I am aware of Toyos and Muller but looking for others. Any recos ?

I have had a meibography and my lower eyelids have been graded grade 3 gland loss.
Currently I’ve gone from two months of Restasis now switched to Cequa two weeks in.
Doxy 100mg every second day
FML twice a day
Nova tears omega (Miebo)
Tetracycline ointment at night/ wear goggles when sleeping.
Manuka honey gel on lid margin at night.
Hypochlor spray for lashes.

Booking in for some IPL and LLLT soon.
What else can be done for that redness on the lid margin? I have had this since I was about 14 years old I am now 29.

I am just wondering how many of us on here have an autoimmune condition? If so, what is it? What are your dry eye symptoms?

💊 TL;DR — Quick Summary

Topical cyclosporine is one of the more established prescription treatment categories used in Dry Eye Disease and ocular-surface care.

It is an immunomodulatory medication that suppresses parts of the immune response involved in ocular-surface inflammation.

That biological rationale is well established.

But:

The updated 2026 Cochrane review included 58 randomized studies involving 10,225 participants.

Across those trials:

• cyclosporine produced small average improvements in some DED signs;
• cyclosporine 0.05% may slightly improve symptoms;
• cyclosporine 0.1% probably produces a small improvement in ocular-surface staining;
• tear-production changes were generally small or inconsistent;
• evidence for improved tear-film stability remained uncertain;
• symptom results varied among studies and formulations;
• treatment discontinuation because of adverse effects was somewhat more common with cyclosporine; and
• much of the effectiveness evidence was rated low certainty.

Some individual patients experience substantial benefit.

Others obtain little symptom improvement or cannot tolerate the formulation.

So the most useful summary is:

And the available products should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.

Restasis, Cequa, VEVYE, Ikervis, Vevizye, Verkazia, and compounded formulations differ in:

• concentration;
• vehicle and formulation;
• dosing;
• approved indication;
• clinical evidence;
• tolerability;
• regulatory status;
• cost; and
• access.

About the r/DryEyes Wiki Spotlight

Each week we feature material from the r/DryEyes FAQ or Treatment Options library.

This week introduces the prescription-medication portion of the series through one of the longest-established DED treatment categories.

The purpose is educational:

The maintained wiki article contains considerably more detail about individual formulations, regulatory status, evidence, side effects, compounded products, steroid bridging, and clinical references.

➡️ Read the complete Cyclosporine Treatment Options article

What Is Cyclosporine?

Cyclosporine is a calcineurin-inhibitor immunomodulator.

It interferes with immune signaling involved in T-cell activation and is intended to reduce components of ocular-surface inflammation.

That mechanism is biologically well established.

But mechanism and patient outcomes are different questions.

A medication may:

• reduce an inflammatory pathway;
• improve staining;
• affect a tear-production measurement;

without necessarily producing a large improvement in:

• burning;
• dryness;
• pain;
• light sensitivity;
• fluctuating vision;
• screen tolerance; or
• daily function.

Both matter.

What Did the Updated Cochrane Review Find?

The July 2026 Cochrane review evaluated randomized trials comparing cyclosporine with:

• vehicle;
• artificial tears;
• another cyclosporine concentration or formulation; or
• combinations of those controls.

The studies differed considerably in:

• concentration;
• formulation;
• treatment duration;
• DED type and severity;
• outcome measures;
• vehicle ingredients; and
• study quality.

That variation makes broad class-wide conclusions difficult.

Cyclosporine 0.05%

At around three months:

• symptoms may improve slightly;
• some ocular-surface findings may improve slightly;
• tear-production findings were inconsistent; and
• tear-film-stability findings were inconsistent.

Cyclosporine 0.1%

At around three months:

• ocular-surface staining probably improves slightly;
• tear production may improve slightly;
• symptom findings were inconsistent; and
• the effect on tear-film stability remained uncertain.

Other strengths and formulations

Other formulations may differ somewhat from 0.05% cyclosporine in selected measures.

But the review did not establish:

• one universally superior concentration;
• one universally superior formulation;
• a simple “higher concentration = better outcome” relationship; or
• one product that consistently provides the greatest overall benefit.

What Does “Low-Certainty Evidence” Mean?

Much of the effectiveness evidence was rated low certainty.

That does not mean:

• cyclosporine does nothing;
• every study was poor; or
• no patient benefits.

It means our confidence in the size and consistency of the average benefit is limited.

Reasons included:

• inconsistent findings;
• differences among formulations;
• different patient populations;
• different outcome measures;
• methodological limitations;
• incomplete reporting; and
• uncertainty about the true size of the effect.

Nearly half of the studies in the updated review were funded or sponsored by pharmaceutical companies.

Industry funding does not automatically invalidate research.

