Christine’s story

Sore and dry eyes soon became an all too familiar part of my life.

The first signs of eye troubles were in 2006 when I saw lots of flashing lights and was told some vitreous gel had come away from the back of my eye. The same thing happened a couple of years later to the other eye and the gel has never completely dissolved, so my vision isn’t as clear as it used to be.

I was first diagnosed with the common form of glaucoma in January 2015 at the age of 64 and was fortunate to have had it picked up at an early stage. I didn’t much like the idea of having to apply eye drops once a day – little did I know that within a couple of years I’d be doing a lot more than that.

In June 2018, my eye pressures weren’t reducing enough so I was given a laser trabeculoplasty, which was successful. Now that my glaucoma was considered stable, I was discharged from the Royal Eye Infirmary’s clinics to come under the annual care of an optometrist.

Sore and dry eyes soon became an all too familiar part of my life. I’d already been using lubricating drops called Hylo-forte throughout the day, but I had no idea about eyelid care until I was told I had a stye during an eye examination. None of the professionals had ever told me.

In hindsight I’d been going about my daily life with what can only be termed non-medically as “gungy” eyelids, with bits of dried eyedrops stuck to them causing itchiness and irritation. Using eyelid wipes proved to be a very soothing sensation.

Another problem common among dry eye sufferers was my eyelids sticking together overnight and the pain that it caused. Everyone I saw advised me to use an eye ointment at night and although I tried several different brands, my eyes were still very uncomfortable in the morning. I then called the Glaucoma UK helpline who suggested I used gel drops instead. I did this without much hope but by that stage I was willing to try anything. Lo and behold it made a vast difference, and I can now go through most nights without having to apply lubricant drops. I find that washing my eyelids when I first get up is also very helpful.

I have tried so many eye drops and gels in the last few years that I’ve lost count but I’m now at a place where my eye problems are tolerable. In addition to the glaucoma drops, I wear a heated eye mask when I get up for five minutes each morning. followed by cleaning my eyelids. Then I apply lubricant drops every four or five hours throughout the day, more glaucoma drops at 7.00pm and 9.00pm, and then gel drops from individual phials at bedtime. My routine may seem very onerous but it’s surprising how quickly it becomes a part of daily life.

The final problem I encountered, which I believe is shared by others with dry eyes, is a heightened sensitivity to sunlight. I have to put my sunglasses on even when I hang out the washing on a cloudy day. I’ve learned to cope with this by wearing prescription sunglasses with polarising filters and wearing a peaked cap – not the height of fashion but who cares!

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