Greyling, I have been thinking about your treatments for your mother for
about a week now.  I don't have mucus, but excessive watering.  I don't
think anyone really knows what it is.  I can't see how so much water can be
dry eyes.

I do have excessive mucus from post nasal drip which chokes me.  When I
swim, treadmill or breathe deeply I really start coughing.

Thank you for sharing your ideas.  The doctors aren't such great help.
Ray
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gentry, Greyling" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2005 11:25 PM
Subject: Re: eye problemsKF


> My mother has complained of a slimy film in her eyes ever since her
> diagnosis. It's thickest in the morning and causes blurriness throughout
> the day. The ophthalmologist says the eye's way of protecting the cornea
> from damaging dryness is to produce a thickened, mucous-like substance.
> However, this is no substitute for proper hydration and a strict regimen
> of eye wetting. Permanent lens damage results from chronic dry eye.
>
> My mom also had an infection of the lids called blephitis. This was
> causing a yellowish crusting at the lash lines, adding to her vision
> problems as the tear ducts became less able to do their jobs of rinsing
> the eyes.
>
> It took a month but I got her eyes back to normal. She'll always need
> someone to help her continue because it's a lot to remember:
>
> * No makeup. Only on special occasions and remove it all right away.
>
> * Every morning and evening, wash eyes thoroughly with a warm washcloth
> and baby shampoo.
>
> * If needed, use antibiotic ointment (prescribed by doc) morning and
> evening right after washing.
>
> * During antibiotic ointment treatment and ever after, use Refresh PM
> each morning and before sleep. This is a thick goo and you won't be able
> to read for about an hour, but it replenishes the vital moisture in the
> lens. It coats the eyes during sleep, which often happens with the eyes
> open in Parkinson's patients.
>
> * Six to eight times throughout the day, use 1-2 drops of the extra
> heavy duty artificial tears. It's a thicker solution that coats longer.
>
> * Very importantly, DRINK PLENTY OF LIQUID THROUGHOUT THE DAY. Big
> amounts at long intervals are less effective than keeping the water jug
> in reach and making yourself chug it dozens of times each day. We found
> it helpful to have her drink a few good swigs during each commercial.
>
> We also did blinking exercises together while the commercials were on,
> killing two birds with one stone. And we incorporated blinking into her
> stride by counting out together: BLINK! -- two -- three -- four. BLINK!
> -- two -- three -- four.... Now whenever she's up and about, that plays
> in her head and she remembers to blink.
>
> I also programmed a handheld computerized reminder device for her. She
> hears my voice ten times a day at predetermined times. Sometimes it
> tells her to take Sinemet, sometimes to take both the Sinemet and
> Requip. Sometimes it reminds her to have a non-protein snack, and other
> times she's told to be sure to eat a big bunch of protein. But every
> single time, it says, "And be sure to glug down plenty of water, Nana!"
> This has helped her tremendously as the med/food regimen is complex and
> hard to remember to follow.
>
> You can order the VoiceCue online. I think it was about $40. It's a pain
> to program and doesn't change to/from daylight savings time, but we
> can't live without it.
>
> Hope this helps!
>
> ~ Greyling
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of rayilynlee
> Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2005 12:31 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: eye problemsKF
>
> KF
>
> I developed eye problems about a year after my DBSs.. Excessive watering
> and
> double vision which the ophthalmologist says is due to cataracts which
> are
> not ready to be removed yet.  I wear progressive lenses.  Boy is it
> annoying.  It is unclear whether this or my speech difficulty is DBS/PD
> related or not.  This disease has way too many symptoms.
> Ray
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "KF Etzold" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 9:12 AM
> Subject: eye problems
>
>
>> Carline uses a contact lens (she had a cataract removed in on eye).
> When I
>> remove her lens at night there is usually a filmy deposit on the the
> lens.
>> This of course greatly diminishes the quality of her vision.
>>
>> Has anybody experienced films of slimy material in their eyes? She
> seems
>> to
>> get these deposits even without the lens, but less so. She seems to
> blink
>> less.
>> Does anybody know of blinking exercises for the eyes?
>>
>> She also has a tendency to close her eyes, or squint. Often she keeps
> one
>> eye or the other closed. she rarely opens her eyes fully. Comments?
>>
>> K. F. Etzold CG Carline
>>
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