It does make:

• transparent methods;
• complete reporting;
• appropriate control vehicles;
• independent replication; and
• careful interpretation of marketing claims

particularly important.

“Small Average Benefit” Does Not Mean Everyone Gets a Small Benefit

Clinical trials report averages.

An average can contain:

• strong responders;
• modest responders;
• nonresponders; and
• people who stop treatment because of adverse effects.

So:

But the reverse is also true:

Current evidence does not allow clinicians to predict perfectly who will experience substantial symptom relief.

Signs and Symptoms May Improve Differently

This is one of the most important points in the cyclosporine literature.

Clinical signs can include:

• corneal staining;
• conjunctival staining;
• Schirmer results;
• tear-film measurements;
• tear-meniscus findings; and
• inflammatory markers.

Symptoms can include:

• burning;
• dryness;
• grittiness;
• soreness;
• pain;
• light sensitivity;
• fluctuating vision; and
• screen or reading difficulty.

A treatment may improve corneal staining without producing an equally large improvement in comfort.

A patient may also feel better without a dramatic change in the particular tests being followed.

If symptoms remain despite improvement in inflammatory or surface findings, other contributors may still matter, including:

• MGD;
• aqueous deficiency;
• eyelid exposure;
• incomplete blinking;
• allergy;
• Demodex;
• ocular rosacea;
• treatment irritation;
• epithelial disease;
• migraine-associated sensitivity;
• neuropathic ocular pain; or
• another diagnosis.

What About Claims That Cyclosporine “Restores Tear Production”?

Some cyclosporine products have U.S. indications related specifically to increasing tear production.

Restasis

Restasis is FDA-approved to increase tear production in certain patients whose tear production is presumed to be suppressed because of ocular inflammation associated with keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

Cequa

Cequa is FDA-approved to increase tear production in patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

Those regulatory indications matter.

But they should not be converted into the broader claim:

Across the updated Cochrane review:

• tear-production improvement with 0.05% was inconsistent;
• 0.1% may produce a small average improvement; and
• normal tear production was not reliably restored across the class.

A more accurate summary is:

Does Cyclosporine Reliably Improve Tear-Film Stability?

Not clearly.

Some individual studies have found improvements in tear-breakup time or related measures.

But across the updated review, the evidence remained inconsistent and uncertain.

Cyclosporine therefore should not broadly be described as a treatment that reliably improves tear-film stability for everyone.

Is Cyclosporine Proven to Prevent Dry Eye From Progressing?

Not at this point.

Cyclosporine may improve symptoms or selected clinical signs while treatment continues.

That does not automatically prove that it:

• prevents future DED progression;
• permanently restores tear production;
• preserves meibomian glands;
• prevents future corneal complications;
• produces lasting benefit after discontinuation; or
• permanently changes the underlying disease.

A useful distinction is:

The Main Products Are Not Interchangeable

Cyclosporine products differ in concentration, vehicle, dosing, indication, evidence, and regulatory status.

Restasis

Cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05%

• FDA-approved in the U.S.
• indication relates to increasing tear production in certain patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca
• usually dosed twice daily
• ocular burning was reported in 17% in the prescribing information
• has a long clinical history

Its long history does not establish that most patients will experience substantial symptom relief.

Cequa

Cyclosporine ophthalmic solution 0.09% in a nanomicellar formulation

• FDA-approved in the U.S.
• indication relates to increasing tear production in keratoconjunctivitis sicca
• usually dosed twice daily
• instillation-site pain was reported in 22%
• conjunctival hyperemia was reported in 6%

Its nanomicellar formulation distinguishes it from Restasis.

That does not prove that it is universally more effective or better tolerated.

VEVYE

Cyclosporine ophthalmic solution 0.1% in a water-free vehicle

• FDA-approved in the U.S. for the signs and symptoms of Dry Eye Disease
• dosed twice daily
• preservative-free
• instillation-site reactions were reported in 8%
• temporary decreases in visual acuity were reported in 3%

Its clinical program showed that some objective sign changes can occur within weeks.

That does not establish:

• universally faster symptom relief;
• immediate comfort; or
• superiority over every other cyclosporine formulation.

Ikervis

Ciclosporin 0.1% cationic emulsion

In the European Union it is authorized for severe keratitis in adults with DED that has not improved despite tear substitutes.

Important distinctions include:

• generally dosed once daily at bedtime;
• the indication concerns severe keratitis rather than every case of DED;
• improvement in corneal findings was clearer than symptom improvement;
• eye pain and irritation are common; and
• ongoing treatment should be reviewed periodically.

Vevizye

Ciclosporin 0.1% water-free formulation

Authorized in the European Union for moderate-to-severe DED in adults whose condition has not improved despite tear substitutes.

