dry eyes?

[sarah6435]

Hi- I constantly squint and then open my eyes all the way to "stretch" them. My opthamologist doesn't know what it is. All my tests were good. I'm assuming it has something to do with my eyes being dry. I've tried OTC eye drops, and the steroid drop Alrex for 3 weeks. I look really silly squinting all day. PLEASE HELP!

[Alk402]

I had cataract surgery on my right eye about six months ago. Before the surgery  my distance vision in my right eye was very blurry but reading distance was OK. My left eye was just the opposite. My distance vivion wasn't bad but close vision was terrible.
After the surgery I have very good distance vision in my right eye and still pretty good distance in the left eye. There was a loss of close up vision to the point I can't see anything up close and need either reading glasses or bifocals to correct it.
Also since the surgery, I have a constant feeling of having something in my right eye. It is irritated all the time.
I had all the necessary appointments after surgery and the Dr I saw assured me that everything was fine.
I went to see him again last week with the same thing, a contant irritation in my right eye. He looked at it and assured me, once again that the surgery was healed and everything looked fine and he didn't know what was causing the discomfort. He found some small white bumps (he had a name for them which I don't remember) and said he could pop them with a needle to see if that's the cause of the discomfort. I said OK and he proceeded to do so.
I asked him if he felt I should use eye drops and he gave me some samples of systane. I used them a couple of times but they only worked for a few minutes, then the discomfort would return.
I guess the question is, what's wrong and what should I do about it?
Have you encountered anything like this in your experience?
Thanks in advance for your input.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

I don't know what to say.  Get carefully evaluated for dry eye syndrome and begin any treatments that are recommended.  Make sure you don't have a corneal disease or disorder.  Get a second opinion from an excellent ophthalmologist and hopefully he can come up with something to work on the help your symptoms.  Restasis oral flax and fish oil supplements, slightly tinted glasses, punctal plugs - these are all things that could possibly help.  Finally,  I wonder if nothing is found if some type of anxiety med or anti-depressant might help if no ocular problems are found.  Just a guess.

MJK MD