Dry Eyes, Increased Blinking & Facial Tics

Man & Boy

Member
Location
Leeds.
Many people who reach the age of 50 notice that their eyes seem dry and gritty and that they tend to blink a lot. If they seek medical advice they will be told its a sign of advancing age, that one should accept it, and most patients will optimistically be given some tube(s) of eye-drops to use. Spoiler number 1: Eye drops do not work and their use is over-rated. This sore and gritty eyes problem will continue uninterrupted for some years and the rapid eyelid blinking will intensify. During further visits to your doctor, he may well inform you that you now have blepharitis (inflamed red inner eye-lid margins) for which he may prescribe an antibiotic or tablets with Tetracycline or Doxycycline being prescribed. Spoiler number 2: Antibiotics do not work, and the problem will continue. Stage 3 of this slowly advancing ailment is seen around age 55 in males, apart from rapid eye-blinking you then have eye-lid muscles that do not function quickly due to overuse, many patients then develop the "long-blink" in which they are forever closing their eyelids for several seconds, a trip to the hospital eye-dept may well confirm that you now have BLEPHAROSPASM. Spoiler number 3: Blepharospasm is uncurable, and more often than not so is reduced tear flow. This is a vast subject to read or write about, other writers have discussed blocking (cauterising) the tear ducts to save tears, others advise unblocking the meibomian tear-glands, whilst others have blamed tiredness, stress, poor diet and a lack of certain vitamins.

May I make this suggestion: Please check the harshness of the soap you use to wash your face with and stop using soap on your face or hair, I have had all the problems listed above for 25 years, and discovered that by no longer washing my face with soap and by stopping soap getting into my eyes DAILY when washing - that my eye-problems have decreased from 8 points to 2. This is such an improvement that I now consider myself almost cured. I need to add that this improvement has taken 3 months to achieve. I will add that you must discuss this condition with your doctor in its early stages, and my suggestion to stop getting soap-in-your- eyes is no more than a common-sense step in the right direction. Its the DETERGENT in soaps that causes the long-term eyelids nerve damage and constant irritation. I now make sure that nothing including tap water goes into my eyes. I offer this advice has a suggestion that's worked for me and for no other reason. If you know someone with dry eyes and who always have red eyelids please pass this tip onto them.
 
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My eyes have got sore and dry over the last 6 years when I was 40, had them checked. Taking drops on regular intervals now. Felt like the cover of my eyeball was coming off and endless feeling of a vein scratching. I actually only use natural soaps and shampoos now - organic where I can. Stopped all common typical harsh pharma style cosmetics (days of buying from Boots has gone) however made no difference to the dryness but skin excellent. Been recommended to increase intake of fish oils which I am trying out now.
 

Man & Boy

Member
Location
Leeds.
My eyes have got sore and dry over the last 6 years when I was 40, had them checked. Taking drops on regular intervals now. Felt like the cover of my eyeball was coming off and endless feeling of a vein scratching. I actually only use natural soaps and shampoos now - organic where I can. Stopped all common typical harsh pharma style cosmetics (days of buying from Boots has gone) however made no difference to the dryness but skin excellent. Been recommended to increase intake of fish oils which I am trying out now.

The important thing is to ensure that no soap organic or otherwise goes into your eyes, to make sure that this does not occur in my case I washed my hair first then dried it. I had noticed that soapy water run-off from my head and hair was a major source of soap going into my own eyes. The next step was to use a face sponge, I use one of those square pan-scourers you see everywhere, and I no longer scrubbed my face with a bar of Palmolive soap in my hands as I had done previously, but wiped it and not anywhere near my eye sockets. This simple precaution had better results than anything my doctors or the hospital in 20 years had recommended. This soap and shampoo avoidance in eyes suggestion is not a cure, there is no cure for dry eyes but it does lower the constant irritation and symptoms. Millions of people have this condition and there is no cure for it just minor relief. In Britain, the latest trend is to put a small 1/4inch dab of liquid honey in both eyes and there is strong evidence that this Arab Countries ancient remedy is the nearest thing to a cure than anything being offered by the drug companies. The damage caused to my own eyes is so great that I have Botox injections 6 times a year to reduce the symptons and mild pain I endure. If you Google Honey for dry eyes there must be a thousnad or so good hits on this subject. Good luck.
 
