Anyone got Dry Eye Syndrome/Sjorgren's Syndrome?

DH has this problem. His regime seems to control it. He bathes his eyes every morning with a sterilised flannel and cool boiled water. He has little ampoules of eye drops to lubricate which he uses throughout the day.

Thank you everybody for being so helpful.

As my doctor's surgery is closed today and all means of contacting them are dead. I can't even use their e-Consult until opening hours tomorrow, so I decided to phone the optician and see how I got on.

Turns out they are madly busy too, and after waiting in a queue I was able to leave a message so I'm hoping for a call back.

I agree, Casdon. Just go straight to your optician, Sparklefizz. As my GP once said of my optician (long story to do with a mistaken hospital referral): "Eyes are his day job! He knows far more than I do about eyes and their treatment."

use a humidifier. Rooms are too dry because of ch at this time of year

Just to say that most opticians have additional training, and can give prescriptions for eye problems. It will be much easier to get in to see your optician, and if he or she thinks you need to be seen urgently by your GP they will make you a referral so you will be prioritised. That’s the route I’d take, as it will be very busy at the GP surgeries for the next few days.

I have dry eyes and blepharitis, it started in May 2020 when you couldn’t get to see a doctor. At first a pharmacist kept giving me over the counter eyes meds but nothing worked. Eventually when my eyes and skin around them got so bad I saw a GP, he gave me drops, wipes and creams including a cortisone cream I could only use for 3-4 days. Eventually it cleared up but since then It has returned twice, this latest time its been dreadful for 4 months. The GP thinks the blepharitis is triggered by my stress.
What helps for me is I bought loads of washable eye pads and twice a day I soak in a weak solution of hot water and tea tree oil, massage the eyes with them for a few minutes.
I also bought a microwavable heated eye mask and use twice a day then massage eyes - very relaxing.
Use an emollient on skin around eyes mine get very red, sore and itchy. At night time I use Vaseline.
I still use the eye drops Doctor gave me as it seems to stop blurry vision.

Can you go online and request a phone consultation with your GP? He/she would then make an appointment for you to see him/her if necessary, and it sounds like it would be. And prescribe immediately and possibly refer to the eye specialist immediately. You definitely need to speak to your GP.

I have Sjorgrens. It goes with my Lupus apparently so its dry mouth, nose and ears for me less so the eyes. I do however often use an eye spray and clean eye make up off thoroughly although I don't wear much anyway. I bought some Clarins for Christmas and their was a sample of their double eye sum in the pack and its wonderful - so soothing and good for the wrinkles I hope.
As to your question 'will it get worse' my mother had this plus RA and although she had dry eyes the artificial tears she was given were very helpful. Whether the optician is the best to diagnose I don't know but they cant give you a prescription for anything so perhaps trying to get a GP appointment is needed. Good Luck. x

A friend of mine had Sjorgrens and suffered from dry eyes and other areas. When she had her cataracts done the drops she was given for her eyes made her eyes red and sore so she went back to the consultant and they changed the prescription to a different drop. I think you should go back to your GP or optician asap.

I have sjogrens and there's so many symptoms it's unreal. I started with joint problems - my eye and mouth dryness initally was quite minor. I was diagnosed about 18 years ago (by a rheumatologist) - during that time things have progressed significantly and my dry eyes and mouth are much worse. It sounds as if you should try to see your gp and request a referral to the eye clinic. I am under the eye clinic, rheumatology and oral medicine - all for symptoms of my sjogrens. I use two different types of eye drops and my tear ducts have been cauterised in an attempt to help dryness (sounds worse than it was). If you have to wait for any appointments, it would probably be worth speaking to a pharmacist to see if they can recommend anything different for you to use. Good luck

Go back to your optician and ask him/her the questions you're asking us.

My optician suggested I gently warm and massage my eyes every other day to help keep tear ducts active. He preferred that option to just treating the symptoms which is what drops do, he said. I shall have an appointment in the spring where he will no doubt assess the success or otherwise of my warming and massaging.

You can get bean bag eye warmers to warm in a microwave, but I hold washable make-up pads, warmed in water, against my eyes most days and then do the gentle massage. It's quick and easy and, so far as I can tell, seems to have helped.