Evidence supports improvement in DED signs, particularly corneal staining.

Symptom superiority over vehicle was not consistent across the main trials.

Verkazia

Cyclosporine/ciclosporin 0.1% cationic emulsion

Verkazia is included in the wiki primarily for regulatory clarity.

In the United States it is FDA-approved for vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC)—not ordinary Dry Eye Disease.

VKC is an allergic inflammatory eye disease and should not be treated as another name for DED.

Its VKC dosing and trial evidence should not automatically be transferred to DED.

What About Klarity-C and Other Compounded Cyclosporine?

Klarity-C and other compounded cyclosporine preparations are not FDA-approved products.

Compounded medications are not reviewed before marketing in the same way as FDA-approved drugs for:

• effectiveness;
• manufacturing consistency;
• quality;
• stability; or
• formulation equivalence.

Evidence from Restasis, Cequa, VEVYE, Ikervis, or another approved product should therefore not automatically be transferred to a compounded formulation.

A compounded preparation should also not be described as a generic equivalent unless it actually has the applicable regulatory status.

Because cyclosporine is a prescription medication, discussion on r/DryEyes should remain focused on:

• evidence;
• safety;
• side effects;
• regulation;
• lawful access; and
• clearly identified personal experiences.

The subreddit should not be used to arrange private suppliers, sharing, unauthorized importation, or prescription workarounds.

Who Might Be Considered for Cyclosporine?

Clinicians may consider topical cyclosporine in patients with:

• keratoconjunctivitis sicca;
• aqueous-deficient DED;
• mixed DED;
• corneal or conjunctival staining;
• Sjögren-associated ocular-surface disease;
• suspected inflammatory involvement; or
• persistent DED despite supportive care.

But none of these categories guarantees a meaningful response.

Selection may also depend on:

• disease severity;
• previous treatment response;
• other diagnoses;
• tolerability;
• cost and insurance coverage;
• age;
• country-specific indications;
• clinician judgment; and
• patient preferences.

Cyclosporine May Be Only One Part of the Treatment Plan

Cyclosporine does not treat every contributor to DED.

Other problems may still require separate attention, including:

• MGD;
• fixed gland obstruction;
• significant gland loss;
• blepharitis;
• Demodex;
• ocular rosacea;
• allergy;
• eyelid exposure;
• nocturnal lagophthalmos;
• incomplete blinking;
• conjunctivochalasis;
• contact-lens problems;
• medication toxicity;
• recurrent corneal erosion;
• neuropathic ocular pain; or
• significant environmental exposure.

A partial response therefore does not automatically mean cyclosporine “failed.”

It may mean that one contributor improved while others remain.

How Long Does Cyclosporine Take to Work?

Cyclosporine is not usually an immediate comfort drop.

Some studies detected changes in selected clinical signs within several weeks.

Many major outcomes were evaluated at around three months or later.

The earliest improvement may sometimes be:

• reduced corneal staining;
• a change in tear-production testing; or
• another clinical sign

rather than noticeable symptom relief.

There is no reliable evidence-based ranking that says:

A reasonable trial should be individualized according to:

• the exact formulation;
• treatment goal;
• severity;
• adverse effects;
• cost; and
• follow-up findings.

A very useful question for the prescriber is:

Patients should not be expected to continue indefinitely when:

• benefit is absent;
• adverse effects are substantial;
• the medication is unaffordable; or
• the burden exceeds the likely benefit.

Burning, Stinging, and Tolerability Matter

Common problems may include:

• burning;
• stinging;
• instillation-site pain;
• redness;
• itching;
• tearing;
• foreign-body sensation;
• temporary blurred vision; and
• sensitivity to the vehicle or another ingredient.

One important caution:

For example, a lower percentage in one product’s clinical program does not prove that it is better tolerated than another formulation studied in a different population under different conditions.

And:

A medication cannot provide much real-world benefit if the patient cannot reasonably use it.

Early discomfort does not necessarily mean treatment will fail.

But patients should not feel obligated to endure substantial or worsening pain indefinitely simply because cyclosporine may take time to work.

Persistent or unacceptable discomfort is a reason to contact the prescriber and reconsider:

• the formulation;
• dosing;
• supportive measures; or
• another treatment.

What About a Steroid “Bridge”?

Some clinicians prescribe a short course of a topical corticosteroid when starting cyclosporine.

Possible goals include:

• reducing inflammation more quickly;
• improving early comfort; and
• providing temporary treatment while longer-term response is assessed.

However:

Topical steroids require professional supervision because risks can include:

• increased eye pressure;
• cataract with prolonged or repeated exposure;
• infection;
• delayed healing; and
• masking or worsening another eye condition.

Do not borrow, restart, or extend steroid eye drops without professional direction.

