My eyes have been very dry lately and I wonder if it is all the pollen,my birth control pills,peri,or a combination of all.I am having to use eye drops daily.I am also seeing those floater things more which is annoying.Anyone else ready for restasis??I have never had allergies like this so bad.I still find it odd how much of our bodies are affected by hormones.Thanks for listening to my latest rant.GOD bless.

What is restasis? I too have problems with my eyes. I go through times when I'll feel like I have something in my eye for days, or just burning and watering. I never had allergies before and now seem to have year round allergies. My sinuses are really stuffed up today, yesterday was my ears., BUT THIS ALL SEEMS TO BE DAILY NOW, SOME WORSE DAYS THAN OTHERS. Isn't this fun?!! Hope you feel better!!

I feel the same way! My eyes are dry and red and feel like I have something in them all the time lately. I have never had allergies, but I think I must have them now. Sneezing and runny nose every morning. My sinuses are clogged up and my ear hurts when I blow my nose from the pressure. I get the floater things occassionally too. ANNOYING! It does make me feel a little better to know that I'm not alone. I'm sorry for your suffering though.

Rlsmarty

Restasis is some kind of eye medicine they are advertising on tv for "chronic dry eye",I don't think mine is chronic,just awful and annoying.My right eye is a bit bloodshot and very dry today.I am trying to remember to rest my eyes more,so they will stay more moist.My sinuses have felt more stuffy as well.I have had a few sinus headaches on the left side,and more stuffies as well.Hope we all feel better soon.GOD bless.

Yes, all of the above. Your main symptom with alleregies would be itching, not so much dry eyes. Before you ask for Restasis, you should try artificial tears, 3-4 times a day, in addition to taking omega 3 fatty acids. I like Systane, TheraTears, and GenTeal (Moderate formula). If all fails, you could ask for punctal plugs or restasis as deemed by your eye care provider. And yes, I am speaking as a professional; I am an optometrist!

Dry eyes are a symptom of low estrogen. If you are taking estrogen you could consider increasing your dose slightly to possibly help with your dry eyes. I do not know about the floater though.

I just noticed that you are on birth control pills. Are you on a low dose pill? A slightly stronger estrogen pill may be helpful. Do you experience your dry eyes more on the days that you go off the pill? I have read that some women need extra estrogen on those days because their estrogen level drops too low wile off the pill for the menstrual break.

Have you checked the dew point and humidity levels lately where you live? If it is really dry out your eyes may be drier than normal just because there is not enough moisture in the air.

Kathy

What about stinging, burning watering eyes? Would that be allergy related? Would the artificial tears help with this? It's not all the time, but sometimes will last a few days off and on.
Thanks for the professional advice!! What form of omega 3 fatty acids are the best? Any suggestions?

I think what I am having is due to allergies. When I wake up in the morning my eyes won't open on their own. Sometimes I have to pry them open with my fingers. It's not like they are matted shut...just won't open. They don't do this every morning...but seem to do it quite a few days in a row. Anyone else ever have this?

If this happens at night when you are sleeping suspect your pillow. Try buying a new pillow or washing your current pillow in hot water. You can also use an allergen proof mattress cover. In addition I would make sure and wash all bedding in hot water once every week or so. Keep your windows closed at night and keep all pets out of your room and off your bed. Using an air filter in your room may help as well. I have a generic Ionic Breeze (from Sears—Ionic Pro) that I think is helpful, but only use it in your room when you are not there because I have found that the cleaned air is irritating as it comes out of the filter (I think my filter may create some ozone which can be irritating).

Kathy

Allergies may be compounding your symptoms, and in lieu of prescription medications such as Patanol, and Zaditor, you could try Opcon A which is OTC. I suspect what you have is a common combination of blepharitis and dry eyes. As we all age, the oil glands lining our eye lids, began to malfunction, producing more acidic and thicker secretions which then enter your tears, and begin to burn and sting. Your eyes then reflexively begin to water to wash the offending material out. Try washing your face at night with warm water, and then dip a washcloth or a Qtip in baby shampoo, close your eyes, and gently scrub along the lid margins. Rinse off and add artificial tears. Give it a few weeks and you should see results.

I use Ultimate Omega from Nordic Naturals, but even the costco brand will do. I try to be fastidiuos about the purity, so I have stuck with this brand.

I guess we are all having eye issues,I am on Yasmin,and on one website it said birth control pills can make your eyes dry.Our humidity has been low lately,and today when it did rain my eyes felt better,thank GOD.Thanks for all the replies.

Hmmm. If lBCPs override your body's own production of estrogens and low estrogen can cause dry eyes .... then it would follow that BCPs can cause dry eyes. Apparently the non-bioidentical estrogen in the BCPs doesn't act on the eyes the same way the body's own estrogens do.

I had the dry eye problem too. It began as a bad reaction to contact lenses and then evolved into the problem you've described. The treatment electrigirl suggested is just what my opthamologist recommended. I use TheraTears because my doctor recommended that I use a product that is preservative-free. Follow the steps she's describe and you should see improvement.