Travel and Dry Eyes (Yes, You Can Even Go to Developing Countries and Survive!)

Hi Neil,

Looks like a very useful book - thanks for the link!

Today in Penang, we had clear blue skies and I fell in love with this place again - was outside for a quite a while and no eye issues. It'll be interesting to see what the average is like over the next 6 months... plus I'll be asking other people who live here about it whenever the opportunity presents itself. I so WANT this place to be IT - the place where we could have a warm, inexpensive home base... but time will tell I guess...

Here is an excellent link to a real-time world air-quality map: http://aqicn.org/map/world/

Useful to track what you see for any countries of interest over a year or so and see what shows up

[neilw]

Living in Malaysia

SAAG
it was very interesting to hear what you had to say about staying long term in Penang. At the moment I have just started reading a book called "Sell Up, Pack Up & Take Off" by Stephen Wyatt and Colleen Ryan. This is aimed predominantly at Australians and it is telling us how we can move to South East Asia to retire. I have so far only read the chapter on Bali and am part way through the one about Thailand.

Malaysia is the next chapter and I wonder if they will mention the haze from the Sumatra fires. These fires were big news in Australia a few years ago and it was reported how badly they were affecting Singapore and Malaysia. But I guess it is old news now and is no longer reported by our mainstream media. Terrible to think it is a yearly occurrence for 9 months of the year. However, I am sure places like northern Thailand and, ironoically given the fires emanate from Indonesia, Bali would not be so affected. It seems Sumatra is the main source, or so I understand. The book also talks about Cambodia and Vietnam to retire to but I have not read these bits yet. I am sure all of the countries have problems but haze from fires would be a show stopper for anyone with dry eye.

Anyway, here is an Amazon link to the book - http://www.amazon.com.au/Sell-Pack-T.../dp/B00KFW93YC. And here is an Allen and Unwin link (they are the publishers) - http://www.allenandunwin.com/default...=9781743317853. Even though the book is aimed at Australians, there is a lot of general information that would apply to anyone thinking of moving to South East Asia.

Neil

Yes, there is serum in Singapore. I just had mine on Sat. However, my eye specialist combines serum with anti-biotics for my use. As to % of serum to the anti-biotics, he said is a trade secret There is another dry eye patient, DryLondoner, who has recently shifted to KL and she is searching for serum in KL. You may want to check with her too.

Good to know!

How do you know you have inflammation?

2 reasons:

1. if my eyes get irritated from whatever, they get red, so there is a visible sign of inflammation

2. odds are that simply because I have dry eyes, there are at least low levels of inflammation all the time (one of the reasons why steroid drops work so well for dry eye - they are excellent at getting rid of inflammation... too bad they cause cataracts and all kinds of other nonsense if used for too long)

I am currently using vidisic gel for sleeping. I am wondering is it good for long term usage. Why do you use ointment as compared to the gel?

My eyes get irritated from any gel I've tried - I used to successfully use Genteal Gel for a years, but for some reason my eyes developed a sensitivity to it, and I've never been able to return to using it, or any other gel.

[tealeaf]

Hi SAAG,
Thanks for your replies.

Is naltrexone drops a precriptive medicine? I need that too ... after lasik, my corneal sensitivity is definitely no good, thus not sending tears to my ocular surface.

Yes, there is serum in Singapore. I just had mine on Sat. However, my eye specialist combines serum with anti-biotics for my use. As to % of serum to the anti-biotics, he said is a trade secret There is another dry eye patient, DryLondoner, who has recently shifted to KL and she is searching for serum in KL. You may want to check with her too.

By the way, the dolphinneurotism is the micro-current stimulation device you are currently using? mainly to reduce inflammation? How do you know you have inflammation?

I am currently using vidisic gel for sleeping. I am wondering is it good for long term usage. Why do you use ointment as compared to the gel?

... and thanks for your kind words, so sweet ! yes, let's help one another out

I have recently put in temporary upper eye plugs, meaning I am now quadra plugged. How to ensure your eyes are clean without trapping dirt? I understand you have cautery and lower plugged, do you find that helpful?

Yes, I found a HUGE benefit to having all 4 puncta blocked as opposed to only 2. I don't worry about keeping my eyes clean any differently than anyone else - I don't touch my eyes with my hands ever if I can help it, only use a clean tissue to wipe excess tears (if any), use a handtowel to dry my face (including closed eyes) that is exclusively for my own use (it. no grimy hands get dried on it hehe) - If I'm ever concerned about getting something in my eye that doesn't belong there, I flush it out with a vial of Bion Tears.

Is genteal pm an ointment or eye drops?

Genteal makes a drop, ointment, and gel. I use the ointment.

Apologies for the many questions.

No need to apologize!!! We have to stick together and help each other out, right?

[tealeaf]

Hi SAAG,
glad that you are having fun in the various countries.

What is naltrexone drops used for?

