One thing that really matters is a comprehensive ocular surface (ie, “dry eye”) exam:
Even something so ‘basic’ as understanding whether you don’t have enough tears or whether your problem is that your ‘tear recipe’ is off, allowing your tears to evaporate too quickly … matters.
Eye docs … forever … just guessed. But dry eye has been steadily becoming more common over time, leading BigPharma to take notice, and lots more therapies and diagnostics to hit the scene.
Find an eye doc who specializes in “ocular surface disorders” and get good testing:
Ideally, find a provider for whom this stuff is a passion:
Now, none of this applies if you found an eye drop that works fine for you and your symptoms are totally under control, but for anybody else? It may be well worth the time and effort.
OK, an update: As mentioned, I couldent ust the restasis or the steroid. She tried another steroid that was 150.00. Not gonna’ spend that on someting that may not work/can’t use. She’s trying to get me Xidra on the sliding scale.
She prescribed me an antibiotic because she found I have rosacia (sp?) on my eyelids. It’s doxycycline. I took it yesterday am on an empty stomach. That was a bad idea. I fought throwing up for about 20 min. No big deal right? Wrong. I have not thrown up for over 60 years. No matter how pregnant. Even when I was young and real stupid, rocking a bad hangover. No barfing. When I was 5 after tonsillectomy was the last time. I maintained that record, but it was bad.
This is where it gets interesting. If none of this works, she’s going to get me approved for placental cells? She says she’s gotten Medicare yo ok it as long as other methods haven’t worked. She says she’s had very good results. So, we’ll see.
Another update: I used Xiidra. It burns like fire when I put them in I can’t open my eyes for 10 min. I can’t see very well for a couple hours. So, today I went back and she saidmy eyes look better. She applied the amniotic film, and a contact lense. It doesn’t feel bad at all. I go back in a week and we do the other eye. Then I continue with Xiidra. I hope this works. Fingers crossed.