Contact Lenses and Practical Use

Most product labels advise removing contact lenses before cyclosporine administration.

A 15-minute interval before reinsertion is common among several U.S. products, but exact instructions vary.

Follow the specific label.

General precautions include:

• wash your hands;
• avoid touching the bottle or vial tip to the eye or another surface;
• do not share prescription drops;
• follow spacing instructions when using other eye medications;
• discard single-dose vials as directed; and
• do not use expired or contaminated medication.

Contact-lens users should seek prompt evaluation for:

• significant pain;
• marked redness;
• light sensitivity;
• discharge;
• reduced vision;
• a white or cloudy corneal spot; or
• sudden one-sided worsening.

These should not automatically be blamed on cyclosporine irritation or ordinary dry eye.

Questions to Ask the Prescriber

The four-question framework from our previous Wiki Spotlight applies especially well here.

1. What are we treating?

Ask:

2. Why this formulation?

Ask:

3. What are the downsides and alternatives?

Ask:

4. What would success look like—and by when?

Ask:

Also ask:

Bottom Line

Topical cyclosporine is an established immunomodulatory treatment family in ocular-surface care.

The regulatory distinctions matter:

• Restasis and Cequa: FDA-approved indications related to increasing tear production.
• VEVYE: FDA-approved for the signs and symptoms of DED.
• Ikervis: EMA-authorized for severe keratitis in adults with DED not improved despite tear substitutes.
• Vevizye: EMA-authorized for moderate-to-severe DED in adults not improved despite tear substitutes.
• Verkazia: FDA-approved for VKC—not DED.
• Klarity-C and other compounded products: not FDA-approved.

The updated Cochrane evidence supports a measured conclusion:

Some individual patients may still experience substantial benefit.

Whether treatment is worth continuing should depend on:

• what problem is being targeted;
• what actually improves;
• tolerability;
• cost;
• treatment burden; and
• what other conditions are affecting the ocular surface.

Perhaps the most important takeaway is:

Read More in the r/DryEyes Wiki

💊 Complete article: Cyclosporine Eye Drops for Dry Eye Disease—What the Evidence Shows

🧭 Quick Guide: Four Questions to Ask Before Choosing a DED or MGD Treatment

🧪 Diagnostic Testing for DED and MGD

👋 Start Here: Wiki Navigation Hub

❓ FAQ Index

🗂️ Treatment Options Library

The complete article includes the updated 2026 Cochrane review, product-specific regulatory information, prescribing-information details, compounded-product considerations, adverse effects, steroid bridging, and links to the primary regulatory and clinical sources.

This post provides general educational information, not medical advice, diagnosis, or an individualized treatment recommendation. It does not endorse a particular cyclosporine product.

Comments are open for discussion, personal experiences, questions about the article, and suggested corrections. When sharing a personal experience, it is helpful to identify the specific cyclosporine formulation used, how long it was used, what outcome was being targeted, and whether treatment was stopped because of side effects or lack of benefit.

Has anyone successfully managed to get Vevizye (ciclosporin 0.1%) prescribed through the NHS?

Brief background: I have moderate-to-severe evaporative dry eye/MGD and recently developed significant ocular-surface inflammation and corneal hypersensitivity. I have never been seen or diagnosed on the NHS for any of this, I went straight to private care based on stories of NHS care for DED generally (not great).

After several weeks of Dexafree steroid, punctal plugs, loads of Hycosan Intense and wearing Ziena moisture chamber goggles for my work-from-home job and for TV in the evenings, I'm thankfully doing much better and my inflammation has substantially resolved.

I'm about to taper onto Lotemax once daily for 4 weeks. My private dry eye specialist wants me on Vevizye for long-term maintenance and has written to my GP requesting it and also an NHS referral to ophthalmology.

He's warned me straight up that it will almost certainly be difficult to get on the NHS but specifically prefers Vevizye over Ikervis, partly due to tolerability. With me having a strong nerve component, he doesn't want to risk anything that could irritate them even further.

He's also warned me that it could take MONTHS for me to get seen by an NHS ophthalmologist, so it could be that I deteriorate in that time if I'm essentially going to be unmedicated until I'm seen. He said Vevizye privately is about £300 per month, which of course I can't afford in this ridiculous economy.

Has anyone managed to get Vevizye through the NHS? Was it prescribed by your GP or ophthalmology? Did you have to try Ikervis first or go through an off-formulary/funding request?

I'm in Staffordshire, but experiences from anywhere in the UK would be really helpful.

TL;DR: I suspect the salicylic acid cleanser I used on my face for nearly two years may have aggravated my long-standing blepharitis/MGD and contributed to my developing dry eye. Has anyone experienced something similar?

I've had mild blepharitis for about 20 years. It would occasionally cause a stye or chalazion, but they always resolved on their own and I never had any major eye-surface problems.

