I am FINALLY cured of dry eye.

[Arcaeon]

Hey all


Just wanted to share with you all my recent triumphs over blepharitis and dry eye.. as I know there are a few of you out there (jlg_uk and others) that have very similar symptoms to me, but I am glad to say they are 90% gone, I found the source of my problems - allergies, without a doubt. Saw another doctor who confirmed this, if you aren't sure what is causing your inflammation and bleph, I think allergies would be 99% of times the problem. Since using anti-histamines for three months i've improved so dramatically its unreal. Big thanks to everyone on this site for helping me out during this dark period. Wouldn't have made it without you all.

[jlg_uk]

Glad to hear it Arcaeon - good for you.

What specific anti-histamine were you talking? Drops or oral? I've always been a little put off anti-histamines as we're sometimes told they make dryness worse.

Also - any idea what specifically you are allergic to?

Must be a relief!

[brd888]

Gud

Good for you Arcaeon,
You sounded really piddled with this a few months ago. Of course remember it is always likely to re-occur if you stop the a-h's.
Regards.

[EllMitcho]

Hi and good job fella!

I too am interested how you treated said allergies

EllMitcho

[Arcaeon]

I've been taking preservative-free Zaditen about 4 drops in each eye 2-3 times a day. I know that sounds like a lot, but I tried using a smaller dose first and it didn't really work, I think because my inflammatory response is so strong. I also make sure my eyelids are very clean all the time by doing lid scrubs and making sure I leave on the soap from the scrubs before washing it off for about 1-2 minutes, I make sure I never touch my eyes, and try to avoid using standard bath soap and other things that might have chemicals in them that induce allergies.

Haven't actually found out what I'm allergic to yet, although I am allergic to dustmites, pollens, etc, and might have developed a hyper-sensitivity to something. Trying to do a trial-and-error process. I think if you have mysterious inflammation and were told my a doctor at some point it is allergies, but are dubious of this, you should trust in the allergy diagnosis. I've found that PF-Zaditen doesn't dry my eyes AT ALL and works beautifully, so give it a shot, might just have to use more than the recommended dose. And yeah brd888 you are right; I am worried that if I stop the A-H treatment the symptoms will come back, so its really important that I find out exactly what my sensitivity is to, so I can get some kind of allergy treatment or something.

[jlg_uk]

This is interesting for many of us - as allergies remain a possible cause of our problems. I would be interested to know:

Did you have any significant itching?

What made the Dr sure it was allergies?

When in your 2-3 month use of AH drops did you start to feel better?


I'd also be interested to know from UK people if PF AH drops are available - I assume an Rx is needed?

[Arcaeon]

This is interesting for many of us - as allergies remain a possible cause of our problems. I would be interested to know:

Did you have any significant itching?

What made the Dr sure it was allergies?

When in your 2-3 month use of AH drops did you start to feel better?


I'd also be interested to know from UK people if PF AH drops are available - I assume an Rx is needed?

Nope, had no itching whatsoever, at any time. Which is why I was initially sceptical about the allergies diagnosis. But I've since found out you don't need itching to have allergies, particularly this type of hyper-sensitivity allergy. Not sure really what made the doctor so sure, but the last one I went to said he was 100% positive it was allergies - he said literally nothing else could be causing eyelid inflammation in that particular way - especially considering I had tried pretty much every single treatment out there with not much progress. I did start to feel a little better on AH treatment after just a few weeks, but it took about 3 months to really feel 100% better, but I don't know if this is also because I started to massively increase the dosage of the drops as taking extra steps to keep my eyes clean all the time. And yeah, I'm Australian but I am pretty sure Zaditen PF are available in the UK too, dunno if you need a prescription though. As far as I know there are no real side effects to using Zaditen if it's preservative free, so I think you have nothing to lose mate - from the way I remember you describing your eyelids it was almost exactly like mine so I think you have a good shot. Best of luck mate and i'll be happy to answer any more questions.

[locky]

zatiden p.f

I got zatiden p.f eye drops licenced in the u.k about 6 months ago it was hard work through boot chemist we were succesfull get your doctor to give you a precription make sure he state p.f they are single vials 0.25 mg/ml if any of you have trouble gaining these please contact me they are a novartis product and are inported from holland / polland they wont be listed in the BNF yet but should be on boots data base.......
locky

[jlg_uk]

And yeah, I'm Australian but I am pretty sure Zaditen PF are available in the UK too, dunno if you need a prescription though. As far as I know there are no real side effects to using Zaditen if it's preservative free, so I think you have nothing to lose mate - from the way I remember you describing your eyelids it was almost exactly like mine so I think you have a good shot. Best of luck mate and i'll be happy to answer any more questions.

Cheers mate - gonna seriously think about it. Not getting much joy from the steroid drops I'm temporarily on - and definately looking to explore the allergy angle even if it's to just rule it out.

Thanks for sharing your XP.

[jlg_uk]

I got zatiden p.f eye drops licenced in the u.k about 6 months ago it was hard work through boot chemist we were succesfull get your doctor to give you a precription make sure he state p.f they are single vials 0.25 mg/ml if any of you have trouble gaining these please contact me they are a novartis product and are inported from holland / polland they wont be listed in the BNF yet but should be on boots data base.......
locky

Well done locky - that's fantastic. So an Rx is needed but with a specific Rx it can be otained via Boots... I think I'll try that after my current experimental treatment is done with.

[stella]

Thank you locky for that valuable info -- I must try Boots again
I have been trying to get Zaditen pf for the last 6 months
Its a bit of a backwater here in Northern Ireland - especially in rural areas, and nobody could get it for me .
As a last resort,I was going to try Paris where my sister lives
It would be MUCH more convenient if i could get it here
You cant get it on the internet except from Australia, and that requires an Rx
On a more positive note - my local pharmacist gets me clinitas ultra 3(freshkote in the USA) and i can get it on Rx I used to send on the internet for it .

[strider1]

i thougth using drops that are anti-histamine were always a no no. ???

[locky]

anti histamines

Yes You Are Right Treating A Allergy Can Worsen Dry Eye Symptoms But Some Patients Experience Inprovement By Treating The Allergy I Would Advise Preservative Free Drops Only The Safest Out There For Long Term Use Is Sodium Cromoglycate P.f This Can Only Be Obtained From Moorfields Eye Hospital U.k On Precription Only.......

Locky

[Kathel]

Arcaeon,

Congratulations on your success! I am curious as to what kind of symptoms you were having. I think I have significant allergy issues as well. I rarely ever have itching, but I think my allergy symptoms are burning and a sensation of swelling. Is this similar to your experience?

Thanks,

Kathel

[Arcaeon]

Hmm, i dunno if I would describe it as 'burning', although I got a sort of burning sensation from the dry eye that resulted from eye inflammation. Not much swelling, no itching really. The annoying thing is I missed a couple of days of using anti-histamines and the eyelid inflammation has returned , haha... so disappointing but I knew it would. My allergic response must be ridiculously strong, but I can't figure out what the hell it is to, because I haven't been using soap, or any chemicals near my face... and I can't very well just avoid day-to-day things like dust and pollens can I. Argh well. Life goes on.