Dry Eyes and Lasik Eye Surgery- Dry Eye After Lasik

It is very common for a person to experience dry eyes after undergoing a Lasik eye surgery. Let us find out more about the dry eye syndrome post Lasik operation.

Lasik is a laser eye operation that is done to rectify blurred vision that occurs due to refractive errors. Lasik has become a very popular surgery to treat eyesight related problems. People having farsightedness, nearsightedness or astigmatism (abnormal shape of the cornea) are treated with this surgery. This vision correction treatment is a very effective way of treating eye problems and people who are treated by this method do not have to remain dependent on glasses or contact lenses.

Lasik and Dry Eyes
Lasik eye surgery is an operation performed by an eye surgeon, only after doing a thorough medical checkup of the patient. This operation can be conduced only on people who are above 18 years of age. Before performing the operation, the surgeon applies eye drops that help in anesthetizing the eye. After this, a flap or opening is created on the upper layer of the eye. Though this opening, the surgeon corrects the cornea with the help of laser and then covers the opening by closing the flap. This is a painless method which gives the person clear vision almost immediately. However, it takes at least six months for a person to recover fully. During this recovery period, there are chances of the patient getting affected by dry eyes.

The human eye produces two types of tears, one that is shed when we experience some emotion and the other that is produced constantly, to keep the eye moist and lubricated. These tears consist of three things, including water, oils and mucus. It also contains antibodies and proteins, which see to it that the eye does not get infected. However, sometimes, the tear glands do not produce sufficient tears to lubricate the eyes. This causes a condition called keratoconjunctivitis sicca, commonly known as dry eyes.

What is Dry Eye with Lasik?
Dry eye syndrome is said to be the most common side effect of Lasik surgery. People who already have the problem of dry eyes before the surgery may find an increase in it after Lasik treatment. The doctor usually does a check up to find out whether a person has dry eye syndrome before conducting the surgery. If the tests are positive, appropriate treatment is given so that the condition does not aggravate after the surgery. However, even people who do not have the problem of dry eyes, develop this condition after Lasik.

The reason for dry eyes after Lasik surgery is because of the damage of corneal nerves during the operation. It is the corneal nerves that send a message to the tear glands for producing tears. The scarring of these nerves leads to decreased production of tears, causing dry eyes. However, this damage is not a permanent one and normally goes away within six months of the operation.

Dry Eye after Lasik
The recovery period after Lasik can be a difficult time for a patient having dry eyes but the discomfort caused by dry eye syndrome can be lessened by taking extra care. Sometimes, lack of adequate water in the body can trigger the condition of dry eyes. So, it is very important for a person to always remain hydrated by drinking plenty of water after the surgery. One should also avoid extreme climatic conditions like extreme heat or extreme cold. Such conditions are likely to give rise to dry eyes.

The usual treatment that doctors give to patients with dry eyes after Lasik is administering artificial tears in the eyes. These are a substitute to natural tears which help in lubricating the eyes and keeping them wet. If the dry eye syndrome persists even after the recovery period, the physician may recommend some other medical treatments to cure dry eyes. But usually dry eye after lasik is a temporary phenomenon.

Dry Eyes and Lasik Eye Surgery- Dry Eye After Lasik is a post from: Sjogrens Symptoms

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Sjogren’s (pronounced “Show-grins”) Syndrome: Had you ever heard of it before?

Sjogren’s Syndrome is a chronic, autoimmune disease that is quite debilitating. Sjogren’s Syndrome begins with a number of symptoms that appear to be merely irritating. The temptation with Sjogren’s Syndrome is to treat the symptoms as something odd and temporary. Don’t. You’ve got precious little time while your body’s immune system is wrecking havoc with your exocrine glands.

Quite literally, your body is attacking the moisture producing glands. This autoimmune disease (Sjogren’s) usually first attacks the moisture producing glands of the mouth (salivary glands) and eyes (tear glands – “lacrimal glands”). Later, often, other exocrine glands are involved, such as the vagina, skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems.

I said you had precious little time. I meant that. Normally, doctors will be quite encouraging that there are “months and years” before Sjogren’s symptoms really cause serious health problems. That is misleading.

As a (retired) surgeon, I have seen patients first waste months – even years – in sheer wonderment. However, the symptoms increase their effect in Sjogren’s Syndrome constantly. Nuisances grow gradually worse in Sjogren’s, no doubt.

The next step is the really damaging “time-waster” in Sjogren’s. That’s when a Sjogren’s Syndrome victim sees the doctor. Diagnosis is necessary in all cases of chronic disease (including autoimmune diseases like Sjogren’s).

