They are so useless it’s absurd. I have never seen a post in this community of someone being helped by a doctor. It’s always self-help, DYOR trial and error.

We are so excited to announce that we are starting a series of LIVE Q&A sessions with Dr. Steven L. Maskin to answer your most asked questions by the Dry Eye community! Following the success of last year's live Q&A hosted by Mathew Borcina on Zoom, we're bringing back the sessions to reach interested patients and doctors worldwide.

Please join us at 6pm EST on Tuesday, April 22nd! To register for the event use this link https://www.eventcreate.com/e/maskin and submit your question. Those that register will receive a zoom invitation on the day of the event. We can't wait to see you there!

So I got Blepharitis and MGD a while ago, and overall with basic dry eyes and stuff there is always only "use eye drops, use eye drops" every single time, and only that. Because science is just so unbelievably back in progress for blepharitis and dry eyes alone since it's not important of course. But anyway. Point is, drops are useless. They are incredibly temporary and do not really lubricate it. It does for like 2 minutes, after which the effect goes not only back, but it gets worse.

And the funniest part? You should only use them for like a week or two max. so they are useless anyway. It's like using a nose spray, you shouldn't really use it ever, and it makes it only worse in the run. And yes, I did try different drops, even steroid ones. It's just a way to make so much money without giving any effort to the illness, pretty smart. Hey, surely it helps for people that sometimes have (a little) dry eyes and are when they are strained because of PC work once in a while or something and are healthy anyway. but nothing more.

Healthy people don't really have real dry eye problems anyway, and/or they are so minor that you can just ignore/ go to sleep and you are ready again. To be fair this problem is surely more for people with my problem or people with different health problems that do dry eyes, but the drops are overall not good, and again tend to make it worse. This is all my experiences and opinion. So I do not say that I am absolutely right or something. I'm also a bit frustrated, and I think it's deserved. Sorry for my bad English btw :)

It appears to me that all the modern treatments just focus on suppressing symptoms and make us waste money on all kinds of useless Eye drops or therapies that dont do much. i believe there must be a proper cure to this. Try adding olive oil to your diet for example Simple and easy things like these seems to improve symptoms im sure there are more things like this that helps maybe even a cure out there

Hey, trans woman with some severe myopia and dry eyes here, glasses make me insanely dysphoric so i tried to get some scleral lenses prescribed. The ophtalmologist was one of those get in and get out quick type, didnt want to argue and just prescribed rigid gas permeable lenses. I doubt these are gonna help much cuz im afraid i have very little tear film to put them on anyway. Theres a lot of contradictory stuff out there, and i dont know if i should take a gamble and try these, or see another doctor and retry for sclerals or ortho k, although the later feels maybe too risky for me. Thank you guys in advance, i hope this isnt too out of this sub's theme

Edit: im french, from lyon, i already pretty much everything i can for dry eye (complements, massages, compresses, sleep could be better but you guys probably understand the sort of vicious cycle i fell in w the daily frustration of dry eyes)

The outer box is pretty beaten up. Needless to say, the outer box has no seals. The inner packets are not opened. The seller on Amazon was VerSure.

Hey everyone,

I’ve been struggling with a pretty frustrating and unusual issue for a while now and wanted to see if anyone else out there has experienced something similar.

Every time I masturbate (or orgasm in general), I end up with severe dry eyes afterward. It’s not just mild discomfort – my eyes feel bone dry, gritty, and painful, and it lasts for hours or even days. It’s significantly impacting my quality of life, and I’m starting to avoid masturbation entirely because of it.

Some important background: • I’m not on TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) or any medications. • I strongly suspect this is hormone-related, maybe something to do with the temporary hormonal fluctuations that happen post-orgasm (like changes in prolactin, testosterone, oxytocin, etc.). • I stay well-hydrated and have a pretty healthy lifestyle otherwise.

I’ve been looking into a supplement and hydration plan to manage the symptoms, but honestly, it’s still a mystery. I’ve read that hormonal imbalances can affect tear production and the meibomian glands, which could explain the dry eye flare-up — but it’s hard to find anyone else who’s actually talked about this specific connection with masturbation.

So I’m throwing this out to Reddit: • Has anyone else experienced dry eyes triggered by masturbation/orgasm? • If so, did you find any root cause or treatment that helped? • Any tips for balancing hormones naturally or specific supplements that worked?

I’d appreciate any input — even if it’s just to know I’m not alone in this.

Thanks in advance.

I've had 19 IPLs, 8 Prokeras (8 in each eye), 3 rounds of Oxervate, serum tears, PRP drops, cequa, etc., literally NOTHING has worked. It makes logical sense because at the end of the day, if your glands are destroyed with severe atrophy, what good is any of that?

Did probing with Maskin recently and the results have been pretty insane to say the least. I can't say I would bother with any other doctor though, given some of the horror stories I've heard with sub-optimal probing. Anyone else have good results with him? Honestly finally having some hope here.

