UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

I am a Glasgow Art Dealer. I had a graft in 1996 (left eye) and 1999 (right eye).

A customer gave me your card and suggested this would be a good place to look for advice. My company offers a cleaning service for old paintings, and I have started to notice that my eyes become very dry and irritated when I am in the workshop. I do wear goggles to protect my eyes from the mild cleaning marterial we use.

I was wondering whether the goggles might be causing the problem by preventing the free movement of air across my eyes?

ATM

Welcome to the Forum!

Have you noticed that they get dry after you have been wearing the goggles?..Or does this occur irrespective?

Do you suffer from this dry eye condition in any other environment?...Are there heaters in your workshop?

It may just be that the environment that you work is is dry (atmospheric) and thus you may just need some lubricating drops such as Systane

Jay

Hi ATM

I've never had a dry eye problem. If anything mine tend to water too much rather than too little so I can't be a help to your there but I wondered of you'd tried wearing your goggles somewhere other than your workshop as it would help you narrow down what was causing the problem.

I suffer really badly with dry eyes and using a piggy back system it is hard! You need to try out as many lubricating eyedrops as you can until you find one that works as we are all different!

I love Systane and put some in twice a day before and after using lenses, and i also use Blink when my lenses are in.

I think that it could be down to your goggles and the environment you work in, but you would need to take some time off from it to see if it makes any difference. Hoping that you can work it out soon, Sweet X x X

ATM

Welcome to the forum. It is good to know that you found us.

Do you still see an ophthalmologist? I'd tell him or her about the dry eye problem you've been having, and explain exactly the circumstances in which it arises.

Can you spend less time at a stretch in the workshop environment?

As others I'd suggest you use artificial tears. I use Carbomber, others use Systane etc; I am afraid it is a matter of finding one that suits you.

All the best.

Andrew

So much help! Thank you all.

Andrew, I used to see Prof Kirkness (he did my grafts). I now see Dr Ramaesh, or somebody on his team, every six months. My next appointment is in May. Yes, I shall tell him about the problem that has developed.

Jayuk, The only time I really have dry eyes is in the circumstances I described. The gallery (our shop) is kept at a fairly constand humidity, so far as possible given the difficulties of people opening and closing the door.

I have just been out and bought some systane. Whenever I put it in the itch stopped. Thank you so much.

I shall limit my time in the workshop to about half an hour at a time. I may have been overdoing it a bit lately.

Thank you all again for your help.

Alan