In Sjogren’s Syndrome patients, there are several published criteria for the diagnosis of Sjogren’s. The European Community Criteria is very practical. It requires 4 of 6 criteria for the diagnosis of Sjogren’s:

Sjogren’s Syndrome creates complications in the moisture of the eyes.

Sjogren’s Syndrome also creates oral symptoms (mouth moisture problems).

Sjogren’s Syndrome often can show keratoconjunctivitis sicca (inadequate tear film protection of the cornea resulting in excessively fast evaporation or premature destruction of the tear film).

Sjogren’s Syndrome often shows inflammation and swelling of salivary glands.

Sjogren’s Syndrome deteriorates into further salivary gland involvement.

Sjogren’s Syndrome builds autoantibodies in patient serum.

The real “time-waster” is what happens next. To understand this, you must understand something about doctors before you tackle Sjogren’s Syndrome or autoimmune disease in general.

Doctors are literally surrounded by drug company representatives from the first day of medical school until retirement. You see, doctors are the life blood of the drug company (prescription) business. Without doctors, drug company business would “dry up”.

Here’s the “kicker”. Doctors are officially the third leading cause of death in the United States, just behind heart disease and cancer.

I saw many patients whom I believed died of many kinds of chronic and autoimmune diseases, because I suspected their doctors had prescribed their drug regimen incorrectly. I was wrong. Doctors are officially the third leading cause of death because they prescribe drug regimens correctly, just as the drug companies instruct them to do. And people are dying..

The problem is a simple one. The drugs, at best, waste the precious months and years until the autoimmune functions of Sjogren’s have done tremendous damage. At worse, they make matters much worse. The real problem is that autoimmune diseases like Sjogren’s Syndrome are caused by a deficiency of glyconutrition.

The drug companies know all about glyconutrition and its impact upon Sjogren’s and other autoimmune diseases. But, they can’t make any money on glyconutrition. And it threatens to wipe out a whole industry full of autoimmune drug therapies (including Sjogren’s, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and many more), totaling literally billions of dollars. Since the drug companies are the ones endowing the medical schools, drugs – not glyconutrition or supplements – are taught to the doctors.

Most doctors know very little about supplements, let alone glyconutrition. Despite the fact that four Nobel Prizes have been won in glyconutrition…cellular communication… (that is unprecedented in Medicine), most doctors don’t have any real knowledge of glyconutrition because they don’t have the time to learn it (or many other health subjects). They depend on the research of the drug companies to keep them abreast. They trust the drug companies just as Sjogren’s patients trust the doctors.

Author: Dr Robert Gamble

Sjogren’s Syndrome: The Medical World is Gambling with Your Life is a post from: Sjogrens Symptoms

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How do i cure my drymouth. (ps: its from an anxiety disorder)?

Drink lots of water,you may be dehydrated.

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Is there anyone out their living with Sjogrens? Is dizziness a possible symptom?

I was just recently diagnosed with Sjogrens Syndrome. I believe that I have suffered from this for years, but was just recently diagnosed. I am experiencing many classic symptoms such as the dry eyes,mouth, and nose. But I am also experiencing body soreness, very slightly swollen hands and feet, some dizziness. The dizziness with some digestive problems.

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Over 32 million Americans suffer from dry mouth, also known as Xerostomia. And in the elderly population, those over 65 years, the prevalence approaches 25 percent and in institutionalized elders the rates may be as high as 50 percent.

Causes

Dry mouth can cause serious oral health problems and it is estimated that over 3,000 prescription and over-the-counter drugs have the potential to cause it. These include antacids, decongestants, narcotics, antihypertensives, antihistamines, antidepressants and diuretics. And studies have shown that the taking of multiple drugs increases the number of cases of dry mouth and even the severity. Dry mouth may also result from Sjogren’s syndrome, radiation treatment for head and neck cancers and salivary gland disease. And it is also a frequent complaint in conditions such as thyroid disorders, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and connective tissue diseases.

Oral Hygiene is Key

It has long been known that dental biofilm plays a major role in the cause of gingivitis, periodontitis and cavities. Dental biofilm is formed much more rapidly in a mouth that is dry because there is less saliva to flush the bacteria away. And worse, acid-forming bacteria are surviving in the acidic saliva and cause the often rampant dental decay associated with xerostomia. Although dental biofilm can’t be eliminated, the plaque it forms and its bad effects can be controlled with proper and continuous oral hygiene.

Treatments

Traditional treatments for dry mouth have included sugar-free gums or candy, frequent sips of water, oral rinses and taking good care of teeth and gums. The problem with conventional mouth rinses, gums and mints is that their ingredients are flushed away too quickly, limiting their effectiveness.