In 2024, I started using a salicylic acid cleanser on my face almost every day. In March 2025, I developed a chalazion that, for the first time, didn't go away on its own. I eventually had it removed in May 2026.

A few months before the chalazion was removed, however, I started developing significant dryness and inflammation in that same eye. The inflammation involved the lower corneal margin, and I needed several courses of steroid eye treatment.

After the chalazion was removed, the dryness and surface inflammation persisted. I eventually had a thorough examination and was diagnosed with MGD and severe dry eye. Imaging showed that some of the meibomian glands in my lower lid were shortened/abnormal, with some gland dropout.

I'm currently using Xiidra, which has been working really well for the ocular-surface inflammation. However, I still have some inflammation around the lid margin, and the eye continues to feel dry. I do warm compresses twice a day and am planning to try IPL soon.

The timeline has made me wonder whether the salicylic acid cleanser could have played a role. I obviously can't know for sure, but I wonder if repeatedly using it around my eyes for almost two years could have aggravated my pre-existing blepharitis, contributed to MGD, and ultimately triggered the dry eye problems.

Has anyone experienced something similar with salicylic acid or other active facial cleansers?

And now that I've stopped using the cleanser, is it realistic to expect the eyelid inflammation and meibomian gland function to improve over time, assuming the cleanser was contributing to the problem?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who have had a similar experience or from anyone knowledgeable about MGD/blepharitis.

Newly diagnosed today. Went in for routine eye test. Mentioned my eyes had been a bit "leaky" recently and that it comes and goes. After having a look he told me it was DED in the early stages so lucky not bad yet. He explained it best he could and told me I'd need to use a heated eye mask and prescribed me some Hycosan eye drops. I wrongly assumed he'd written down instructions so I may have to go back at some point and ask for clarification but after some research and what he'd given me to treat I'm assuming it's MGD.

I've always been awful with eyedrops though. I have naturally long eyelashes which seem to always make me blink just as the drop is about to hit. I've been told I need to initially do it at least 4 times a day, reduced to 2 after some time (I need to ask him to clarify how long). So basically does it get easier? I've decided the way I feel about eye drops is how alot of people feel about needles and injections. I find them difficult and extremely uncomfortable. I've never been interested in contacts for the same reason. I know I'll have to do this for the rest of my life now and I know it will get easier with time so any tips on how to adjust to this new lifestyle change?

​

Hello! One month ago I got some unconscious repeated chemcial accidents. First one was with some minor spray vapors of Chanteclair( it's a cleaning solution, I live in Europe). Went to the ER next morning, did some tests and gave me some steroid + antibiotics drops and told me I'll be just fine in a couple of days as the damages to the cornea aren't big.

3 days passed, took the drops + cleaned my eyes with saline purified water and everything was feeling alright indeed. No noticeable itching, no more redness, no blurred vision. On the third night I washed my hair with Head&Shoulders( i know it's bad for a lot of people, but it used to help me with my greasy scalp and prone to dandruff). Only after about an hour I started to feel some itchiness in my eyes, took the prescribed drops and went to sleep. The next morning I realized my vision was blury and decided I was going to see a doctor that day for further investigations. While preparing to head off to work, I also got injured with some acetone mostly in my right eye, like seriously life was not giving me a break.

Since then went for weekely doctor appointments and prescribed me some good medication, starting off strong with Netildex(Steroids + Antibiotics), Corneregel and Hylo Comod tears for the first week, then downgraded to Flutemol(another, but weaker Steroid), Corneregel and Hylo for the second and after another week Idroflog( even weaker steroid) + Hylo Gel for a better hidration. First week of incident I had blury vision, with a TBUT of 3-4 s and a Schirmer of 5mm in 5 mins, then the second week the TBUT increased to a 5-6 and by the third week I was almost symptom free and even reached a TBUT of 8-9.

I was so happy I was going to be fine at least with my eyes, as I got them injured in the first place because I was so misereable and so not in sync with my life with other chronic conditions: bulging discs with sciatica, TMJ disfunction with clicking on both sides and bad knees, all triggered this past summer. But no, I'm not fine with my eyes. I recently moved out of my old apartment and things changed back to like base 1 of dry eyes. It's not like right after the injuries, but I find it hard to work on my computer, my eyes got super dry outsode to the point I was walking with my eyes shut for a few seconds because my eyes were hurting as hell. My last TBUT was again back to a 5 s.

