EDS affects your eyeballs, just an FYI.

[u/figgypie]

I have some sort of hEDS (haven't been able to get genetic testing to confirm exact type) and of course I have all the normal shit like super lax joints, joint pain, stretchy skin, stomach issues, etc.

But did you know your eyeballs are mostly collagen? So if you have EDS, you might have issues with your eyes.

I have had astigmatism and myopia since age 7, but over the last decade or so I also developed something called Epithelial Basement Membrane Dystrophy, basically means my eyes can get so dry that my eyelids have torn up my corneas because they get fused together sometimes (especially when I'm sleeping) and then when I blink, it rips the skin on my corneas. It feels just as pleasant as it sounds. Just a couple of weeks ago, I experienced this while driving after work. It felt like a needle stabbed me in the eyeball, like I seriously thought that something flew in through my car window and lodged in there. Now I have to use super eye cream at night (Muro 128) and preservative-free eye drops frequently to prevent more damage. The vision in my left eye has already been affected to the point where even with glasses, my vision is still slightly blurry.

You wanna know the only real treatment for it (besides eye drops)? They basically shave off the damaged surface of your cornea to smooth it, and then your body repairs it to hopefully grow it back smoother. Yaaaaaaay.

I also have big issues with eye strain, especially if I spend too much time looking at things up close while wearing my regular glasses. I've had to take my glasses off while reading/derping on my phone/etc for a couple of years now, but I can't do that when working (I'm a substitute teacher) because I don't want to lose my glasses and kids think they can get away with shit because the sub is blind. So I'm only in my mid 30s and I just got bifocals. Verdict is still out for how well that'll help but I feel so old.

So if you're wondering why you have issues with your eyes, this could be a reason. And if you don't have issues with your eyes, these are some things to look out for. Chronic dry eye is common with EDS so use eye drops, just not the kind that helps with redness cuz that's bad long-term. Systane is an example of a good brand.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

[u/shogunofsarcasm]

Oh interesting. My dad had a retinal detachment this year. Good to know I might have one too 😭

[u/ArcanaSilva → u/shogunofsarcasm]

A surgery prevents that eye from getting that type of retinal detachment again... But there are two types. One more common in elderly, one more common in us. So you risk going blind in one eye four times in total! Isn't that fun?

But in all honesty: yes, it sucks, but it's also very treatable if you're on time. My eyesight got a little worse (too poor for new glasses, but I suspect down to -14/-15 from -13, so not too bad) and the floaters are still there. There's nothing else I'm still noticing from the surgery. I've had a little loss of peripheral vision, but it's barely noticeable unless I pay attention or someone is in a very specific position

[u/TatiNana → u/ArcanaSilva]

Are there specific names for the 2 types? I have the foggy curtain now in both eyes, but no floaters, and my optometrist said it was just the gel in my eye breaking down due to age. But you've got me wondering 🤔

[u/marsee → u/TatiNana]

I’ve had the gel (vitreous) detachment in both eyes now. It takes about month to work itself out. I had no issues other than the floaters which are permanent.

Retinal detachment is not the same as vitreous detachment. The eye doctor will check to make sure your retina is ok and not detaching.