Long-Term Delivery of Ingredients

Since the ingredients delivered by traditional gums, mints, etc. don’t reside in the mouth long enough to be of much help, it’s important to find a technology that ensures that active ingredients remain in the mouth long enough (one hour or longer) to help impede the formation of biofilm and help keep teeth clean. There is a long-lasting lozenge that continuously delivers active ingredients over long periods of time to promote oral health.

The ingredients used in these lozenges are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA-there is no sugar or alcohol. A unique polymer combined with essential oils, Xylitol and a moisture-retaining ingredient creates an extended contact time in the mouth to fight bacteria and help dry mouth sufferers. It also helps create a healthy pH balance in the mouth-also aiding in the oral hygiene regimen.

Something New – If you’ve already tried many of the so-called remedies for dry mouth, you may want to try a long-lasting soft lozenge that helps keep your mouth moist for hours as well helping with your overall oral hygiene regimen recommended by your dentist.

If you would like to learn more about helping your dry mouth visit http://www.nuvorainc.com

Jim Wilson is a healthcare consultant with over 35 years experience in the health care industry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_L_Wilson

Author: James L Wilson

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What Are Dry Eyes?

Having dry eyes can be a big hassle in your life.

Some people just suffer with mild inconvenience on waking up in the morning and finding their eyelids are stuck together, but for others it can cause acute discomfort which can last all day.

In order to determine possible causes and treatment it is necessary to have an understanding of how the surface of the eyes function.

Eyes are dependent upon tears to keep them constantly moist and lubricated to maintain comfort and vision.

tear constituency is
water – keeps eye surface moist
oils – essential lubrication
mucus – allows the tears to be evenly spread over the eye surface
antibodies – to fight infection.

Glands around the eye secrete these complex tears and if there is a dysfunction then the symptoms of dry eyes will appear.

Probably the most confusing symptom is the occurrence of excessively watery eyes when tears pour down the cheeks.

These kind of tears do not contain the necessary components to keep the surface of the eye moist.

It seems a contradiction but excessive tears are a symptom of dry eyes and are a result of a distress signal sent by the eyes to the nervous system that they are not obtaining sufficient lubrication.

All these excessive tears are capable of is washing away some wastes from the eye surrounds and without the oils and mucus they do not coat and moisturize the eye effectively.

Apart from excessive watering, other symptoms of dry eyes are pain, in and around the eyes, a sensitivity to light, grittiness in the eye, itching, redness, or blurry vision. Causes of dry eyes

sensitivity air conditioning or other dry air environments hay fever and other allergies natural aging processes menopause side effects from certain medications a number of diseases and problems with the structure of the eyes.

Symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome include very dry eyes and also often an excessively dry mouth.

Diagnosis is difficult in spite of being a very common disease among adults.

Although there is no cure, relief through regular medication is obtainable.

Dry eye syndrome cannot be cured but artificial teardrops and lubricating ointments can relieve the symptoms but it is important to keep to regular applications even if your eyes feel fine.

Eyes can dry out while you sleep so remember to apply a lubricant at bedtime.

Your eye specialist can prescribe medication to help or will advise surgery which can include the temporary or permanent blocking of the ducts.

If you find that the discomfort from sticky eyelids on waking and excessive tears is increasing accompanied by a dry mouth then be persistent with your medical advisor, ask for a referral to a specialist.

Sjogren’s syndrome could be the cause but it is difficult to diagnose.

By: Jaks Lloyd

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

For more information on your eye health please visit
www.healthwise.eyebeautytips.com

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Back with more news for you today. It’s amazing how much good information there is on this stuff out there if you know where to look. Three in particular that I found really valuable were…

Natural Treatments for Sjogren’s Syndrome

Insomnia Treatment and advice and sufferers of insomnia.

Pilocarpine Shows Promosing Results For Treating Sjogren’s …

The authors conclude that treatment with the higher dosage of pilocarpine significantly improved the dryness associated with Sjogren’s syndrome and that these benefits clearly outweighed the mild to moderate adverse cholinergic activity …

Sjogren’s Syndrome – Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment …

Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic inflammatory disorder of probable autoimmune nature. Autoimmune diseases are characterized by the abnormal production.

Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

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Renal Tubular Acidosis (RTA): Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Renal Tubular Acidosis is characterized by high levels of acid in the blood, due to malfunctioning of kidney tubules. For more information regarding the disease, read on…

The process of breaking down of food in the body produces acids. These acids circulate in the blood and it is the function of the kidneys to remove the excess acid from the blood and excrete it through urine. This filtration task is mainly done by the tubules of the nephron, which is the functional unit of the kidneys. There are around 800,000 to one million nephrons in a human kidney. In people affected with Renal Tubular Acidosis (RTA), this capability of the kidneys get impaired due to various reasons. This condition results in a rise in the acid content of the blood. The high levels of acid in blood is called metabolic acidosis, but RTA specifically refers to the condition in which the kidneys fail to remove the acids through urine.