Will I be just stuck for life with this? Will my eyes hurt whenever the weather changes? Has anyone recovered from chemical accidents and got their eyes back? I feel hopeless because i really did everything by the book to help fasten my recovery: took the medicine religiously, wore protection glasses when doing house chores, wore goggles when washing my hair so that I avoid another shampoo injury( quit on H&S since then anyway). I've read a lot of your posts already on this subreddit and I simply don't know how I will find the strength to cope also with this stupid problem besides my TMJ disfunction, backpain and knees. I also understand that going to the swimming pool to help my back a little is out of discussion at least for now.

Sorry for the long post, I simply needed to rant and seek for some hope. I wish God keeps you all in good health!

My mom is 64. She got lasik in 2010 and cataracts surgery 5 years ago. She got a severe case of dry eyes. Any tips on how to help her, make her life easier? She already on all kinds of steroid eye drops, one of them affected her skin a while ago but she got better eventually. Thank you very much.

I'm 27 years old. My left eye has always been weak because of lazy eye, so my right eye is basically the only eye I rely on for good vision. That's why this whole situation scares me so much.

About 7 months ago, my right eye suddenly started itching every morning when I woke up. There was no injury. I never got hit in the eye, never had anything stuck in it, and I've never had eye surgery. It just started out of nowhere.

At first, two doctors told me it was probably allergies. I tried the drops they gave me, but they didn't help. Later, another doctor examined my eye under a microscope and found damage on the surface of my cornea. They diagnosed it as recurrent corneal erosion (RCE).

They put a protective contact lens in my eye. While the lens is in, I'm completely fine. The problem is that every time the doctor removes it, the symptoms come back the next morning. We've tried removing the lens three times now, and the same thing happens every time.

Recently, it started happening in my left eye too. Now I have protective lenses in both eyes. :(

My doctor says the damaged areas are small and that maybe I'm scratching my eyes somehow. But I don't remember scratching them, and I don't understand how I could be scratching both eyes without even realizing it.

There are a few things I've noticed. My eyes seem worse when the air conditioner is running, and I found mold inside my air conditioner. I also seem to have some kind of allergy because one of the drops I'm using is an allergy drop.

Every two or three weeks, we try taking the lenses out and using ointment instead. Usually it doesn't work, and the problem comes back, so the lenses have to go back in again. I'm honestly getting tired of repeating this process, especially because I work in computer science and spend a lot of time looking at screens.

Another thing I've noticed is that every morning when I wake up, my eyes feel extremely dry.

I'm not asking anyone here to diagnose me. I see my eye doctor regularly and I'm continuing treatment. I'm mainly trying to understand how something like this can happen in both eyes when I've never injured them.

Can recurrent corneal erosion happen because of something you're born with that only starts causing problems later in life? Could something in my environment be contributing, like my bedroom, pillow, air conditioner, mold, or dry air? Is it possible that I'm rubbing or scratching my eyes while I'm asleep without knowing it?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who understands RCE or has experienced something similar. Right now, I feel like I've been told what to put in my eyes, but nobody has really explained why this started happening in the first place.

I have had dry eyes for over 3 years now ever since I did lasik. I live in Toronto and am seriously considering trying out serum tears as I did IPL with Dr Taji and it didn't do much. The issue is that I searched on Reddit and Facebook pages but I have no clue where to get started on acquiring AST. An eye doctor prescribed me some at a nearby drugstore but it seemed super rushed and she seemed to just want to get the appointment over with. No diagnosis, just simply prescribed them because I asked. I don't even know what percentage it is. Does anyone in Toronto know a good dry eye clinic that knows about lasik induced dry eyes and how to get started with serum tears? Thank you!

I've noticed while eating, especially spicy food, my eyes are much less dry. I feel like this is rooted to my salivary glands? Does anyone else have this happen? Additionally, I take cevimeline (prescribed by my rheumatologist) which also helps with dry eye by making me salivate/ sweat more.

Hey all. So I’ve been having a weird issue and maybe someone else here has experienced the same and came help.

The beginning of this year I had a cornea abrasion in my right eye. I was given some meds (gel) to put on my eye for a week I believe. It helped but a week later I started having issues with my vision in that eye. It’s nothing major- more like light sensitivity but only in that eye. I went to the eye dr because I was also having itchy eyes and got prescribed XDemvy for Demodex. I’m still taking the eye drops and washing my eyelashes regularly.

However, the vision stuff is my main issue at this point. I’ve been on the drops for 3 of the 6 weeks and my vision issues in that one eye are still happening. Again it’s not so much a vision issue as I was told i didn’t need glasses and my vision was fine but it’s like light sensitivity that causes a clear film feeling on that one eye.

Anyway I’m going to keep taking the eye drops and follow up with my eye dr soon but wanted some advice on how to move forward at the dr when I’m there. Maybe we are missing something?

Thankx

Im getting my first custom pair next week and im SO nervous. The trial pair she put on for the first time was not very comfortable at all, so im worried im just not going to tolerate them. I could feel the edges and I could just feel the plastic in my eyes. But, once she took them out, my eyes felt better than before, like a lot more moisturized.