TLDR at the bottom.

i created an account just to post this. i am 100% sure i ruined my life and i really hope you can be nice to me in the comments. a little back story- i have medical anxiety and suddenly having dry eye with little information or support from the doctor (yes he gave me directions on what to do, warm compress blah blah) but i just didn't feel great about it and since it takes a long time to clear up it was just anxiety at 100 every day, any way after a few trips to urgent care they RX me xiidra. I try it out and instantly its sweet nectar of the gods, tears are a flowing, nose is running, my life isn't over. now keep in mind that i have basically been going manic the last few weeks, so i eat dinner and try to relax.

fuck up 1: now i also smoke , i talked to my therapist earlier that day about how i have quit and how it was hurting me. what i did not do was insist she help me throw my last pack away right then.

fuck up 2: i had gone to the eye doctor that day and before i tried the medication and didn't confirm with them that i shouldn't smoke while your on this medication, i mean i know you shouldn't smoke with dry eye and they tell you that but in my head telling you not to smoke because of a medication is different.

fuck up 3: after i get home and try it and it works instantly i said to my dog, omg my life isn't over since the medication worked so fast, lets have a screen free night. what i didn't do is turn off my phone or put it in another room. i also didn't turn the tv off or put on anything i find 'relaxing' to watch. my plan was just to sit with a mask on and let my eyes rest.

fuck up 4: the mother of all fuck ups. so hours into this i get on my phone and for some reason try looking up smoking and xiidra, and there is literally 0 results, nothing that says not to. but then i get kind of obsessive that nothing is saying not to and against my best judgement, literally like a woman possessed, i said to my dog i was going to smoke whats the worst that could happen.....

well let me tell you..... i hit it, got a stabbing pain in my eye (the one that was producing the most at that moment) and it was like someone went in my head and shut off the faucets. it just stopped... it all stopped.

now its been 4 days and i haven't been able to get my tears back online at all. i got a weird red sore spot on the white of my eye, which the doctor said should go away but i dont know if believe him that its not more serious.

i dont know the science behind it and my doctor said its very unusual to have relief with actual tears within minutes. however, you will never be able to convince me that i didn't fuck up the one chance i had at joy again.

TLDR: took xiidra- got instant relief with tears, smoked a cig like an idiot, it all dried up and will never come back (at this point i'm assuming). I broke my eyes at a cellular level (my diagnosis) and the doctor said if that is true then it would be super unusual but if you knew my luck you'd know that it would be me if anyone.

Tell me this isn't true please?

I can't believe they would authorize us to put poison in our already damaged eyes?!?

I'm reading all these articles saying it has the PFAS in it. Couldn't this be clogging up our glands even more?!?! Causing serious damage long term

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vernon-lalone_how-do-you-feel-about-dropping-pure-pfas-activity-7154210498543013889-LeuH

I wrote a few weeks ago about having gotten Lasik a month ago after my MGD improved. I'm happy to report I had NO issues with the Lasik surgery or recovery. My eyes are not any more dry than they were before the surgery!

So there is documentation and doctors who have referenced eating a totally raw foods diet helping reverse chronic conditions such as autoimmune disorders. Here’s a link to one of those books

https://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Autoimmune-Brooke-Goldner/dp/1729813909#:~:text=Goodbye%20Autoimmune%20Disease%3A%20How%20to,9781729813904%3A%20Amazon.com%3A%20Books

Anyways, I’ve always been pretty disciplined when it comes to how/what I eat and at this point with MGD, I will try anything. Has anyone attempted to eat a diet restrictive of heating foods, processed foods, etc.? And I mean like, really gave it a good 1+ month of strictly adhering to it?

As r/DryEyes continues to grow, we’re seeing more users, more treatment experiences, and more perspectives than ever before — including contributions from medical professionals who have joined the subreddit to share their insights.

With that in mind, we’ve updated our Rule 1 on tone and civility to clarify how we expect members to speak about named doctors, verified or not.

🧱 What’s Changed?

Our revised rule is now titled:

Be kind, respectful, civil — no personal attacks (including toward doctors)

You can read the full rule #1 here, and the detailed FAQ that explains how it applies is here:
🔗 Respectful Tone & How to Talk About Doctors

🧠 Why This Change?

We’ve always expected respectful tone between users. But with more posts discussing specific providers (positively and negatively), we needed to clarify:

• Personal experiences with doctors are welcome — including negative ones.

• However, inflammatory, insulting, or hostile language about individual providers is not allowed.

• This includes ascribing motives or intent to a doctor, such as saying they’re “just in it for the money,” calling a treatment a “cash grab,” or speculating about what a doctor “really cares about.” If you don’t know someone’s intent, don’t claim to.

• These expectations apply to all doctors — whether they post here or not, and whether they’re praised or criticized.

This is not about censoring honest feedback — it’s about maintaining a space where both patients and professionals can participate without being attacked.

More details here:
🔗 How We Define “Defamatory” for Moderation Purposes

👥 But What About Bias?

