I'm having an increasingly annoying problem with dry eyes. It's not so much discomfort as it is blurry vision. Put in eye drops and, after the excess clears off, things are ok for a while, then start going downhill again. Eye drops (have tried several different brands) just don't seem to be doing it for me anymore.

So, if you've also suffered from dry eyes and found something that works, please share.

Thanks!

(Kicking myself for not asking my ophthalmologist when I was in there a couple weeks ago. Grrr...)

My dry eye case was severe. I tried over the counter medications, home remedies without much relief/success. I got a prescription for Restasis and it has worked.

I’ll share my story on severely dry eyes.

I had Lasik surgery during the summer and allergy season kicked in. I got a sinus infection and the doctor added a second allergy medication. My Lasik was healing great but all the sudden I’m having dead spots in my vision and my eyes are severely dry. I went back and saw the ophthalmologist that performed the Lasik and my eyes have become so dry from the second antihistamine that the cells in the eye were dying faster than they were being replaced.

I ended up going on Restasis for a year plus I was doing Sestane drops throughout the day and refresh gel prior to bed. The moisture levels in my eye returned to normal and I was able to discontinue the Restasis and then able to discontinue the gel and then finally discontinue the eyedrops.

Another trip to your ophthalmologist sounds like it could improve your life

Depends on your age, if otc is not being effective, contact your eye dr asap.
My fil dealt with this, and the tried lots of things, even making special drops using his blood etc… there can be a narrow window on treatment, so, I wouldn’t wait after seeing what my fil experienced.
Systane has been only otc that works for my btw effectively.
Mine are due to lasik.

Also, drink drink drink. Water:-)
Winter naturally dries us out.

quote:

Kicking myself for not asking my ophthalmologist when I was in there a couple weeks ago.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
He should have noticed that in his exam. Call the office and see if they will phone in a script for you.

I had this problem a few years ago as well. Ended up with scratched corneas from my contact lenses. The specialist my eye doc sent me too put me on Restasis drops for a few months to get everything healed up and working again. I also had to switch back to glasses. One thing to note about Restasis, if you don’t have a decent prescription drug plan, it’s quite expensive. My drops where $1500 a month.

Chris

I have same issue, my eye doc suggested Lumify as an alternative. It's OTC, a little pricy but not $1500/year!

I use the sterile eye wash available in drug stores. I put it in the refrigerator so that it's cold.

My wife had her tear ducts plugged and it helped her dry eye drastically.

Punctal Plugs

OTC Systane Complete or Refresh Relieva PF or Refresh Digital PF as mentioned...there are other good OTCs as well. As far as the Rx route-very expensive, but Restasis was the first; now Xiidra and Cequa are good Rx alternatives as well...but all are pricey!

I will often start patients on a combination of Restasis (or Xiidra) and a topical steroid and slowly wean off the steroid but continue with the Restasis. Check with your eye doc to see what he/she recommends for you. The issue can often be a tear film insufficiency that can manifest as excessive tearing in wind or cold or with minimal blinking.

I also have to use Systane (preservative-free drops in little plastic ampules). Regular drops have preservatives that some people are sensitive to.

Also finishing up a course on prescription drops (Moxifloxacin) that is even stronger.

I just ordered one of the devices below for a white elephant gift exchange and I noticed in the reviews that many people bought it specifically to treat their dry eyes reporting good results. Its relatively cheap so it can't hurt to give it a try.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Nai...9404091?athbdg=L1800

quote:

Originally posted by bcereuss:
OTC Systane ...

I had Systane until it ran out, recently. I don't recall it working any better than the Blink I'm using now. The Blink Gel works better, but results in longer-term blurriness, of course.

quote:

Originally posted by bcereuss:
Check with your eye doc to see what he/she recommends for you.

Will do.

I've another follow-up for the BRAO in my right eye in another six months. If it doesn't get any worse than it is currently, I'll wait until then.

quote:

Originally posted by bcereuss:
The issue can often be a tear film insufficiency that can manifest as excessive tearing in wind or cold or with minimal blinking.

My sinuses run like mad in the cold, these days, but I don't recall my eyes doing so. Nor especially in the wind. I mean: No more than normal. I'll keep an eye out for that

It could be the now-constant OTC antihistamines (Aller-Tec and Aller-Flo [Costco's takes on Zyrtec and Flonase, respectively]), due to my now-nearly-constant sinus problems, that are exacerbating the problem?

Drop therapy: [Retaine - Systane Balance - Soothe XP] all about equivalent Refresh Liquigel or generic equivalent - heavier, longer lasting, more initial blurring.

Punctal plugs [collagen = 2 week temporary or silicone = permanent until removed]

Concurrent heat + digital massage of the eyelids / meibomian glands to improve oil production

Lumify is not useful for dry eye but does dramatically decrease redness whatever the cause.

Doctor administered in office gadgets that heat / massage the eyelids or apply light therapy to the lids can help but is pricey.

That about covers the available options

I have had good luck with "Thera Tears - EXTRA DRY EYE THERAPY"

I usually don't have dry eyes very bad but when I take muscle relaxers they dry me out big time. Mouth and eyes get bad.

quote:

Originally posted by GJG:
Concurrent heat + digital massage of the eyelids / meibomian glands to improve oil production

...
Doctor administered in office gadgets that heat / massage the eyelids or apply light therapy to the lids can help ...

So that gadget texassierra linked-to 3-4 posts back might help?

The antihistamine medications could exacerbate the dry eye. The in-office procedure referenced could be Lipiflow, which does help. It may be overkill for you (based on what you described). Check with your eye doc!

My eye doc recommended warm/hot compresses applied to the eyes and then gentle wiping along the eyelashes. There's also some eye wipes he gave me a sample of, but I never bought them because of the expense.

I found the compresses to be quite effective, but you have to be regular with them to sweat the crap out that's causing irritation. I was doing two times a day, but have since fallen off the wagon.

Guess I'll go make a compress now, since you've reminded me of it!

quote:

Originally posted by Oat_Action_Man:
My eye doc recommended warm/hot compresses applied to the eyes and then gentle wiping along the eyelashes. There's also some eye wipes he gave me a sample of, but I never bought them because of the expense.

I found the compresses to be quite effective, but you have to be regular with them to sweat the crap out that's causing irritation. I was doing two times a day, but have since fallen off the wagon.

Guess I'll go make a compress now, since you've reminded me of it!

I was told my tear ducts were being blocked and was recommended I do the hot compress.
I did the compress w/ hot wash cloth and it really stripped the oils off my skin at the top of my nose, between my eye brows that it looked like I had rosacea.
I complained and my eye guy recommended I just wash my eyelids w/ johnson and johnson baby shampoo in the shower, rinsing well w/ hot water and that seems to have helped since my last checkup.