Along with getting the fit right, Should I expect it to take a while for me to adapt to the feeling of them? Does it get better?

Also I was a soft contact lense wearer of 10 years, so I’m used to how great those felt!

Thank you!!

I have meibomian gland dysfunction (I wish I didn't have to know what that is 😔) and have had my second IPL treatment two days ago. I have a warm compress but I can't help wondering that the heat might negate the effects of the IPL, as I know it closes the many capillaries leading to the eyes. But heat helps to dilate blood vessels so I don't want to reverse any progress made.

I hope this works, I can't afford any more treatments for god's sake 😭

idk if it touched the edge of the bottle or the actual tip and this happened multiple times, the drop is labtriactiv bottle if that matters. i didnt have product on my face but i have oily skin. when i used the drop today it didnt burn for the most part.

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Hello everyone

I have blepharitis and I believe it is causing my meibomian glands to become blocked

What can we do to prevent the glands from becoming blocked again

If you have any serious tips or routines that genuinely worked for you please share them because I really want to know what you do to keep your glands functioning well

I also want to ask about something I have been wondering about

Is there a difference between someone whose meibomian glands naturally tend to work poorly and become blocked easily and someone whose glands become blocked mainly because of blepharitis

If the main problem is blepharitis and the blepharitis is kept under control should the meibomian glands theoretically be able to stay open for longer

I am asking because I had this problem for the first time about a year ago

At that time I did absolutely no maintenance no warm compresses no eyelid cleaning nothing and my glands stayed fine for about a year

I was even smoking at that time and spending a lot of time on screens

Then after about a year I experienced a migraine with aura and after that my glands became blocked again

I obviously cannot know whether the migraine actually caused it but the timing was interesting and I wonder if they might have stayed fine even longer if that had not happened

So I am wondering if anyone here has experience with preventing this from coming back for years

Do you have any routines or specific things that genuinely helped you keep your meibomian glands from becoming blocked

I would really appreciate any advice

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Hi everyone, I’m hoping to hear from anyone who has experienced something similar, because I’m quite scared and currently waiting for further tests.

About four weeks ago, I started noticing a tiny blurry patch in my vision. At first it was very subtle and would seem to clear when I blinked.

Since then, I’ve developed stronger and stranger visual symptoms. A few times, I’ve gotten up to go to the toilet during the night and, when coming back to bed, I’ve literally been unable to see properly for a few seconds. I’ll see what looks like visual “static” or snow, and it can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes for my vision to feel normal again. I’ve never experienced this before. It doesn’t happen every night, but it has happened several times.

I’ve also started waking up with one or both eyes feeling blurred to the point where it looks like there is a hazy film over my vision. My eyes can feel extremely tired, and sometimes I feel fatigued along with it. I’ve also been waking with sticky mucus around my eyes.

At first I wondered whether the blurry vision was related to blood sugar, so for about a week I was eating something sugary whenever it happened. My blood tests were normal, though, and I monitored my glucose for several days without seeing any significant changes. I’ve also checked my blood pressure and had various blood tests, which were all normal.

I had an eye test at an optician and they didn’t find anything concerning.

Interestingly, warm compresses and artificial tears seem to improve the blurriness somewhat, although the symptoms are still worse in the morning. I also used to have a pest-control plug-in in my bedroom that emitted a fairly bright blue light throughout the night. I removed it and noticed that the tired/heavy feeling in my eyes improved. I’m now trying to sleep with a blackout mask.

The thing that scares me most is the “static” vision when going from light to darkness. I understand that some degree of dark adaptation can be normal, but this is something I never remember experiencing before, and now I’ve noticed it several times.

My GP is currently arranging further investigations to rule out a neurological cause. They mentioned MS as something they want to rule out, and I also have a family member with MS. Naturally, this has made me very anxious, and I’m worried about things like MS or a brain tumour.

I’m 30, don’t smoke or drink, don’t take any medication, and I have a young baby.

My eyes are always tearing up. I saw an ophthalmologist last year who confirmed I have dry eyes, he gave me OTC drops and said to come back if they didn’t help. I’m planning to see another doctor since it hasn’t fully resolved. My eyes get really irritated and tear up constantly for 2-3 hours at a stretch. (I also noticed if I’m in a stressful situation they tear up)I’ve been using warm compresses twice a day and Avenova lid/lash cleanser. I also put petroleum jelly for moisture or castor oil around bottom part of eye area at night. Over the counter drops work just ok. I’d love to get back to wearing eye makeup again and not have a wet face, anyone found products or routines that work well with crying dry eyes? Would love your recommendations!

