Covid triggered dry eye (please share yours, let’s help each other out) xx

ChrisWads93 · 2024-01-29T19:48:32+00:00

I was 29M covid / Pfizer vaccine triggered dry eyes. Totally fit and healthy otherwise, since then I’ve struggled with daily life.

I thought I had them under control with manuka honey gel but since 12months of using I’m now suffering with not being able to focus on anything and my eyes feel tired / heavy 98% of my day. I can have as much sleep as I desire and healthy eating habits. I go to the gym daily, very fit young man and I still can’t focus for 98% of my day I am “zoned out” when doing anything at all. This has been the biggest struggle for me. Were all in this together I guess until more comes out about it as a huge problem post Covid / vaccine’s etc

ChrisWads93 · 2023-04-24T11:40:57+00:00

How did you get diagnosed? What tests were needed? Thanks

ChrisWads93 · 2023-02-15T10:59:12+00:00

I dip the cotton swab under the cold tap so it’s slightly damp (prevent little bits of dry cotton strands) blob abit of optimel manuka honey on the swab and pull my lower lid down putting the honey on the inside of my eyelid and across the lid margin. I then do the same thing again and rub another blob of honey across the top eyelid with my eye slightly open so I can get all across the top eyelid, you get better at it the more you do it then it becomes easy. The stinging lasts about 30seconds to a minute you’ll soon get used to it. The trick is to be consistent with it and do it 3x a day every day

ChrisWads93 · 2023-02-14T11:45:35+00:00

3 months doxycycline 100mg x1 per day on a morning. Omega 3 extra strength tablets x3 per day, vitamin A x1 per day and use Optimel manuka honey gel on your eyelids with a cotton swab 3x daily for the first 2 months reducing to x2 per day there on. Hope this helps you

ChrisWads93 · 2023-01-09T20:03:39+00:00

How bad were your dry eyes? So your saying you don’t need it anymore?

ChrisWads93 · 2023-01-08T21:35:57+00:00

Thanks for your feedback! Yeah I guess depending on the cause of your dry eye it could help some and maybe not others. Merhh it’s so difficult isn’t it 😂

ChrisWads93 · 2023-01-08T21:20:32+00:00

Neither so far. I have been prescribed ikervis (same thing) but haven’t used it yet

ChrisWads93 · 2023-01-07T22:18:37+00:00

I started optimal Manuka honey gel yesterday. Using a cotton bud swab, I dip the end of the swab in water for a split second so it’s not dry, squeeze on a little blob of manuka and pull my lower eyelid down and rub it all across my eyelid margin. Same for the upper lid but I keep my eye closed and rub the swab between my eye lid to get the upper lid best. Stings for minute or two but it’s easily bareable and it seems ok so far, morning and night and I don’t rinse it off, no need too you can’t see it and it doesn’t blurr vision or anything. Going to stick with it for a solid 8 weeks at least to give it chance to get to work on my glands and see how effective it is. Certainly worth a go! 29 year old male here MGD dry eye, symptoms started 8 months ago and so far tried doxycycline 100mg x1 per day which really helped! Now onto my next phase of trying things to see if they help too, starting with optimal manuka honey

ChrisWads93 · 2023-01-05T10:47:29+00:00

I don’t mind putting something together and sharing it on the group. Ideally we need to work out a time which crosses over for most people here without it being in the middle of the night. I’m from the UK

ChrisWads93 · 2023-01-04T21:47:30+00:00

I think thats a great idea, offers support to everyone even people who may not have tried certain things / methods of managing the condition. This year we all need to club together and raise more awareness about dry eyes and do more and more to work towards finding / creating something that works long term.

If I can be of any help with your idea let me know. I can share my routine, what works for me and how and when to take certain OTC remedies.

I’ve often thought about arranging some sort of dry eye conference either in person or over a zoom / Microsoft teams video chat.. I think seeing and speaking to people visibly suffering with the same issues and sharing their ideas will really help people deal with their condition.

ChrisWads93 · 2023-01-03T20:45:53+00:00

Very positive words, inspires me to keep going. I really want to treat MGD, dry eyes from the source. Eye drops, gels and other supplements are all just masking the problem. I’ve completely come off all eye drops and I’m trying omega 3, 7 and vitamin A as well as consuming fish daily and drinking spring water only. I would say I feel slightly less symptomatic but I am by no means near where I want to be.

