What is your diagnosis (or diagnoses if you have more than one)?
MGD, blepharitis, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
How long have you had it?
many years
What do you wish more people understood about dry eye (or eye pain if that's your main issue) and how it affects people's lives?
Many people don't understand that changes in environment, diet, stress, other medical issues etc can influence symptoms, which may vary in intensity and also come and go. So for me, there's no simple, reliable fix, its about having a menu of choices to draw from as circumstances change. In my experience, it's about my whole system, not just about the ocular surface.
What has helped you the most?
Using OTC drops 4x/day even if I don't feel like I need them. Blinking (not just scrunching up my eyelids, but a very particular method of controlled blinking recommended by a dry eye specialist). Chinese medicine practitioners gave me a more whole-system understanding and also some useful acupressure points that promote eye relaxation and increase my tear production. Stimulating the vagus nerve, especially through yawning, vocalizing tones, and some easy parasympathetic breathing practices, contributes a sense of moistening in my eyes and some relief of discomfort.
Are there any dry eye resources you'd like to recommend?
Alex Beazer MD at Physicians Eye Clinic in Everett - he's a cornea specialist, very knowledgeable, a good listener, and willing to partner with me to individualize a treatment menu that I can draw on as needed.