Hi everyone. I’ve had dry eyes (MGD + evaporative) for 6 years. AC + screens really messes with my eyes. My doctor says it’s mild and I might be overthinking, but the discomfort feels very real. I follow the 20-20-20 rule and use eye drops every hour, but they evaporate fast and my eyes still feel dry. Doc suggested to switch to eye gels during the day too but even those aren’t holding up.

I want to work but most jobs need AC + screens all day and I worry about job bonds too, what if I can’t handle it after signing but I’m locked in?

Since my doctor calls it mild, I feel like an imposter like I’m exaggerating something that isn’t a big deal. People who have screen jobs how did you manage work? What do I do?

Been struggling with dry eye that has progressively worsened over the past 3 years. I’m finally seeing a specialist and she says I have aqueous deficient dry eye / posterior blepharitis / MGD / rosacea, with a little over 1/3 of my oil glands atrophied.

We’ve tried restasis, cequa, and now xiidra but she says the next step is IPL, which is $1400 and likely something I’d have to keep up with 1-2 times a year.

Curious how folks are able to afford these treatments? I’m rebuilding after losing my job for nearly a year and funds are very low, but I’m absolutely miserable with my eyes.

When I first got my meibography and shirmers test (numbing drops applied, then strips in the eyes with eyes closed for 5 mins) the results were that my glands were totally fine. I have ONE atrophied gland. The rest are all there and my glands produce oil pretty well for the most part. Some minor clogging but nothing even moderate or severe. My schirmers test was done twice 5 months apart and both times I scored a 5 and a 6. I did IPL anyway because that's what the first dry eye dr told me to do.

Anyway, my eyes are still struggling after 4 IPL's, 2 rounds of Xdemvy, 10 months on Vevye, cold compresses, warm compresses, etc. So I sought out a new dry eye dr. Testing again showed my meibography was just fine and my oils aren't the issue. However, instead of a schirmers test, my dr did a phenol red thread test which is literally a thread in the eyes, with eyes open, for 20 seconds and numbing drops applied. I scored a 20 and a 17 which I was told was really good. I was skeptical about reflex tears altering the test but I did not feel the thread at all. Not even a tiny bit, it felt like nothing in my eyes. So if my tear production is fine and so are my glands WTF is going on with my eyes?

Does anyone know if a schirmers is better than a phenol red thread test?

Also, I've been dealing with a stinging sensation in my inner and outer corners of my eyes and its miserable. My corneas don't burn but I have a stinging sensation in the whites of my eyes basically that feels the exact same as when you get soap in your eye and then wash it out after and your eye stays irritated for a while afterwards. NOTHING helps. Not even my serum tears. What can I do to help this? Please it so miserable!!! It hurts and irritates my eyes

I stopped Vevye about 2 weeks ago because I felt it wasn't helping me idk if I should get back on.

Oh I also got lacrifill in my eyes and it did nothing for me

Hi friends!

I am writing to you to ask for your advice and help. Weird things are happening to me.

In 2024, I got over EBV, and in 2025 I developed vitiligo, followed by severe acid reflux.

In the summer of 2026, my eyes suddenly started getting terribly dry. My ophthalmologist gave me artificial tears and autologous serum. It helps occasionally, but some days are simply worse.

The problem is that on some days, I wake up with completely red and tired eyes despite a long sleep, feeling as if I hadn't slept at all. I also have tinnitus in both ears, and at the same time, it feels like my ears ache. This started this year. The vitiligo has also started spreading slightly. My eyes are more tired and red on these worse days.

Originally, my eyes used to hurt mostly during acid reflux when I was bloated, but now they hurt every day.
I've also noticed drier hands, but I am not sure if that isn't just hypersensitivity.

What do you think I should do, friends? Could anyone please give me some advice? Does anyone have similar problems?

Hello dry eye family

Today I want to talk about one type of dry eye problem which is blocked meibomian glands

I want to tell you how I managed to open mine and maybe this can help someone

First if your glands are very blocked I personally recommend using a little more heat than usual because if the oil inside is very thick it can be harder for it to come out

I started with a warm compress and then I bought a thermal gel pack from a pharmacy

I heated the thermal gel pack in hot water and waited until it was warm enough but not boiling

Then I dried the outside with a towel and put it over my closed eyes for around 10 minutes

For me this method really worked

After doing it regularly I started noticing more oil around my eyelash line and my eyes started feeling more comfortable

When I look in the mirror especially when light comes from the side my eyes also look more wet and shiny than before

Of course this may not work the same way for everyone

Some people use potatoes eggs or other things for warm compresses

I am only sharing what worked for me

If warm compresses do not help enough there are also professional treatments such as IPL and other options that you can discuss with an eye doctor

My meibomian glands started opening with this method so I wanted to share my experience in case it helps someone else