people.
lily65668 amkoffee
Posted
Hi amkoffee,
Thanks for your input.
Yes, I quite agree about omega 3. I've been taking a supplement for 40 years now, ever since I had a mysterious attack of generalised joint pain that immobilised me for several weeks when I was in my mid-30s. It came out of the blue. I had nodules come up all over my finger and wrist joints too. No one ever really figured out what that was about, but a homeopathic rheumatologist cured me with a mixture of homeopathic treatments and dietary advice. One of the things he told me was to take an omega 3 supplement and up my intake of oily fish. I've followed those instructions for the past 40 years and have never had another attack of severe joint pain. The nodules eventually disappeared too. (So let's be thankful for small mercies!)
I was given the warm compress advice by a UK optician when I had my first attack of dry eyes more than 20 years ago, and I know a lot of people find them very helpful. However, in my case it just made my eyes red and sore so I gave up.
Tear duct plugs are certainly something I'll be discussing with the other eye specialist when I see her, as I've heard good things about them. If she's an eye surface specialist, I imagine this will be her area of competence.
I really want to get this sorted so I can go ahead and get the cataract op.