"My spouse's ongoing eye problems"

A few months ago, I commented about my spouse's treatment in Emergency and in the clinic at the Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital. See the story here.

Since my spouse had a chronic corneal ulcer a few years ago, they were seen by the Corneal Clinic for about two years then discharged. The Clinic appeared unconcerned by the ongoing eye pain that occurred every morning causing very disturbed sleep and poor quality of life.

I feel no one seems to understand the severity of this pain which appears to be caused by 'dry eyes', caused by their medical conditions. We have consulted private ophthalmologists but again have struck, in my opinion, a lack of understanding and an unwillingness to try to understand and find an appropriate treatment.

To us, it appears that during sleep the tears, which have a high salt content due to one of my spouse's medical conditions, evaporate leaving salt crystals to act like 'sand in the eyes'. We have found that most eye drops do not give relief - plain water and saline give the best relief once it occurs. Hylo Forte is probably the best of eye drops. Our only prevention is not to sleep more than an hour or so but that has other major problems. I feel no one in the Corneal Clinic seems interested in finding out how to prevent it and allow a good night's sleep.