Can anybody see tears in their eyes??

[untkicker29]

I know everyone on here has DES for many different reasons, but I was wondering how many people if you look in a mirror can actually see a line of tears around your eye lids?

It is so frustrating because I can always see tears in my left eye, but I still feel dry eye symptoms.

I am just always curious to hear about other people's situation on here because I dont know anybody personally who has DES.

[SusieD]

I can see tears sometimes, like you, in my left eye mostly. Its not very often I see many tears in my right eye (and that eye always scores higher on the schrimers!) it often looks bone dry.

It sounds like a quality problem again - maybe the tear components are not right or you dont have enough lipids? This may be something for you to raise with this specialist when you see him, he may shed more light on it.

Is it only your left eye that is uncomfortable now?

[kitty]

I can sometimes see a gloss over my eyeballs and tissues, but I rarely ever see tears pooling. About the only time I see tears pooling is if I am having reflex tearing. There are times too that I don't really even see a gloss, just dull and dry eyes. Both eyes seem to look about the same; however, often my right eye feels worse than my left.

[neil0502]

I keep remembering Lacriserts ... and wondering why I hear so little about them from other dry eye patients (and doctors).

Last Wednesday, while the docs were trying to fit my intra-limbal contact lenses (which hurt inordinately), they diagnosed me as having Superior Epithelial Arcuate Lesions (SEAL) [1].

Treatment is to stay out of my contacts for several days until the lesions heal up. In my case, contacts lessen my dry eye, so I was trying to figure out what else to do. I remembered my Lacriserts [2] in the 'fridge.

I plopped one in each eye. About an hour later, I'm leaking thick tears from both eyes (I'm cauterized at all points). Went out jogging and the wind caused lots and lots of tears. For me, Lacriserts aren't the best solution (for lots of complicated reasons), but for anybody who hasn't yet tried them, I just don't see any downside to them.

They're a prescription item, so talk to your doc. I don't get any commission on these things, but ... seriously: try them and report back :)

[1] http://www.opt.indiana.edu/aocle/livlib/episplit.htm
[2] http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/l/lacrisert/lacrisert_uspc_pi.pdf

[SusieD]

I can only speak for myself Neil - but the reason you've heard nothing from me is because, here in the UK they seem to be another thing that we cant get our hands on. I've mentioned them to most of the doctors (eye) Ive seen, and they just looked blankly at me - never heard of em! I wouldnt have minded giving them a shot.

[indrep]

Remember your cornea derives all of its nutrients from the tear film. There are no blood vessels running through the cornea to provide nutrition. So the cornea is designed to absorb nutrients from the tear film. When the tear film osmalarity is elevated the opposite happens. The tear/air is actually drawing moisture from the cornea. This why you can have tears but still feel the symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome. It has just dawned on me, Dry Eye Syndrome is really Malnourished Cornea Syndrome when not associated with obvious tear film deficiency.

[Jeff]

I know everyone on here has DES for many different reasons, but I was wondering how many people if you look in a mirror can actually see a line of tears around your eye lids?

It is so frustrating because I can always see tears in my left eye, but I still feel dry eye symptoms.

I am just always curious to hear about other people's situation on here because I dont know anybody personally who has DES.

Hi Untkicker29,

I do not know anyone "personally" that has dry eyes to compare to either, other than the people you meet on this site and I agree it is nice to just be able to talk with other people going through at least something similar as what you are. I think we are all just trying to understand and make sense of it all and trying to make the best of our own personal situation. Its also comformting to know that you are not in this alone, that in my opinion is the beauty of this web site. Thanks to everyone here for giving me that feeling.

I do see tears in my eyes and have been told by friends and family that "your eyes look wet". I feel dry when they say that to me which I suspect leads to their misunderstanding since they look wet but they feel dry. I am only guessing that the entire surface of the eye is not covered with tears, just spots on the eye? I was told by my eye surgeon that after they recontour the eye it becomes flatter and will shed the tear quicker due to the flatter surface. It's logical and makes sense. He also said that over time the eye will reshape itself after the surgery but not likely will it revert back so far that I need glasses again (I am currently wearing glasses again when I need them but cannot say if this is an age related issue) He also told me that there is dry eye and dry eye sensation. The difference being one actually is dry and the other is not but feels like it is.
My vision fluctuates throughout the day with mornings being best and evenings being the worst. I have to admit things are currently the best they have ever been but not what I am hoping will be the final answer. I hope this has helped answer some of you questions but if it raised more (I'm sorry) drop me a line I will happily discuss this with you in more detail.

Jeff

[FaithHope]

I have been using Lacriserts everyday now for about two years. Personally, I don't know how I would cope without them. :eek: I would encourage all dry eye suffers to give them a try. :p

[sazy123]

Faith how bad were your eyes? do lacriserts just produce artificial tears in your eyes, same as artificial tears but more constant. Artificial tears dont really make me comfortable just wet the eye and soothe it, then 10 20 secs later the effect is gone.. not the comfort needed to be normal anyway..

[neil0502]

Susie and Sazy (hey ... I like that!)...

First, asking most eye docs Stateside won't get you anywhere either. Lacriserts -- and I have no idea why -- just aren't that common. If you ask an eye doc to look into them for you ... they may be available in the UK after all. I'm not positive. I know that--even when I took the prescription to the pharmacy--they hadn't heard of them.

It's worth trying ... if you can. Maybe Dr. G- can make a recommendation if there's any way to get them across the pond.

Here's what the Patient Insert says about how they work:

[actually, when I pasted it, this post got really long. Just look at the .pdf file linked below, and read where it says "CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY" on page 1. The nickel version is: it's a little plastic capsule that you stick inside your lower lid. It melts over the course of the day, creating goo that lubricates your eye (aqueous-deficiency help) and thickens your tear film (evaporative/mgd help). It's just not very good with contact lenses. It can blur your vision....]

THE FILE: http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/l/lacrisert/lacrisert_uspc_pi.pdf

btw, Faith: I'm really glad somebody out there has used them with success!

[Amy09]

i'm no expert on this, but could it also be that your are seeing tears in your eyes, but you have an incorrect tear composition? I think i've been told that my lipid layer of tears is partly what causes problems with my dry eyes. Maybe this could be the cause for you, too... just throwing another possiblitly out there.

[FaithHope]

Sazy123,

My eyes were really bad. Lasik and dry eyes have altered my life in many many ways. I suffer from depression and anxiety, I have had to switch to a lower paying job in order to get away from so much computer work. Lacriserts were an answered prayer. I had no hope before Lacriserts. I feel that I can lead a much more normal life now. For me lacriserts are much better than artificial tears. When I used drops only, it seemed I needed more ever 5-10 minutes. Now I use drops only about 3 times a day.

[Lucy]

I used Lacriserts about 5 years ago. Like Neil said, they are sometimes difficult to obtain even in the U.S. Or maybe docs just don't know about them. When I used them, they had to be ordered from the manufacturer. You had to be careful that your supply was at stash level. I do think most docs would comply if you asked them. They don't want to offer the extra hassle.

This was a long time ago and a lot of Dwelle and Dakrina over the bridge. I had problems with the Lacriserts disolving. Whether I did not have enough moisture, heat or what it takes to get the suckers to melt, it didn't work for me. I usually had a glob of jello-like substance in my field of vision. They are worth a try definitely for those who think they may help.

The last time I saw Lacriserts was at the Boston Foundation for Sight. I asked Dr. Johns (my O.D. there) if I could try some. She said no, they would wreak havoc with contact lens.