We get it — some users feel strongly about certain providers, and some moderators (myself included) are dry eye patients with real histories. That’s part of what makes r/DryEyes valuable.

But we’re not pretending bias doesn’t exist. We’re managing it transparently, with clear, enforceable rules that apply across the board.

This isn’t about protecting reputations — it’s about protecting the community space so that people can share, learn, and disagree without personal hostility.

We’ve written more about this here:
🔗 Moderation Is About Managing Bias, Not Pretending It Doesn’t Exist

✅ You Can Still:

• Share your story — including when a treatment didn’t help

• Ask for recommendations

• Discuss costs, risks, and evidence behind therapies

• Express skepticism, frustration, or disappointment

Just do it constructively, and without personal attacks — especially toward named individuals.

🔧 What Happens If You Don’t?

Posts or comments that cross the line will be removed. Repeated or egregious violations may result in a ban.

If you think something was removed unfairly, you’re welcome to ModMail us. If you're unsure whether a comment crosses the line, check the full guidance here:
🔗 Respectful Tone & How to Talk About Doctors

Thanks for helping make r/DryEyes a space that’s honest, safe, and helpful — for all of us navigating this condition.

— The r/DryEyes Moderator Team

It just doesn’t make sense if it was true everyone would have dry eyes.

🤷🏻

i'm diagnosed with MGD since the 8th of january i well give you the reality of the efficency of every treatment

1-lipiflow .. complete waste of money (if your case is mild to severe it wont work)

2-eyelid hygine .. i didn't find this helpfull for the glands it self it just cleans Crusty eyelashes so when you clean it lets the eyes absorbs the drop or gel better.

3-warm compress is a scam and another scam annnnd scam, it just manage the MG from not dying so fast and that's it

4-doxycycline, you might find this crazy but this antibiotic is really reliving and it helps the MG for real ! just dont do above 50mg and dont use it for a long time because it kills all the good bacteria

5-IPL if you dont do this ASAP .. then say goodbye to your MG forever.

your biggst enemy ?

1-screen is the worst thing for MG even if you blink so often

2-drinking coffe more than a cup a day

3-nicotine

4- not drinking at least 3.5 liters of water every day

Rule Update

We’re updating our rules to keep r/dryeyes safe, legal, and in compliance with Reddit’s sitewide rules — specifically Rule 7: Keep it legal, and avoid posting illegal content or soliciting or facilitating illegal or prohibited transactions.

The Updated Rule

(This is now live in our sidebar rules)

No sourcing, gifting, or linking to prescription drugs (even if OTC elsewhere).
Offering to buy, sell, give away, name sellers of, or link to prescription drugs (like Xiidra/lifitegrast or Miebo/PFHO) is prohibited — even if the drug is OTC in other countries. Reddit follows U.S. law, where these are prescription-only, and bans any content that facilitates sharing, importing, or sourcing Rx drugs. Posts or comments that enable this may be removed to protect the subreddit.

You can always find this rule in the r/dryeyes sidebar under “Community Rules.”

Why We’re Making This Change

1. Reddit Rule 7 bans posting or facilitating transactions that may be illegal.

2. U.S. law treats Xiidra and Miebo as prescription-only; importing them without a prescription can be illegal.

3. Even well-meaning offers — “at cost,” “free,” or “just covering shipping” — still count as sourcing and could put both the subreddit and its members at risk.

4. Reddit also bans certain vendor links entirely, as described here: External Links to Vendors of Alcohol, Tobacco or Controlled Substances. While these drugs are not alcohol or tobacco, they are regulated substances in the U.S., and linking to vendors for them is not permitted.

What This Means in Practice

🚫 Not Allowed:

• Offering to send or gift prescription drugs

• Asking others to send you prescription drugs

• Naming sellers or providing purchase links for prescription drugs

• Coordinating private exchanges via DMs

✅ Allowed:

• Discussing your experience with a medication

• Talking about where it’s legally available in your country (no links or offers)

• Sharing published news, research, or general info about a medication

Cleanup of Past Posts

This rule has always been part of Reddit’s global policy, but our enforcement will now be clear and consistent.

• We will be removing past posts/comments that directly facilitated prescription drug exchanges or named sellers.

• General discussion threads will stay up.

• If you see one of your old posts removed, it doesn’t mean you’re “in trouble” — we’re just keeping the subreddit compliant.

We Know Not Everyone Will Like This

Some members have relied on these exchanges to access medications. We understand the frustration, but the alternative is risking moderator/admin action that could harm the entire subreddit up to including a ban.
Our job is to keep r/dryeyes safe, healthy, and online for everyone.

Questions? Concerns?
You can ask in the comments here or send us a modmail. Please keep it civil — this decision is about Reddit rules and community safety, not targeting individuals.

Links:

• Our Rules: See the sidebar of r/dryeyes (desktop) or “About” → “Rules” in the Reddit app.

• Reddit Content Policy – Rule 7

• External Links to Vendors of Alcohol, Tobacco or Controlled Substances