Shelley Hussey Joins Not A Dry Eye Foundation Board of Directors

Shelley Hussey
Shelley Hussey joins Not A Dry Eye Foundation Board

Shelley Hussey went to sleep on December 31st, 2022, with mildly dry eyes. But woke up on January 1st, 2023 to a Not-So-Happy-New-Year. Symptoms of extreme fatigue, grittiness, burning, itching, and severely Dry Eyes were suddenly excruciating. She tried self-treating with OTC preservative-filled eye drops (not knowing the dangers inherent in eye drops containing preservatives) and stayed in bed much of the day with her eyes closed. Although Shelley’s quality of life had rapidly diminished, she received little help from several ophthalmologists in her area.

“Best Dry Eye doctors near you”

After one of the doctors treated Shelley with Lipiflow, plummeting her into even worse misery, her husband researched “best Dry Eye doctors near you” and found Dr. Steven Maskin. Dr. Maskin diagnosed conjunctivochalasis, Meibomian gland dysfunction, nocturnal lagophthalmos, and ocular allergies. Within one week, Dr. Maskin performed the first of three amniotic membrane transplant surgeries to remove and replace damaged conjunctival tissue. After the surgeries, her comfort level pre-Dry Dye was finally restored—a feat she once thought would never be possible. Then, one month later, Dr. Maskin performed Meibomian gland probing to also restore the health of her glands.

Today Shelley maintains her eye comfort with a simple daily regimen. She sleeps with moisture chamber goggles, cleanses her eyelids daily, avoids ceiling fans, and gets plenty of rest.

Shelley Hussey – Patient Advocate

Shelley joined the Not A Dry Eye Foundation board in 2024 to bring more awareness to Dry Eye Syndrome. She champions compassionately assisting Dry Eye sufferers and leads the Foundation’s patient advocacy program.

Shelley attended the University of Guam and holds a B.A. in communication/Radio-TV from Cleveland State University. She is a former disk jockey and owned a graphic design company in Atlanta for three decades. Using her pseudonym “Fru-Gal” she promoted a thrifty lifestyle, appearing on numerous TV talk shows, including The Phil Donahue Show.

Besides advocating for others suffering with Dry Eye, she is passionate about writing and speaking on motivational and inspirational topics (employing a humorous slant), walking many miles a day, and lastly, playing 500 Rummy with her husband, whom she hopes to beat . . . one day.

She is the author of I’m Not OK, You’re Not OK, But That’s OK with God: Finding the Humor and Healing in Life.

Shelley lives in Lakewood Ranch, Florida with her husband.