Chemical burn in eye with Sjogren's

[al1953]

I began having a mild dry eye occasionally in May 2008. My ophthalmologist diagnosed me with Sjogren's when my blood test came back positive. I was doing fine with puntal plugs. About 3 weeks ago I was using Simple Green cleaner and Tuff Stuff foam cleaner while cleaning my car. I used these for 10 minutes. I did not notice any irritation when I quit nor did I feel like I had gotten any thing in my eyes. It must have been an extremely fine mist of these chemicals that blew in my face, but I did not notice it. About 4 hours later my OD eye began to burn. Since I had experienced this occasionally with the Sjogren's all I did was put in some artifical tears and went to bed. Next day, my eyes were irritated and I bought eye wash and irrigated the eyes a few times for 2-3 minutes and used tears. A few days later, I saw my eye doctor and I had corneal staining OU. with 1+ conjunctival injection. I used Zylet drops tid for 10 days with tears. I tried plugs again, but now they were irritating and removed. My eyes constantly burn now (OD is worse) and I use tears PF every 2 hours. I am going to try plugs again this week and i am taking fish oil. I am considering Restasis, but it is expensive and takes so long to work. I am miserable and I want to know if this damage to the eye is permanent? I never realized the chemical got into my eye until the next day and it has had a devastating effect on my eye, which was mildly dry already from the Sjogren's. Also, my Rheumatologist want me on Plaquenil and I do not want to take it due to its toxic effects. My vision is still OK, the eye is just burning constantly. Tears help some. Thank you.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

One other note.  Restasis will probably irritate you more now and I would wait until you are feeling better before starting.  I do highly recommend it though - but has best effect in my opinion after about a year of constant use.

MJK MD

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

I suspect it was not the chemicals that made things worse but rather the eye wash which is quite potent and you used a lot in the eye.  The eye wash has chemical and detergents for the sole purpose of washing debris out of the eye.  It also washes out your protective tear film and is irritating to the cornea and conjuctiva.  The Zylet also has chemicals and preservatives that will irritate a very dry sensitive cornea.  No long term damage, just set  you back a few weeks.  Plugs, flaxseed oil orally 1000 2x a day, frequent preservative free tears - thick ones like celluvisc, and refresh pm at nightime, and things should start to improve in a week or so only to be ready for another flare up sometime later.  Sorry, but a very chronic disease.

MJK MD

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

Honesty, for your money - Thera Tears from Wal-mart it about $9 for a 15 ML bottle and just as good if not better.  That's what I use.

MJK MD

[al1953]

I have placed a web order for the Nature's Tears and I am sure it will help. Thanks for your encouragement. I am also using Blink by American Medical Optics and I want to try Systane-HP (high Powered) by Alcon. I understand it is brand new and difficult to find yet. I also use Refresh PM ointment at night. I also have punctal plugs in each eye. I have severe dry eye, too. It is a terrible thing to happen. Sjogren's can attack other organs such as the kidneys and heart. I take the fish oil and flaxseed oil. too. thanks for your post.

[dryeyegirl88]

Have you tried Nature's Tears? My friends had Sjogren's and her eyes burned, and then she used this mist and it helped relieve the burning. She recommended it to me, since I have severe dry eyes, and it had been a tremendous help.

Hope you feel better!

[al1953]

Doc,
Thanks for your answer. I have continued to use eye wash every few days and the eyes continue to burn. So I am stopping that now and will see my Dr. on Tuesday for new set of plugs. I wil take the flaxseed oil and refresh PM at night and tears. I have been sick thinking I have done something to hurt my eyes permanently. Thank you so much for your advice. I will do exactly as you recommend and will coordinate with my ophthalmologist. She is very good. Dr. Kutryb, I really appreciate your answer to my post so quickly. Thank you very much!