Type 1 or Distal RTA

Type 1 or Distal RTA is characterized by the inability to excrete acid through the urine due to the inability of the cells of the distal (distant) nephron to secrete acid and excrete it through urine. This makes the blood acidic and eventually, leads to high levels of acid in the blood, low levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalemia), calcium deposits in the kidneys causing kidney stones and low level of minerals in the bones, leading to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Distal RTA can also cause dehydration, weakness of muscles, paralysis, kidney failure, etc. Since the disease is caused by the impairment of distal nephron, it is named as distal RTA.

The symptoms may vary from person to person with some of the affected people not experiencing any symptoms. The symptoms include severe rickets in children, loin pain, hematuria (red blood cells in urine) from kidney stones, etc. Sometimes, distal RTA may lead to renal failure and death. Distal RTA can be caused by autoimmune disease like Sjögren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and hypergammaglobulinemia. In such cases, RTA can lead to severe hypokalemia. It can be hereditary too. If linked to heredity, the disease may be associated with hypokalemia, sensorineural deafness, etc. The other causes include liver cirrhosis, sickle cell anemia, chronic urinary tract obstruction, renal transplantation, etc. The treatment for distal RTA includes oral sodium bicarbonate or sodium citrate (alkaline agents) for normalizing acid levels in the blood. This helps to fight against bone demineralisation too. Hypokalemia, urinary stones and calcium deposits are treated with potassium nitrate.

Type 2 or Proximal RTA

This type of RTA is caused by the malfunctioning of the proximal (meaning ‘near’) tubular cells. These cells fail to reabsorb filtered bicarbonate from the urine. Bicarbonate neutralizes acid in the blood. As the kidneys fail to retain bicarbonate, the levels of acid in the blood increases. The bicarbonate levels of the urine also rises. This form of RTA is not as severe as the distal RTA, because in this case the distal intercalated cells function normally. Proximal RTA is mainly caused due to the malfunctioning of the proximal tubular cells, which is termed as Fanconi’s syndrome. This condition is characterized by demineralization of bones causing rickets or osteomalacia. The other causes of proximal RTA include hereditary disorders like Lowe syndrome, Wilson’s disease, cystinosis, glycogen storage disease (type I), galactosemia, etc. This disease can be a result of acquired disorders, like, multiple myeloma, toxins like lead and cadmium and amylodosis. Proximal RTA is mainly treated with oral bicarbonate. This can increase the loss of bicarbonate through urine, but the amount of bicarbonate supplements should be large enough to reverse high acid content of the blood and bone demineralization.

Type 4 or Hyperkalemic RTA

Type 4 RTA is caused by the low levels of the hormone aldosterone (hypoaldosteronism), which directs the kidneys to regulate the levels of sodium, potassium and chloride in the blood, by excretion of excess amounts through urine. It may also be caused when the kidneys do not respond to this hormone. Hyperkalemic RTA is characterized by high levels of potassium in the blood or hyperkalemia. One of the causes of this type of RTA is deficiency of aldosterone due to malfunctioning of the adrenal glands, congenital adrenal hyperplasia or aldosterone synthase deficiency. Another cause is hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism occurring due to diseases, like, HIV, renal dysfunctioning or some drugs like NSAIDS, ACE inhibitors, etc. In some people, aldosterone resistance is the reason for Type 4 RTA. This may be caused by some drugs or by pseudohypoaldosteronism. Symptoms are very rare in this type of RTA. If the level of potassium in the blood is very high, irregular heartbeats and muscle paralysis may occur. The treatment for this form of RTA includes mineralocorticoid for aldosterone deficiency, fludrocortisone for hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism, etc.

Type 3 RTA, which is now thought to be a combined form of Type 1 (Distal) and Type 2 (Proximal) was earlier recognized as a distinct form of this disease. But now this classification is not used much. This was commonly found in infants and kids and was known as ‘Juvenile RTA’. This type of RTA is very rare.

If RTA is treated properly, kidney failure can be averted. Ultimate goal of any treatment plan for RTA is the neutralization of acid in the blood. If the acid is not neutralized, it can lead to complications, like, kidney stones, bone diseases, growth retardation, chronic kidney disease and even kidney failure. Persons with this disorder have to be on therapy which may have to be maintained for a lifetime.

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