Dry Eyes Support Group
Dry eyes is an eye disease caused by decreased tear production or increased tear film evaporation. Symptoms include burning and a sandy-gritty eye irritation that gets worse as the day goes on. The symptoms are often caused by a loss of water from the tears that results in tears that are too "salty" or hypertonic.
What if you try everything but nothing helps? What adverse effects can occur from chronic dry eye which does not respond to any remedies? Or do you just live with it and try your best to use OTC drops? Seems like some people are not helped by Restasis or punctal plugs. Seems like many of you have been helped by fish oil type things. Having failed with Restasis and plugs, I might let my doctor give me those prescription fish oil supps.
About six months ago I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome. It is an autoimmune disease that affects the moisture producing glands---eyes, mouth, sinuses. It's not widely diagnosed and mostly diagnosed in women. You might want to ask your primary care physician about Sjogren's. More information is available at www.sjogrens.org.
In my case, the thinking is that if the Sjogren's medication works it should reduce the dry eyes. I've been on the medication six months and so far my dry eyes haven't improved yet.
I hope you find some relief.
Mike45
Otherwise, I also have a humidifier and a hygrometer.
My cocktail of supplements is actually working too. I combined everything that started and stopped working, into one smorgasbord of pills, distributed throughout the day... and it's working. (knocks on wood)
HydroEye
GNC Ultra GLA 500 or Lindora Stay-Weight (same thing)
Fish Oil (not the crappy kind from Walgreens, but something at least somewhat reputable)
Sea Buckthorn Oil (by Sibu Beauty or Pharma Nord - good quality)
Astaxanthin
HydroEye has been clinically proven to improve dry eye conditions in 6 months. It's a slow builder, but it does do something.
The GLA thing can have an immediate impact and it deflames the eyes after one HOUR. Unfortunately the effect is temporary.
Fish oil is there because the GLA thing requires it to maintain levels of DHA and EPA in the brain.
Sea Buckthorn Oil is a folk medicine and it may be the actual key to changing the composition of the tear film and healing.
Astaxanthin is another strong anti-inflammatory agent. At first I could feel it working for a week, and then it stopped being effective. But I still use it as part of the overall bombing campaign.
I recently came across it and its really helped me
I came across a you tube video a few months ago, with a presentation by a naturopathic doctor. she was talking about hydrating the body properly.
She said that when you drink water, it needs to penetrate the cells of the body to really hydrate it. She said that the best way to do this is to take a crystal of Celtic sea salt and put it on your tongue, take it like you would with a glass of water. Do this about 3 times per day. I have tried this and believe me it works! (Well it does for me anyway) In the main I do not get dry eyes anymore, unless I let myself get dehydrated. If I do, I follow this method, and within about 20 minutes the dryness has gone.
I use a brand of Celtic sea salt called "Guerande" natural grey sea salt. I purchased it from Amazon. I use as large a crystal as I can find in the packet. Please do NOT use table salt as it is processed and all the minerals are removed. Real salt is essential for the health of the body, so say the experts! But consult your doctor first if you have any concerns
I really hope this works for you as it has for me!
Wendyx