Very Itchy Eyes - Any suggestions?

[MyDryEyes]

Well, it seems like I have developed yet another symptom that has never bothered me before - incredibly itchy eyes. It is driving me crazy!! I had a pretty rough night last night. I woke with very dry, itchy eyes. The itchiness started last Thursday after using an application of Dwelle (which completely breaks my heart because these drops were working so well for me!). Now, it seems, ANY eye drops that I use increase the itchiness. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so I am wondering if something is in full bloom that is bothering my eyes. However, I have never had problems with allergies in the past!

Does anybody have tips for alleviating the itchiness? Also, is it normal for dry eye symptoms to constantly be evolving and changing? I feel the symptoms are never the same and I don't know what to expect from week to week.

[Rebecca Petris]

And on the other side of Puget Sound...

MDE... 'tis the season I guess! My eyes were itchy and STREAMING with mucousy stuff yesterday and I woke up this morning with my bad eye bone dry. It was all very sudden.

Probably most people will say break out the Patanol (or equivalent) and there's a lot to be said for that.

Personally I don't like using meds any more than necessary. So here's what I do when this starts happening is...

- Unisol 4 rinses. Even better if kept in the fridge.
- More attention than ever to hygiene (because of temptation to have my fingers on my eyes too much
- Occasional cool compress
- I use a lot more NutraTear than anything else when I get the itchies. I have no science to quote behind that, but somehow...
- I've occasionally used the Similasan allergy drop if I was on the road and didn't have my regualr gear.

[MyDryEyes]

Thanks Rebecca for the tips!

I do notice that the itchiness increases when I use Dwelle. I also received my brand new prescription of Freshkote yesterday and that didn't seem to help. I am relluctant to stop using Dwelle because it helps my overall dryness. Do you think it could be a reaction to the drops?

All my other drops seem to increase the itchiness as well, so maybe I am just reacting to the environment.

Where does one find Unisol? Is it something I can find at the drugstore?

[kitty]

I'm a wimp. I start the Patanol, Zaditor is OTC and works just as well. I have also been taking Zyrtec (now OTC). It does not seem to dry out my eyes and it helps with the eye itching. Save some money and buy the store brand equivalent. I know about the preservative in the allergy drops, but I figure it is less likely to cause harm if I only use it when I need it. It is the only way I keep my sanity. I also am in the Pacific Northwest, I share your itchies!

[MyDryEyes]

I am somebody who has never had allergies so Patanol, Zaditor, etc. etc. are all new terms to me. Are these prescription allergy drugs?

Kitty - the allergy eye drop you are speaking of - is that Similasan?

So, based on the responses I am getting, it seems that my itchy eyes are from the season and not the eye drops? I did use Dwelle this a.m. and my eyes don't feel itchy. Just achy and a bit dry. Sigh.

[Rebecca Petris]

Kitty, I was hoping you'd chime in!! We represent 2 ends of the spectrum. I think that the allergy vs. dryness thing is a challenge for a lot of people from a chicken-and-egg standpoint and, like most dry eye issues, no single answer is right. For some people going all out against the allergies is absolutely necessary where for others, stepping up the dryness treatments while layering in some steps to help the allergy symptoms gets them the most effective relief.

MDE, I go through seasonal ups and downs with the Holly drops and there are times when I drop one in favor of another. I've been on them so long that it's now just purely instinctive - I am not sure I could come up with good reasons. I've actually been using Dakrina night and morning for the past week or so. If you think a drop is increasing irritation (other than that initial sensation that is) then it's definitely worth considering modifying the routine in some way for awhile.

Unisol 4 is sold in drugstores, usually on the bottom shelf of the contact lens section. It's by Alcon, in a box of 3 bottles for about $7. There are also generics. Albertsons has a version of it for about $5 a box (that's what I use).

[dianat]

I'm a Patanol user as well, but choose not to worry about it because it's so intermittent. I've only instilled Patanol twice this season...and it sure has been a nasty allergy season. I guess I break a cycle with one use and then don't need it for a while.

[NYer]

Rebecca, do you think that your sudden issues were due to dry air on the plane the other day? (Or from being in D.C. where there is probably a ton of pollen right now?)

[Rebecca Petris]

Rebecca, do you think that your sudden issues were due to dry air on the plane the other day? (Or from being in D.C. where there is probably a ton of pollen right now?)

Confession: I ran out the door with absolutely no eye gear other than my scleral saline & plungers. I didn't even have a pair of sunglasses. Took the wrong purse, from the bottom of which I scrounged up a filthy-looking bottle NutraTear (expiration date long since worn off). And, um, I've been neglecting my eyes for a few weeks. I'm such a terrific role model for dry eye patients. Anyway, the trip probably didn't help matters.

[kitty]

I am somebody who has never had allergies so Patanol, Zaditor, etc. etc. are all new terms to me. Are these prescription allergy drugs?

Kitty - the allergy eye drop you are speaking of - is that Similasan?

So, based on the responses I am getting, it seems that my itchy eyes are from the season and not the eye drops? I did use Dwelle this a.m. and my eyes don't feel itchy. Just achy and a bit dry. Sigh.

Patanol is an Rx allergy eye drop. Zaditor I believe used to be Rx but is now sold over the counter. I personally did not get any relief with the homeopathic drops.

[kitty]

I'm a Patanol user as well, but choose not to worry about it because it's so intermittent. I've only instilled Patanol twice this season...and it sure has been a nasty allergy season. I guess I break a cycle with one use and then don't need it for a while.

I'm finding the same thing. One or two doses usually does it for me for several days.

[brd888]

allergy season

Hello,
Is it probable that people who have developed a poor tear film will also become prone to allergy season? I have never had known problems with allergies in the past but these days my dry eye seems worse March-July.
I think maybe my dry eye is not caused by allergies but these days my poor tear film isnt good at dealing with pollen?
Any thoughts?
Ta.

Patanol has BAK

[MyDryEyes]

Can't Find Unisol 4

So I am having a bit of a problem finding Unisol 4 at my local drug store. Is it an eye wash? Will any old eye wash work?

I just looked it up on the internet and it looks like it is a saline solution for contact lenses (god, I miss those simple days when I just needed contact lens solution).

Also, I bought some OTC Zaditor for the itchiness and I am a bit perplexed that it has the preservative BAK in it. Does the prescription drop Patanol have preservatives?

Here is the funny part - I am at the drugstore trying to find my items and a lady comes up and grabs a box of Systane. She saw me in my moisture chambers and asked if I had just had surgery. I said yes, 9 months ago and now I have chronic, severe dry eyes. She said "oh, I just had the surgery also and I feel great!" Just so happens, like me, she had PRK as well. And then she said "I guess that is just the risk you take when you get a surgery like this." I wanted to scream!! She will probably come through just fine and I hope that she does. I just don't understand why the universe keeps rubbing this in my face (no pun intended). I can't understand what I did in my life to deserve this horribly uncomfortable experience I am having.

Sigh.

[brd888]

Bop

MDE-
Maybe a punch in the face would have been helpful for her?

I guess the "risk" is something the laser surgeon told you was so remote it was not worth considering.

My heart goes out to all who have Lasik enduced dry eye. I have spontaneous dry eye and think my problem is 1/10 of yours. Mine is natural but yours is due to professional neglect and I barely feel what you must feel.

Regards.

[MyDryEyes]

brd888 - Thanks for the nice sentiments. Yes, there was definitely some screening issues prior to my surgery. In retrospect, I was definitely having mild dryness issues and was not screened for it. It wasn't even discussed. Sigh.