What is your diagnosis (or diagnoses if you have more than one)?
Dry Eye due to MGD
How long have you had it?
3 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?
I am almost constantly aware of some form discomfort due to this condition. Either my vision is blurry I'm uncomfortable due to itchy dry eyes, or I need to move indoors if it gets windy . I constantly worry that if I don't keep up with maintenance routines and appropriate diet, my eyes may suffer corneal damage. I also must spend a lot of money on eye drops and eyelid wipes and these expenses are not covered by health insurance
What has helped you the most?
Twice daily warm compress followed by eyelid wipes with Tea Tree Oil. I've changed my diet to include more Omega 3 fatty acids and a variety of green, red and orange vegetables and fruit. Manuka Honey eye drops used once daily have been a game changer, but these are not produced in the U.S. The price of a 10 mL bottle has recently increased to $35, inclusive of shipping fees and tariffs.
Are there any dry eye resources you'd like to recommend?
I follow Dr.EyeGuy on YouTube. I also read the detailed product recommendations and comparisons from The Dry Eye Shop