Topic: Suggestions for eye drops for very dry eyes, blurry Lyme vision
Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
Hi,
I woke up in the middle of the night with my eyelid attached to my eyeball it was so dry.
Does anyone have suggestions for a preservative-free eye drop?
I'm allergic to propylene glycol and tried the homeopathic ones at the health food store with no relief.
My blurry vision has gotten awful lately. I was reading that dry eyes from Lyme can cause this.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
I use a steroid drop sparingly-doc told me to try to use half or a quarter of regular dose and i do...if you want name of it pleaze pm me
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
I use Refresh eye drops.
They're available in a bottle (with preservatives) or in tiny vials, without preservatives.
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
I'll look into the Refresh, thanks!
Steroids gave me permanent eye damage, but thanks for the suggestion.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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susank
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22150
posted
Get the Refresh PM eye ointment. For night/sleeping.
-------------------- Pos.Bb culture 2012 Labcorp - no bands ever Igenex - Neg. 4 times With overall bands: IGM 18,28,41,66 IND: 23-25,34,39 IGG 41,58 IND: 39 Bart H IGG 40 Posts: 1613 | From Texas | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
Check the eye ointments. I use one every night.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
Can u tell me more about the permanent damage?
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
PLEASE get to a "uveitis specialist" ASAP.
My sis had lyme induced uveitis. At one point all she could see was the big E on the eye chart.
She was very scared. It starts out with very dry eyes.
A specialist in Illinois halted this by injecting steroids into her eyes twice.
I know it sounds TERRIBLE, but she said it actually wasn't bad.
Her eyesight WAS restored completely...and to this day...years later.
Posts: 9424 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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'Kete-tracker
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17189
posted
You should also review the 'issue' with your LLMD to see if a particular med (maybe even an OTC drug) might be behind the dry eyes.
No sense adding something else when it might be resolved with dropping, substituting... or modifying the dosage of something you take now.
Posts: 1233 | From Dover, NH | Registered: Sep 2008
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
"Can u tell me more about the permanent damage?"
It's called central serous choroidopathy or retinopathy.
I woke up with a big, black dot in the center of my vision. It's like when you watch a TV show and they put a black dot on someone's face to keep them anonymous.
When I went to the doc, I was told that I had retina swelling in both eyes. It was from topical steroids I had used 6 months before. That was my only risk factor.
I was told no steroids ever because it could trigger another episode. My vision never went back to normal and I have permanent eye damage.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
No infection or inflammation, just very dry.
I'm allergic to silver, no silver for me.
It looks like Restasis is an immunosuppresent. I'm not sure if I should use that.
I think I just needs something for the dryness.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
I was warned by an opthalmologist i trustrd not to use restasis-im not sure why
Judie-thank you so much for your answer I do have black floaters that came on over time before i staeted the steroid drops. Im 64 and was told this could be normal or could have been from 2 head injuries i had-im supposed to not get hit in thehead again and go to opthal immediately if floaters get worse
I recently saw a well known opthal for a total ckup and he did not dx me with what you have. He was a uveitis specialist too and said i didnthave that(i was concerned because horses with untreated lyme can get that)
So my trip to this great specialist didnt help with any of my priblem sx...maybe one mor lyme mystery
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
Does eye ointment make your eyesight even more blurry or make your eyes feel greasy?
Thanks Ipkayak for the info. The doc can also look in the eye and see if there's retinal swelling. You're probably fine if the doc didn't see anything. The black spot came on really suddenly.
One of the tests for what I have is to look at a grid to see if any of the lines aren't straight (they look wavy or warped somewhere) like this: Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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posted
Judie.. the ointment makes your vision blurred but only until the eye absorbs it. I go to bed after using it, so I don't care. The eyes don't feel "greasy" but I usually wipe the excess from the corner of my eyes.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I can't help you with the eye drops. I checked this post to see what other people are using. But I hope you are treating bartonella because it is the most likely culprit of your problem.
-------------------- 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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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
Yes, I'm treating bartonella. Thanks for checking.
I tried Refresh drops tonight. Wow! My eyes feel much better. Thank you.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
One of the problems I have with the dryness, etc. is that I use the drops every couple of hours (as best I can), but it's not enough, and my vision is so blurry and constantly changing that it drives me nuts!
I should get the ointment for at night. NOt that I think it will solve my wake time issues, but every little bit helps, I guess (not so much though!).