I have adenovireral conjunctivitis witch is bacicly permanent conjunctivitis some times it’s worst than overs they say there is noting they can do and should only last 12 months but 6 years later I still have it, one of the simptoms is dry eyes do you think the honey could relieve the burning to?
Anyone found any drops that are better than most i have Tryed loads over the years ?
 

Man & Boy

Member
Location
Leeds.
I have adenoviral conjunctivitis which is basically permanent conjunctivitis. Sometimes it’s worse and they say there is nothing they can do and should only last 12 months, but 6 years later I still have it, one of the symptoms is dry eyes do you think the honey could relieve the burning to?
Anyone found any drops that are better than most. I have tried loads over the years?

When I took ill with a similar eye condition to yours, I was really grateful to my doctors for prescribing Eye Drops. Naturally, I assumed that they must contain some ingredient that would cure the problem, but I slowly discovered they did not. They were useless and if the truth be known were handed out like candy to patients to give them the impression something was being done (sic). In good faith, I tried them all and none worked. During the last 20 years, I have tried the Top 10 suggestions found on Google without any success. I then tried runny-honey and it worked great. I smeared it on my top eyelids - just a light coating - and the relief was instantaneous. When I next attended my local Eye Hospital the Doctor remarked how how OPEN and clear my eyes were, I told him about my use of honey, and he remarked he was hearing this news from other patients also. I buy runny-honey in £1-20p jars and score it 8/10 - 9/10, whilst I refuse to use ordinary eye-drops . I found out that DOXYCILLAN tablets are sometimes prescribed, there is minor relief for about 3 - 4 days, and my first reaction to this was good, it appeared to be a cure but its not. Just 7 - 10 days later the bug that causes this condition returns and is back. Another thing I found out is taking 2 Ibufron or 2-Paracetomal tablets first thing in the morning certainly helps, it reduces the constant irritiation a lot. Good luck, Do Google Honey use for more info.
 

Alicecow

Member
Location
Connacht
@Chasingmytail
You could try reducing the sugar in your diet (I'm not saying that you personally take too much, but I know that I do). Sugar seems to have a drying effect on the skin so presumably it does on the eyes too.
 
@Chasingmytail
You could try reducing the sugar in your diet (I'm not saying that you personally take too much, but I know that I do). Sugar seems to have a drying effect on the skin so presumably it does on the eyes too.
No not me. ophthalmologist said to take fish oils are evidence shows it makes a difference and due to age - over 40 I suppose. Eye drops used 4 - 6 times a day now.

I buy Olive oil Dr Organic from Holland and Barrett for shampoos etc I also find brands like Jason good. Natural soaps are more available now.
 

Man & Boy

Member
Location
Leeds.
@Chasingmytail
You could try reducing the sugar in your diet (I'm not saying that you personally take too much, but I know that I do). Sugar seems to have a drying effect on the skin so presumably it does on the eyes too.

Excessive Sugar Use: There is a great deal of truth in what you say, I have tried reducing sugar many times to protect my eyes and my acquiring 'a fatty liver', but the eye-dryness improvement was marginal at best. I got it into my head that the germs or virus behind this problem could themselves have a sweet tooth and these germs thrived better and multiplied quicker residing in a human eye-sockets sugary environment. Reducing sugar might be good advice but the real problem is increasing tear flow and improving the quality of the tears produced, once you commence reading up on this you enter the subject of BLOCKED MEIBOMIAN GLANDS, these are the glands that produce the actual tears (most people think the tear ducts do this they don't) to save what tears I had, I asked the hospital to block my tear drainage ducts, they did so by using plastic punctal plugs (they failed to mention that they can fall out and do so often). When they discovered mine had fallen out after 3-months use it was then a -12month wait for my tear ducts to be cauterised using the burning hot-wire-inserted-method. Its a strange feeling laying on an operating table and smelling the smoke created coming away from your facial area. This operation was a success but even so, the NHS should be criticised for taking some 5 years to decide to close my tear ducts.