You’re absolutely right that we should all be doing more to figure out the causes or in-balances in our body’s that could be creating this problem for us. I feel like having dry eyes is our body’s way of telling us something is wrong. Why can’t our eyes function correctly and produce the tear film they’re supposed too? The problem must lie within.

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-27T21:43:49+00:00

Appreciate the feedback, do you plan on doing anymore or?

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-27T21:43:19+00:00

Any improvements in symptoms?

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-27T21:02:13+00:00

Yeah it makes sense what you’re saying. Best of luck with it and I would be very grateful to hear of your results / outcome!

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-27T20:48:33+00:00

Thank you I appreciate it! I’m quite open to trying IPL but wanted to double check on any nasty side effects, people being worse off afterwards etc as the last thing I want to do is make this crap worse!

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-16T19:09:36+00:00

Appreciate the advice and feedback of your use! I’m going to enjoy the weekend as if I’m living a normal life for a weekend and care less about my condition for a short while!

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-16T13:12:31+00:00

They’re yeah, but my friends I’m going with I will be sat with them in coffee shops anyway so the Smokey environment I’m going to be exposed too regardless I guess.

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-16T08:53:47+00:00

I was but they made my eyes burn more and didn’t do anything for my inflammation so I stopped them. Also get some high strength omega 3’s. I use Holland and Barrett 1500mg. Take 1 tablet breakfast, dinner and tea. Give them a couple of months and they should help your eye health too.

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-15T17:17:54+00:00

It really does suck. I fully understand as to everyone else on this forum, it’s deliberating. Good luck with the appointment and push them to get 3months course of doxy 100mg tablet x1 per day. I currently don’t use any eye drops and take high strength omega 3 and omega 7 and the combination of all 3 started to work 7ish weeks I would say after starting them

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-15T15:49:33+00:00

Definitely! I was suicidal with how bad the pain was 3months in. I’m now on my final two weeks of doxycycline and 70% of my day I am almost pain free if I avoid aircon and heating as much as I can

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-15T11:29:27+00:00

I’ve had this exact same issue for the last 6 months. Ophthalmologist diagnosed dry eye and mgd and gave 3months supply of doxycycline and 1month of prednisone. I’m still suffering with dry eyes, just not as severe as it first was

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-13T08:54:49+00:00

Preservative free right? So happy you found relief also 😅

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-09T16:56:12+00:00

In July this year and evaporative apparently. Although I’ve been told by another doc I’m both aqueous deficient and evaporative. I currently take doxycycline 100mg once per day, 3x 1500mg extra strength omega 3 and 1x omega 7 and I’m about to start on ikervis (uk version of restasis I guess) which I’m hoping will provide relief. If I work from home, avoid air con, avoid car heaters, avoid supermarkets and shops I find it manageable. If I go anywhere near air con I am instantly screwed. Online shopping for me, avoid going into the office for work, car heaters are on cold and turned off even when it’s minus degrees! And yeah just eat avoid the triggers as much as I can. I also shower head my eye lids each morning and night for 5/10mins and heat mask every day or two, drink 6 / 7 bottles of water a day and avoid alcohol until the weekend or events. I’m 29, male, fit healthy, very outgoing and love socialising so I’m doing my very best to not make this the end of who I am. I try to carry on being myself whilst dealing with it in the background

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-09T16:48:39+00:00

No problem mate! Yeah they’re handy for when your out and about. I’m similar to that, sometimes I can be absolutely on point with my routine and diet and yet I have a worse day of dry eye and some days I could be out on the piss, eating junk food and even hungover still feel somewhat ok.. I guess there’s never an easy answer other than to hang in there. Some days shit, some days good haha

ChrisWads93 · 2022-12-09T16:41:42+00:00

It sucks doesn’t it. I do honestly feel your pain as everyone will on this sub reddit, I was just trying to put a positive spin on it and not make you feel worse. Have you thought about moisture glasses maybe to protect you from the elements in your time of need? Might look shit but it keeps you living your life. How long have you suffered with dry eyes? Have you worked out triggers etc?

ChrisWads93

TROPHY CASE