How to deal with constant blurring and burning?

By kaykay

Two years ago was diagnosed with lupus.

Did Lupus trigger my dry eye?

That's when my dry eye symptoms worsened. Since I was a teacher (now retired). I have had problems with burning and dry eye frequently.

I have a great eye doctor so he suggested using artificial tears which worked well- until this year.

My dry eye symptoms

I constantly have stinging eyes and sometimes blurry vision. The tears no longer work as well.

I mentioned this to my eye dr last visit- he suggested continuing the tears, using my allergy tears(lots of allergies), and trying to rest my eyes from detail work frequently.

This helps some but it is not enough. I visit him in January so I will inform him that it has gotten worse. Thanks for reading.

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RHall Admin
Hi <inline-mention username="kaykay" user-id="4497094"/> - thanks for sharing your story. When you told your doctor the artificial tears that had been working were no longer working, did he/she give you more detail into why they suggested you continue using it? Just curious. Also you may have seen this but here are other potential treatment options that might help when you speak to your eye doctor next too (<a href='https://chronicdryeye.net/medications' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>https://chronicdryeye.net/medications</a>) - Reggie, <a href='http://ChronicDryEye.net' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>ChronicDryEye.net</a> Team Member
Wendy Toogood Moderator
 Hello <inline-mention username="kaykay" user-id="4497094"/>. One thing that many of us do is to use a warm, moist mask or face-cloth on our closed eyes. It sounds very simple, but it helps many people. I use a microwaveable one which I bought from the pharmacist. Best wishes, Wendy, Advocate.
Anna Williams Moderator
Hi <inline-mention username="kaykay" user-id="4497094"/> - thank you for sharing! I can relate. I had problems with my eyes and my eye doctor just told me to use whatever OTC and I ended up using allergy drops because he said I had a little allergy eye and a little dry eye. Anyway, fast forward a couple years and I go to a new doctor and my eyes are severely dry and she feels the allergy eye drops were an issue for me. So she has me using warm compresses and has me on prescription dry eye medication. Please do have this conversation - I wish I had pursued harder earlier on. You aren't alone, Anna, Advocate
Ava Meena Moderator
Hi <inline-mention username="kaykay" user-id="4497094"/> - I have lupus as well and I developed dry eyes shortly after my diagnosis. It's been a journey (almost five years) and I've experienced eye damage, severe dryness, and recently learned I also have Sjogren's syndrome, which is often seen with lupus and can cause dry eyes. One of the first things I tried was plugs for my tear ducts because I have evaporative dry eye, it seemed like a really simple thing to try and it did help me. I also changed up my lupus meds because I found that having my systemic disease under control helped with the dryness. I also use immunosuppressant eye drops and OTC lubricating eye drops - it's important to use preservative free ones if you're using them frequently. That's just what has worked for me personally. Treatment can depend on what type of dry eye you have as well as how much your autoimmune issues are playing into the dryness. I hope you can find answers at your appointment! I would definitely recommend bringing it up to your rheumatologist as well. -Ava, <a href='http://chronicdryeye.net' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>chronicdryeye.net</a> team
Therese
Have you been tested for Sjogren's? I have Sjogren's and one of the symptoms is chronic dry eye. Sjogren's can piggyback on the lupus diagnosis and it's a common autoimmune disease albeit not many have heard of it.
1. Ava Meena Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Therese" user-id="4679990"/> This is a good point, especially since Sjogren's often overlaps with lupus. It could open up more treatment options. Although lupus can cause dry eye by itself, it's generally a good idea to investigate all possible causes. -Ava, CDE team.