THE REAL PROBLEM: Tears protect your eyes and reduce the glare from the sun, and the problem with sun glare is immense, over the years I bought several pairs of sun-specs including wraparounds but none of these where much good which meant I could not go abroad for sunny vacations. By chance I discovered that Sony 4D TV specs where marvellous (for me). These cost about £3 on Ebay, the anti-sun-glare difference is spectacular and driving is no longer the problem it once was. Please bear in mind I have had this problem since 1992, and attend my local hospital 6 times a year for treatment. Thank you.
 

bravheart

Member
Location
scottish borders
Hi guys, just wondering what you all do for a living and whether it may be connected.
Every year at harvest time my eyes turn dry, red and very itchy like some of you describe and recon its got something to do with the ventilation in the combine cab. Suspect there might be a build up of dust or mite's in the ducting, cleaning the filters makes no difference and don't want to use any chemicals to sterilize the system as I will be breathing that air.

Anyhow just wondered if any of you have found eye problems seasonal or spend long hours in an older cab that may be the cause of the irritation.
 

Man & Boy

Member
Location
Leeds.
Hi guys, just wondering what you all do for a living and whether it may be connected. Every year at harvest time my eyes turn dry, red and very itchy like some of you describe and recon its got something to do with the ventilation in the combine cab. Suspect there might be a build up of dust or mite's in the ducting, cleaning the filters makes no difference and don't want to use any chemicals to sterilize the system as I will be breathing that air. Anyhow just wondered if any of you have found eye problems seasonal or spend long hours in an older cab that may be the cause of the irritation.
 

Man & Boy

Member
Location
Leeds.
In your case with working on a farm you're faced with chemical spray, pollen and dust hazards almost daily. Each one of these is a hazard on its own, but collectively they can affect all who come in contact with them. Chemicals used in crop protection sprays and fertilisers are easy targets to accuse, but then you have the hazard of crop pollens with Yellow Rape Oil seed being for some almost deadly - people have been known to collapse after breathing it in, then you have faulty vehicle exhausts and exhaust fumes entering the cab, and the constant smell of diesel oil to contend with, all one can say is to use a face mask, do not drive a vehicle whose cab stinks of diesa oill, and wash your hands well before eating, in my case I washed my hair often to get the 101 chemicals in it - off it, on my arrival home. The manual worker's health journals since 1830 make sombre reading for the reasons given. Regards.
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
one point you mention, reveals ignorance of soap.
hard soap is soap, it is not detergent.
Most soft soaps, wash lotions, shower gels, and shampoos are detergents, very closely related to fairy liquid, swarfega etc. and are very harsh on your skin.
I cannot ever use any of these detergent products on my skin as my skin as is very dry, however many people prefer them if they have oily skin.
Most people use these products as they are conned by the advertising industry into thinking they are somehow better, and then use other emollients, often again containing detergents to make up the lost natural oil.
it is little wonder that manufacturers of these products use latin descriptions to hide the many complex chemicals used.
 

Man & Boy

Member
Location
Leeds.
(@Exfarmer) Are you perhaps missing the point? Hard and soft soaps contain detergents and, I claim that the careless use of soap suds which contain said detergent and the user allowing it to 'go into their eyes' can I say, over a period of many years cause nerve damage and SEVERE IRRITATION and damage to that huge bunch of nerves situated behind each eye, important nerves which operate the eyelids and whose root stem branches down the 2-side/s of your face to operate your lips, mouth, tongue and head movement?

