Ray,

Not sure about watery eyes. My mom's eyes dry out because of the
constant forward staring and loss of blinking response. I encourage her
to do that eye exercise in which you "trace" the numbers one through
nine, keeping the head still and moving only the eyeballs. It is done
using the entire range of motion -- imagining the numbers as being HUGE.
I think this is helping keep her eye muscles supple. 

I've heard it's very important to keep airways clear to reduce the
chances of developing aspiration pneumonia. In my mom's case, she now
has trouble swallowing and tends to choke on saliva if she falls asleep
in certain positions. 

I encourage her to lean her head forward and over to one side when she's
about to doze off in her chair. That way she drools rather than inhaling
the excess saliva. A folded washcloth keeps her clothing dry, and a
towel placed at the front of her pillow collects her saliva while she's
sleeping on her side in bed. If this worsens, I may start using
absorbent incontinent pads with waterproof backing. I make sure to turn
her back onto her side if I find her sleeping on her back.

It's not easy or pleasant, any of this, but there are workarounds for
many of the more annoying symptoms. Most doctors are well-intentioned
but have simply never lived with or around Parkinson's. The tips
provided by members of this list are an absolute TREASURE to us!

All the best to you and yours,

Greyling

-----Original Message-----
From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of rayilynlee
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2005 7:49 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: eye problemsGreyling

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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