Dry Eyes: Solutions, Part Five, Amniotic Membrane Bandage, Prokera

AMNIOTIC MEMBRANES! In my eye! For $3,500, for one eye, I'm wearing this bandage ring for a week. (My insurance pays 80%) The membranes, harvested from generous women who have C-sections, are reducing my inflammation. It's not possible to see through the lens, especially as it clouds over time, so I am wearing a patch. The ring is uncomfortable.

The brand I am using is Prokera. The insertion and removal (I was checked midway) is simple. The contact is about the size of a quarter. If feasible, the other eye may be treated or this one repeated.

I've received several messages from folks seeking help for their eyes. Maybe this option will be useful to another, as well. I'll update when results are in.

Note: my treatment is for Sjogren's and Lupus, dry eye.

Dry Eyes: Solutions, Part Four

Blue stain from testing

After LipiFlow Treatment, blood serum drops, and wearing bandages, I've reached a plateau. Which means, amniotic fluid eye drops. I'll post again when they arrive in their cooler, and I've used them for a period. I'm going to share average costs, so far, as it might be helpful to others considering dry eye treatment. The list is aside from the doctor visits which are covered by insurance and fitting prescription lenses to goggles. 

LipiFlow: $1,400

Measurements after LipiFlow: $140, a year

Bandages: $100, a month

Blood Serum Drops: $340, 3 times a year

Amniotic Fluid Drops: $500, a month

Oil Vitamins: $30, a month

My eyes may need LipiFlow to be repeated this year. When these treatments can be measured, repeatedly, as effective, it is wrong insurance will cover nothing. Eye sight is lost by those who can't afford these solutions.

Here's to health care that can, one day, care for all. 

Dry Eyes: Solutions, Part Two

I have entered into the second stage of the strategy to aid my dry eyes from Sjogren's, Lupus, and RA. I'm sharing in the hope it might help another in a similar predicament.

After drawing 8 vials of blood at a lab in Seattle, a compounding pharmacy then withdrew the red cells and froze the blood serum for me. At $300, not covered by insurance, the supply should last 2 months. Four times a day, I use the drops to aid my sight. Initially, it was psychologically disturbing to add blood to my eyes.

So far, the drops have reduced the amount of artificial tears I use in the day. By nine in the evening, it is difficult to function again, but I've had the day to see.

Regarding the bandage contacts, they've wonderfully removed the pain of blinking as they cover the exposed nerves of the cornea. I am experiencing double-vision in close viewing. My eyes tire from compensating and feel strained. It is better than pain, goggles, and the complete loss of sight I was having earlier though!

Autologous Eye Drop Serum report from Medscape:

Autologous serum (AS) 50% eye drops appear to be safe and effective for dry eye disease in the long term, especially in patients with severe disease refractory to conventional treatment, according to findings of a retrospective cohort study published in the December issue of Cornea.

"Standard treatments for dry eye disease include the use of artificial tears and lubricating ointments, topical cyclosporine 0.05%, topical corticosteroids, and punctal occlusion," write Munira Hussain, MS, CCRP, from the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, and colleagues. "However, none of these treatments supply epithelium-promoting growth factors or other essential components present in natural tears. Similar to tears, human serum contains immunoglobulins, vitamin A, fibronectin, and growth factors that promote epithelial health."

Thanks to all the researchers and pharmacists! More soon, following the next stage.

Dry Eyes: Solutions, Part One

I've found help, so I'm going to share the steps of care for others living with dry eyes, maybe from Lupus and Sjogren's like me. There's hope. Look!

I've been housebound for weeks as my dry eyes flared. My must-haves: portable humidifiers, safety goggles, preservative free eye drops, and Lacrisert eye inserts. The latter didn't work for me due to side effects. (The same for Restasis and Xidra.) There have been periods where I have no sight.

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Thanks to my rheumatologist, I've found the west coast expert on dry eyes. And he wears bow ties. He's over an hour north, but treatment has begun. I'll post as we work through the stages. First are bandages for my eyes! Bandage Soft Contact Lenses protect the cornea.

These have been fantastic. I only need goggles to ride in the car, and I may be able to resume driving. My only difficulty is extracting them nightly. They adhere like decals. I'm researching techniques to make it easier than working at it for an hour each evening.

Next up will be autologous serum. They will make eye drops from my blood! More soon. But for now, I see you! Back to writing...