Breezy, My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. I am so sorry for the sudden loss of your father. I have already lost both my mom (58) and dad (64). My mom before I even turned 30 to liver failure while I was pregnant with my second son and 3,000 miles away. And my dad to stage 4 mestatic prostate cancer only two years ago. They died less than 4 years apart. While I was very blessed with extra time with my dad (especially since i lived only 20 minutes from him) it wasn't without his own pain and suffering. My dad was in so much pain most of the time during his final year of life and on so many pain meds that sometimes that made his gift of time was very hard on him. His quality of life was greatly decreased. Even his final day was long and drawn out and painful that I smiled and sighed when my dad finally took his last breath. I know this may not bring you comfort now but know that your dad was very strong and such a fighter (esp from beating prostate cancer twice) his body decided to let him go peacefully and without a fight which is a beautiful way to go. Know that the time he had with you, he probably felt really good and wasn't in pain until only the very end. He also obviously felt very loved and very much at peace to be able to let go. Hold him in your heart always. Talk to him when you drive, walk or just need to - you will know he is listening and there with you. Share his memory with those around you and your family so that he may continue to live on in your children and you. Make sure you take time to grieve. I am sure Hospice grief counseling is available to you given your father's diagnosis, take advantage of it. It is very helpful. Again I am sorry. Jen (Ejs)

os = oculus sinister od = oculus dexter oculus = eye in Latin sinister = left in Latin dexter = right in Latin With rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, three things affect whether lenses can be interchanged: correction for each eye, shape of each eye and how well the lenses fit. Over the course of 39 years of wearing contacts, there have been times when the correction and shape were so similar that I couldn't tell if I had reversed the lenses. Other times it was very obvious that I had reversed them because either the correction was "off" or there was physical discomfort because the shape of the eyes was significantly different. I also had one lens that fit so poorly that I kept thinking that I must have reversed the lenses. (I finally had it replaced.) At each exam and fitting, get your eye doctor to explain in non-medical terms what is going on with the eyes. If s/he can't or won't do this, it's time to find someone else.

Hang in there tough lady! Boy it sounds like your doc is right there with you - wonderful!! My mom went to a doc that told her she had 10% chance of being alive in 5 years. Guess what - mom is still here, her scans have been clear after surgery and the doctor is no longer at that hospital! Her cancer doc said she should be fine, but they keep an eye on her. Welcome to the tough old broad club! Big hugs, Kathy

Over time my eyes have become very sensitive and itchy. I've always worn eye makeup -- tons and tons. I never go out without eye makeup. Love it but the last few years, just putting on eye liner is very itchy. So I have some work arounds. First, I use Visine soothing drops before trying to put on any makeup. I like Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes liner pencils -- soft and not too expensive. Sephora has them. Then I fill in with Milani eye liner. It's inexpensive and has an accurate brush. Drugstore.com has it. I've gone around with mascara but always come back to Lancome. They have a base coat/lash conditioner that makes the mascara go on easier and say on very well without irritation. Another mascara that has worked well is Laura Mercier though it didn't thicken enough for me LOL. There are a few removers that work well. I find I need more than one. Lancome's Bi Facil is my longtime staple. It gets most any eye make up off very easily. But then I go over my eyes with the Eye Scrub Lyban linked above -- also from drugstore.com It's sterile in sealed pouches and removes the little bits. I also sometimes use Klorane Floral lotion which is very mild. My eye lids were awfully dry a few years ago -- my skin has become dryer over all. I use Mario Badescu Special Eye Cream V every night. It's sheer and doesn't irritate. Mario Badescu, in NYC., is a salon that makes their own products which are quite gentle. I order those online and usually wait till they have a % off sale and free shipping around holidays. Their emails let you know. They are the best quality/value I've found overall for skin care and the choices are extensive. They have 8 different eye creams depending on skin needs. They also give free samples with order. And their Glycolic Foaming face wash removes all traces of makeup after the two removers -- but leaves skin moist. But there's a whole menu of those too, geared to skin type. I also really love their face creams -- it's hard for me to get any that really moisturize but theirs do. So many suggestions! Will be interesting to see what you like.