Posts: 3770 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
Dry eyes can lead to problems so it is a good idea to have an ophthalmologist look at you every few months.
I ended up with schleritis and uveitis numerous times. The eye ointments are best at night and really help.
During the day the no preservative eye drops like refresh help. If you don't get relief from doing otc drops, speak to your eye doctor about options.
I used to use Restasis and it stopped all the complications of dry eye.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
faithful,
But I thought that REstasis was basically a steroid, or at least immunosuppressant. Did your eye doctor think that it was worth it anyway? I guess so.
How are your eyes now? Did they improve, due to treatment?
When I went last summer to a major eye institute at a major teaching hospital, they tested me for 5 hours!!! The doctor, who knew about the effects of Lyme on the eye showed me pictures of my retinas and eyes totally FILLED with black lesions from Lyme!!!
He thought that is was old damage, and that it wasn't affecting me functionally. Although I have a heck of time functioning visually, so I don't agree with that part. It was shocking to see the pictures of all the lesions though.
Posts: 3770 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
I have been using Restasis for 8 years now for dry eyes.
I was just diagnosed with lyme on Tues by an LLMD. I have been misdiagnosed with seronegative RA for many years.
I did really well while I was taking Plaquenil for my RA. Two years ago, I had sudden vision changes with flashing and blurriness in a pattern in my vision. Turns out, I experienced plaquenil retinal toxicity from long term (14 years) use of plaquenil.
After I had to stop the plaquenil, I started on the Antibiotic Protocol by Dr Brown for my RA but my health has deteriorated over the past two years since stopping the plaquenil.
Finally had Igenex testing and lyme was confirmed by an LLMD on Tues. Started doxy yesterday.
Posts: 11 | From Michigan | Registered: Jan 2014
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
Been there...done that. Im glad you have an llmd now
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
From a "natural" standpoint:
Anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract, a plant-derived antioxidant, has been utilized as a popular supplement for ocular health worldwide.
However, it is unclear whether this extract has any biological effect on visual function, and the mechanism for such an effect is completely unknown.
In this study, we generated a mouse model of endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) that shows retinal inflammation, as well as uveitis, by injecting lipopolysaccharide.
We pretreated the mice with anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract and analyzed the effect on the retina.
Anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract prevented the impairment of photoreceptor cell function, as measured by electroretinogram.
At the cellular level, we found that the EIU-associated rhodopsin decreased and the shortening of outer segments in photoreceptor cells were suppressed in the bilberry-extract-treated animals.
Moreover, the extract prevented both STAT3 activation,
which induces inflammation-related rhodopsin decrease,
and the increase in interleukin-6 expression, which activates STAT3.
In addition to its anti-inflammatory effect, the anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract ameliorated the intracellular elevation of reactive oxygen species and activated NF-κB, a redox-sensitive transcription factor, in the inflamed retina.
Our findings indicate that anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract has a protective effect on visual function during retinal inflammation.
posted
Refresh Celluvisc is the best for drops at night if you don't want to use the ointment. It is like a gel substance and it sort of locks my eyelashes together, which is good since I tend to open my eyes at night when stressed.
But at work and in the morning I use refresh regular drops too. Also added a small humidifier in my office since the dry heat also irritates my eyes.
Posts: 68 | From NE | Registered: Aug 2012
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posted
I use Restasis. I see an ophthalmologist regularly due to Lyme. The OTC products he recommends for me to use in addition are Systane and Zaditur (allergy). I've also, had my tear ducts plugged, all but one fell out.
-------------------- j_liz Posts: 471 | From NJ | Registered: May 2009
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
A lyme literate opthal prescribed rrstasis? That surprises me
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I have been using Systane. Seems to help some.
Posts: 581 | From CT | Registered: May 2008
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Razzle
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 30398
posted
I like Optique 1. No side effects, unlike ALL the other drops I've tried for my dry-eyes...and I don't need to put more and more drops in my eyes with regular use of the Optique 1. The other drops made my eyes feel more and more dry the more I used them...YMMV
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
I don't know how Lyme Literate he is, but I was told that the dryness can cause serious problems. He tried other things w/o success, so... There were times I had to go on steroid drops for longer than the recommended time, but it was necessary.
-------------------- j_liz Posts: 471 | From NJ | Registered: May 2009
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