European association on ocular surface diseases and lachrymal dysfunctions.
This website contains general information on dry eyes and some corneal diseases
and is not intended to replace a medical advice nor modify a treatment's course.
As most medical websites, this website is not
intended to replace a medical advice nor modify a
treatment's course. Therefore it should not serve as the base for diagnostics
and prognostics nor to replace an ophthalmologist’s opinion. It should never be
considered as advising any particular therapy mentioned here. One should examine
this website using a critical view, as information meant to enlighten the
patient one some treatments available to date or even future treatments. However, since lachrymal dysfunctions are frequently treated on an empirical
basis, we believe it's crucial to favour an exchange of experiences between
doctors and a more "enlighten" patient since these are chronic illnesses that
require long term treatments and constant patient involvement. Instead, this
website could be use as a check-list for patient and ophthalmologist discussion.
The ophthalmologist will have the final word in terms of deciding whether a
treatment is appropriate or not, if it's worth trying, should be avoided in a
particular case, etc. Although many ophthalmologists don't like to admit it,
many dry eye states are still treated on a trial and error basis.
This website is certainly not intended to avoid medical
appointments and promote self-medication. Beware, that many "dry eye" or "red
eye" states may seem similar but differ greatly in both severity and treatment.
Thus, only an ophthalmologist and proper eye exam should be able to determine a
diagnostic, the prescription and the prognostic.
This English version of the website is based on the
original French version. If you read French, you may find additional or
more complete information on certain topics.
Keratos is not competent to address medical issues
unrelated to the pathologies addressed here and is unable to respond to
question related to the retina, the aqueous humor, the lens and ocular
pressure issues (such as macular degeneration, retinal detachment,
glaucoma, cataract, etc) for which there are other more appropriate
patient associations. Keratos' interests are mainly concentrated on the
anterior segment of the eye (cornea, conjunctiva, lids and surrounding
glands).
Remark on
LASIK and other refractive surgery (PRK, Excimer, LASEK) particularly in the
context of a dry eye state:
As always the final decision should be made
by an ophthalmologist. However, Keratos, can only warn refractive surgery
candidates that a therapeutic alea (risk) exists even for person who did
not present previously any contraindication. Among these potential risks are
dry eyes – frequently underestimated by ocular surgeons – which may reveal to be
a real disability. Amongst our members, we count several examples of that
so-called minority… often silent… seldom considered… and certainly more
important than many LASIK surgeons would like to admit. These invasive
operations are all the more unadvisable when the patient already suffers from
even a minor dry eye state (for instance a patient is unable to tolerate contact
lens) or wound healing issues. You may seek additional advice from independent
ophthalmologist (not involved in refractive operations) for a second opinion. At
their slightest reticence, we would advise you not pursue the project. Modern
ophthalmology may be able to correct refractive errors (with more or less
success) but is certainly unable to re-establish corneal sensitivity in patients
who lack corneal sensitivity or an appropriate lachrymal system in patients with
chronic dysfunctional tear syndromes (and dysfunctional tear glands). Living
with the need of constant artificial tears is not a panacea… believe us… and is
frequently insufficient to regain eye comfort.
Please choose the section you want to read on the left-hand side menu or
sub-menu.
▲
copyright ©
Keratos 2005-2007
