GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Why oh why have I stopped producing tears at night?!?
It is beyond uncomfortable and very unsightly when I wake up. It looks like I'm just off a 3-day bender!
It's like I have to gently open them because my lids are dried to my eyeballs.
Argh!
I've been using saline drops but they are only temporary.
What causes this and what can I use at bedtime to keep them moist thru the night?
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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lax mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38743
I have the same problem, but only with my left eye!
It drives me crazy b/c having one eye feel different from the other is ANNOYING!!
I have to take my left contact out, wet it, put saline in my eye and put the contact back in, several times throughout the day. Annoying!
Posts: 173 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Oct 2013
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
Dry eyes are the one symptom I have never been able to get over. The first year before I was diagnosed they were terrible. I was wearing sunglasses in the house!
With treatment, they have gotten better but never returned to normal. I wish I knew what would help you.
That was an "eye catching" title - very funny and so true.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
i dont know if this is true but my opthal said restasis will make you worse in the long run
flax oil-1000mg 0nce a day helps me
also for a year i was on 100mg doxy and the dry eyes went away-my opthal says they are caused by a bacteria who clog up the tear ducts
i stopped cuz i felt my Bb were coming back...probably resistance
i had a work up at MERSI eye clinic in boston...they dx me with something that needed surgery but could not answer the dry eye problem
i also have spontaneous tears that burn very badly now too...and this is affecting my ability to read and see tv or computer screen
i wish i could find an answer
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Marz
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3446
posted
Couldn't find article I found 2 years ago when I had a problem after being rebitten where it talked about lyme causing dry eye and testosterone helping. But found this:
I used a compounded testosterone cream for a while and it worked.
Posts: 1297 | From USA | Registered: Dec 2002
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Thanks for the suggestions all.
I will try all of them, to be quite honest, as I don't like this new symptom one bit.
When I yawn, I can produce tears, but during blinking or sleep especially, there doesn't seem to be any tears.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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lax mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38743
posted
quote:Originally posted by lpkayak: i dont know if this is true but my opthal said restasis will make you worse in the long run
I believe it. I tried to go without for a few months and my eyes felt like sandpaper.
Greta,
For some immediate comfort, you can take a warm wet wash cloth and put a little vaseline on it. Lay it on your closed eyes until the warmth wears off. Then massage your eyes around your eyelashes.
TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
This may or may not be the cause of your dry eyes but for me mold is the culprit. I get almost instant relief with homeopathic mycosis nosode drops.
We had a leak in our bathroom and I knew before we found it because my eyes started to bother me. Also, at certain times of the year when the mold spore count is high I will have a reaction.
Hope you figure it out.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
I use Systane eye ointment every night. Last night I forgot and my eyes were pretty awful this morning. On really bad days in the winter, I put just a little ointment in my eyes during the day.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Yes, I have the same problem and need to try something stronger than the usual eye drops which don't do a heck of a lot, plus last not at all.
I need to try the ointment, esp at night.
Yes, Restasis is not supposed to be good when you have infections (immunosuppressant). I know that we are often between a rock and a hard place, however.
Contacts aren't good for us dry-eye people, sadly.
Interesting about the mold; shouldn't be surprised though.
Posts: 3771 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Does anyone besides laxmom know about FreshKote? It looks like it could be good, but see that it has alcohol in it, which is usually drying, and I thought that wasn't good.
Posts: 3771 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
they also gave me a prescription steroids drop it starts with F L O. U. R. I think when I first started using it LLMD told me a little bit of steroid topical like that was okay they are very expensive. I'll post the correct names later I'm out and don't have them with me
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
LP-last night while waiting to fall asleep-I was trying to make my eyes moist by yawning.
It worked but...the areas of my lids where my lashes are became very irritated and itchy.
Which made me wonder if
1) My tears are irritants to my eyes, which in turn gives me the dry feeling and red look.
OR
2) My eyes are so dry and the membranes are raw, so when tears are produced it gives a burning irritated feeling.
It felt like acid on my lash line to be honest.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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2roads
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4409
posted
Hi Greta,
I have dry eyes to from chemicals I ingested. Not Lyme related. So, the profile is probably quite different, hence i didn't respond earlier.
But, I have had chronic sand throughout the day which the eye doctor said is dry eye, and my eye balls burned with rubbing my eyes so badly, it was like I poured acid in them.
Caused me to tear up more which only made it worse. Can't say I have really had sticky dry eye balls though.
I did once a couple nights ago. i woke up in the middleof the night and my lids were sticking to my eye balls as I blinked. it was short lived.
The dry hot sauna has significantly helped them.
My one eye got the chemical actually in it accidentally, while the other was just systemic. I don't know if the right eye will ever fully recover as it was very acidic and toxic.
But,both eyes are doing better. Much less sand, tears now when I yawn that don't burn as much. it's really great. Not sure if it would help you or not.
I think you have an IR sauna...no? Can you get your head into it?
I think the eyes need external heat as well as core body temp increase......atleast if it's chemical.
You might want to try and see if it crosses all lines.
You might have clogged tear ducts. They recommend hot compresses on the eyes, with a little bit of mild soap to massage the lids and lash line. Don't go to hot though.
Posts: 2214 | From West Chester, PA | Registered: Aug 2003
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
That is a good suggestion, 2Roads.
I will try my sauna today and see if it makes a difference tonight.
The IR makes a big difference with joint inflammation-maybe it could help with the dry eyes.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
I too suffer from dry eyes they have been pretty stable until the last two weeks when they have been so painful again. I use the ointment at night, hot compresses and the only drops I find that help are Celluvisc they are very thick and hold my lashes together at night. I also sometimes sleep with a microwaveable lavender eye mask which is comforting plus helps me keep my eyes closed at night!
I will look into the Tears Again product anything that will help.
Posts: 68 | From NE | Registered: Aug 2012
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posted
OH yes!! I use a sleep mask EVERY night. It REALLY HELPS keep the dry air from heaters or AC's from drying out my eyes.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Just read in the Alive magazine that increasing Omega 3's helps with dry eyes.
It says, "In a 90 day study comparing omega 3 supplementation to placebo, 70% of the omega 3 group experienced dry eye symptom relief compared to 37% of the placebo group".
So almost double.
I think Faithful recommended this also Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
I take 6000 fish oil a day and eyes get worse when i cut it back
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
My Lyme Literate Neuro/Optho has me using Systane (now Systane Ultra) You can get it for a good price at Costco.
This stuff is great.
Also, I have had punctual plugs put in several times to keep the tears from draining so they stay more moist.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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