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Testimonial
by Toril (Norway)
I’m Toril, a Norwegian girl aged 29,
and I’ve got autoimmune related dry eyes. Here’s my story:
Sickness history and development
of dry eyes
As a small child I got rheumatoid
arthritis, mainly in the knees and neck. Around puberty it gradually
disappeared, and the disease was “silent” for 8 years, before it all of a
sudden showed up again as big, swollen knees. At the age of 17 I developed
Grave’s disease and was treated with subtotal thyroidectomy the same year.
Due to recurrent disease I underwent treatment with radioiodine at the age
of 21. Along with Grave’s disease I also gradually developed thyroid eye
disease, and at the age of 20 I was treated with decompressive lateral
orbiotomy on both sides. Three years later upper eyelid retraction on the
left side was corrected.
I started to develop dry eyes at the
age of 24/25. Most probably my eyes were dry even earlier, but at that time
to a less extent and I mistakenly addressed the discomfort to my eyes to
being tired, that I needed new glasses, that I had allergies, etc. My theory
is that the dryness of the eyes started to develop when my rheumatism came
back after all those years. At the age of 26 Sjogren’s disease was
suspected, but biopsy of submandibular salivary glands was inconclusive and
salvia test and blood work came out negative. I have some feeling of dryness
in the mouth, some days more than others, but the saliva test is still
showing normal results.
My
treatment regimen
|
Product |
Function |
Goal |
Comment |
|
Restasis 0,05% |
Reduce inflammation |
Improve surface health |
Not available in Norway |
|
Doxycycline |
Reduce inflammation,
dissolve lipid clogged glands |
Better tearfilm
|
Not used in dry eye treatment in Norway |
|
Tear substitutes, day (Hylocomod, Thera Tears, Refresh, Tears
Naturale, Artelac |
Moisture and protection |
Moisture and protection |
All without preservatives |
|
Tearsubstitutes, night (Celluvisc, Viscotears) |
Moisture and protection |
Hydration and protection |
Both without preservatives |
|
Vitamin A-salve, natt |
Protection |
Protection and moisture |
Without preservatives |
|
Punctal plugs |
Keep tears in the eyes longer |
Prolonged wetting of the eye |
Little effect due to low TBUT (tears evaporate quickly) |
|
Omega 3 (flaxeed – and fish oil) |
Reduce inflammation, increase production of lipids |
Improved quality of tear film |
..healthy for the rest of the body as well!
|
|
Warm compresses and lid hygiene |
Remove blockages in meibomian glands and increase flow of lipids |
Improved quality of tear film |
Procedure prescribed in Dr. Latkanys book
”The Dry Eye Remedy” |
The tear
substitutes and medications mentioned in my treatment regimen are adjusted
my personal needs, and should not be considered as a recommodation.
As I have found no doctor
specialized in dry eyes in Norway, I decided to go to Paris January 2007 to
see a dry eye specialist there. Restasis is not available in Norway, and
Doxycycline is not used in dry eye treatment here, so going abroad was the
only way for me to get the opportunity to try these treatments.
Impact on life
Today, at the age of 29, the
Schirmer’s test shows 0 on both eyes, TBUT between 3 and 4 seconds and the
discomfort is so dominating that I am no longer able to work. Discomfort is
dominating the whole day and also leading to fatigue (I also have fatigue
due to the rheumatism). It ‘s hard for me to be in buildings with air
conditioning, work in front of a PC, go to a mall, travel with planes and
I’m also very sensitive to pollen, dust and cigarette smoke. I think the
only place I feel comfortable is in a humid bathroom, taking a shower. In
fact, in bad days I only manage to do the most necessary daily things, like
getting out of bed, eat and do things around the house. I also have big
problems with sleeping due to the discomfort and pain. So, as a result of
how I feel, I’m not able to work at the time being and my social life is
also limited. Financially my dry eyes have also become a burden. Artificial
tears are only partly being reimbursed in Norway (you have to pay big
amounts yourself, and some drops are not reimbursed at all), and combining
that with a low income (as I'm not able to work), it leads to financial
difficulties. All together I feel I have no or very little life anymore. And
I’m young, and I’m supposed to be happy living an active life! I try my best
though, to still do things, to still be active and to not give up. |