I have had a so-called unknown cause nervous disorder with facial tics since 1992. To control the unwanted face movements (the hemifacial spasms) I had to endure every 2 / 3 months 9-botox injections in my eye-socket area, along with 2 injections into my neck. Did they work? Yes and No. I still appeared to have to strangers and staring children on a bus, what appeared to be Parkinsons Disease. Now here is the Good news:

Yesterday 30 November 2017, I attended my local hospital neurology dept in Leeds and was signed off (discharged) as a patient not requiring any more treatment. The neurologist was amazed at my almost complete lack of facial twitching and tics. What was the reason? For approx 6+ months I have not allowed any soapsuds to go into my eyes, and I expect this improvement to continue. This experiment commenced as a hunch, a hunch that worked, and I can get now get on with my life. It may well be I have discovered a possible cause for Parkinsons or Bells Palsy, but that would require a large scientific study to be confirmed. Regards.
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
(@Exfarmer) Are you perhaps missing the point? Hard and soft soaps contain detergents and, I claim that the careless use of soap suds which contain said detergent and the user allowing it to 'go into their eyes' can I say, over a period of many years cause nerve damage and SEVERE IRRITATION and damage to that huge bunch of nerves situated behind each eye, important nerves which operate the eyelids and whose root stem branches down the 2-side/s of your face to operate your lips, mouth, tongue and head movement?

I have had a so-called unknown cause nervous disorder with facial tics since 1992. To control the unwanted face movements (the hemifacial spasms) I had to endure every 2 / 3 months 9-botox injections in my eye-socket area, along with 2 injections into my neck. Did they work? Yes and No. I still appeared to have to strangers and staring children on a bus, what appeared to be Parkinsons Disease. Now here is the Good news:

Yesterday 30 November 2017, I attended my local hospital neurology dept in Leeds and was signed off (discharged) as a patient not requiring any more treatment. The neurologist was amazed at my almost complete lack of facial twitching and tics. What was the reason? For approx 6+ months I have not allowed any soapsuds to go into my eyes, and I expect this improvement to continue. This experiment commenced as a hunch, a hunch that worked, and I can get now get on with my life. It may well be I have discovered a possible cause for Parkinsons or Bells Palsy, but that would require a large scientific study to be confirmed. Regards.

Sorry no, soap does not contain detergent!
 

5020man

Member
Hi.

Soap consists oils/animal fats water and caustic soda (a very nasty chemical) combined to form soap.
Its a soap NOT a detergent.

5020 man.
 

Man & Boy

Member
Location
Leeds.
(Q) Do leading brands of soap sold in shops contain a detergent to make it more effective. The following is some background information on the subject:

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
(commonly known as SLS) is an inexpensive detergent added to a very large number of cosmetics and personal hygiene products such as shampoos, toothpastes and soaps. In pure form it resembles a white, crystalized powder. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate helps remove oily grime and debris in your hair, skin or on garage floors. While it does help cleaning products perform more effectively, many people are distrustful of using products that contain SLS. After all it is known to irritate the skin, gums and scalp. SLS is a known skin irritant. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can be derived from either Petroleum or Coconut Oil. Talk still persists about the potential dangers of SLS, particularly concerning a link to Cancer and damage to the central nervous system. SLS is a known skin irritant. To combat its ability to irritate the skin it will often be Ethoxylated, meaning Ethylene Oxide is added. All we really need to understand about Ethylene Oxide is once it’s added to SLS it becomes a compound chemical known as Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). Ethylene Oxide also has the potential to cause damage to the central nervous system, liver, kidneys and eyes.
 

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
One thing I don’t do, either in the shower or at the sink, is get soap in my eyeballs. It hurts like feck. The only time I wash my eye area is with hibiscrub before having eye injections, get that in your eye and you’ll know about it. The other half uses decleor skin cleanser and this is an upmarket beauty product that is very gentle (you wouldn’t know it was in your eyes) but not too effective where dirt is concerned! All natural stuff etc etc.

Anyhow, when we were milking we used D90 to wash the plant and hypo to rinse, both mixed in using a wash trough as it was pumped round. Some days, half hour or so after milking I’d get insanely itchy eyes and it felt like my eyelids were causing it (as with most eye issues). I never noticed a splash or sting at the time. I found that I’d get cobweb like goo in my eyes that was peeling off the inside of my eyelids and needed a soaked cotton bud to roll under them to liberate it.

Sorry, waffling, just my story.
 

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