Dry eye went from 0 to 100, unsure about future

I’m sorry for the bleak post in advance- just unsure where to turn and don’t have folks who can relate.

I stated having minor symptoms in the summer of FBS in one eye. I was told my eyes were dry and we treated it but another doctor said I had GPC from decades of contact lens wear.

After seeing many doctors to help with this FBS they all just said I had mild run of the mill dry eye and to move on.

Cut to 3 months ago and my eyes are both now nonstop burning. Sometimes it’s one and sometimes it’s the other. They turn red like I have pink eye. I have no idea how it went from tolerable to absolutely miserable. I had to take a medical leave from work but it was wasted on all these doctors saying I was fine… so now I’m in a position where I’m unsure what to do about work and how to proceed with life. I work in entertainment in front of the camera and also behind the camera. I know a lot of people have to change their careers but I’m in my 30’s and felt like life was finally just starting.

I tried punctal plugs, I’m on vevye now and hoping it works. I tried hydroeye, blink nutritear, changed BC and am now even stopping it. I just started some sessions of IPL + RF. I had one session of blephex as it was part of the package. I know my glands are short and not producing the best oil and I have slight aqueous deficiency so I am hoping the vevye helps produce tears and the treatments help with the glands.

I’ve been to an allergist and rheumatologist (though I am thinking of asking for a different type of test for sjogens- they just did blood test). Now that Im off BC I have another apt with an endo. I never slept in my contacts and wear them minimally (which is difficult as I have high myopia). I don’t drink, smoke, etc. I workout daily, don’t eat meat and keep sugar low. Switched to decaf and rarely have dairy.

I think I’m having a hard time trying to figure out how it just escalated so abruptly. If this is hormonal? I had a doctor tell me this was all in my head and to take care of my mental health. I wonder how much mental health plays a role? Another just put plugs in and told me that’s all they could do for me. So safe to say I feel abandoned by these doctors and then the other half tell me the only things they can do for me are expensive treatments. (Which I’m starting out of desperation)

Im unsure what do to about my future. I’m scared to make plans to socialize and now without my contacts (I’m trying to avoid making it worse though I am cleared for some usage)I feel like I can’t go to shows or even date. I spoke to several ICL doctors and if I am able to get these prescription to work I will proceed with it (this was the plan years back before this all happened). Honestly most cleared me to be on vevye for 1-2 months before proceeding. (These are top names in the field but I am open to recs!) this option is probably the only thing giving me hope of moving on though I need to solve how to be comfortable.

Does anyone else feel unsure about what jobs to pursue? Change careers? Are you able to just push through? Does anyone else here work in film/tv etc? Has anyone had to start a go fund me for these expenses?

Lastly, anyone have an ounce of hope to pass my way?

Thank you to this group for being helpful. The Facebook group makes my mental health worse and makes me feel like there’s no hope at all.

EDIT: my routine-

Daytime: -Veyve morning -Optase intense per need -using blink matters on computer

Nighttime: -clean with we love eyes tea tree oil and scrub brush OR occusoft demodex -wash with cleanser (we love eyes or occusoft), -warm compress 10 minutes (was told to maybe do 5 am and 5 pm now) -vevye -gel drop before bed have a silk mask that I’m not sure does anything? Only one out of like 20 visits did anyone say I probably slept with my eye little open the night before

Updates: Switching hydroeye to theratear or focus (seems higher omega 3), being consistent with omega 7, adding maqui berry, maybe adding another round of warm compress in Am though I think sometimes it’s a bit drying/irritating, adding 2-3 rounds of IPL and RF to treatment (I was told to do tearcare but a lot of places have replaced tearcare with RF)