Are you still using serum eye drops?

I have recently put in temporary upper eye plugs, meaning I am now quadra plugged. How to ensure your eyes are clean without trapping dirt? I understand you have cautery and lower plugged, do you find that helpful?

Is genteal pm an ointment or eye drops?

Apologies for the many questions.

I haven't seen it here yet.

[neilw]

SAAG,

do you know if you can get Hylo Forte in Malaysia ? Kathy has tried both Artelac and Hylo Forte, with the latter being much preferred by her. Hylo Forte is PF and in a pump bottle, not vials. It is made by Ursapharm (a German company) and distributed by AFT Pharmaceuticals in Australia. AFT also have offices in Singapore and Malaysia, so they may import Hylo Forte into these countries.

Neil

Hi Tealeaf,

I currently use the following:

Restasis

Refresh Celluvisc

Artelac Lipids - PF artificial tears

Bion Tears

Genteal Ointment

Naltrexone drops

[tealeaf]

SAAG,
your post is so encouraging and glad to hear that you are feeling so much better. I hope I will feel as comfortable with my eyes like you soon. By the way, can you share what's your current treatment for your eyes? Are you still using LED light, doing warm compress, lidscrub, lid expression, eye?
Thanks!!

I'm so glad it was helpful!

[neilw]

SAAG
thanks again for your quick reply.
We do know what bemos and tuk-tuks are as we have travelled quite a bit in South East Asia in our pre dry eye days. They are a fun way to get around (often travelling with chickens and other livestock) but I would have thought the wind would be hell on your eyes.

Anyway, I really hope you can keep posting from time to time details about your trip, where you are and how you are going. My wife and I are mad keen travellers and we like to hear about anyone else who is travelling.

Thanks again
Neil

Glad you all like the updates

SAAG
How are you travelling ? Are you taking public transport or hiring cars or taxies etc? How have you coped if you are taking public transport?

We travel via plane from one country to another - I use eye ointment in my eyes overnight, so I'm avoiding taking buses overnight and not being able to properly wash the greasy goo from my eyelashes in the morning.

How quickly are you moving ? Are you staying for an extended period in one place, and are you staying in hotels or have you been able to find self catered apartments or houses? We travel to the US quite a bit these days and we use AirBnB to stay in houses - we also do not move around very quickly. This gives Kathy a comfortable place and the time to recover from the flights.

We aim to stay fairly long in each place as long as it suits our overall itinerary, renting furnished apartments or houses.

In terms of aeroplane (can't bring my self to spell it "airplane", sorry) travel , Kathy wears Tranquileyes for the entire flight (except for meals). She does not feel strange doing this at all as they just seem like a personalised sleep mask and in fact we have had some air crew ask us where we got them as they think they look better than the conventional sleep masks (as they do not put pressure on the eyes). Also Kathy has always found the time in the airport to be the worst for her eyes so we always arrive as late as we can (not 3 hours before like you do) and Kathy goes as a wheelchair passenger. This way she can wear her Tranquileyes nearly all of the time we are in the airport. Again, she is not at all embarrassed about doing this - in fact I am sure other passengers who see her in a wheelchair with her eyes covered certainly feel she deserves a wheelchair. The added advantage is that we go to the front of all queues (in the US anyway) - this means we save plenty of time at the baggage screening queues, but even more importantly (for non-US passport holders), at the immigration queues when entering the US. These can easily be an hour wait otherwise.

Sounds like you've found a system that works well for her in airports and for flying!

[RFREITAS]

Thank you SAAG for being always inspiring!

Like Nike states... Nothing is impossible

Do you have a blog? If so please share it, I would to see it!

Have fun your eyes will follow you!

[neilw]

SAAG
thank you very much for the speed of your response and also for all of your tips.

I suppose I have a couple of extra questions I would like to ask.
How are you travelling ? Are you taking public transport or hiring cars or taxies etc? How have you coped if you are taking public transport?
How quickly are you moving ? Are you staying for an extended period in one place, and are you staying in hotels or have you been able to find self catered apartments or houses? We travel to the US quite a bit these days and we use AirBnB to stay in houses - we also do not move around very quickly. This gives Kathy a comfortable place and the time to recover from the flights.

In terms of aeroplane (can't bring my self to spell it "airplane", sorry) travel , Kathy wears Tranquileyes for the entire flight (except for meals). She does not feel strange doing this at all as they just seem like a personalised sleep mask and in fact we have had some air crew ask us where we got them as they think they look better than the conventional sleep masks (as they do not put pressure on the eyes). Also Kathy has always found the time in the airport to be the worst for her eyes so we always arrive as late as we can (not 3 hours before like you do) and Kathy goes as a wheelchair passenger. This way she can wear her Tranquileyes nearly all of the time we are in the airport. Again, she is not at all embarrassed about doing this - in fact I am sure other passengers who see her in a wheelchair with her eyes covered certainly feel she deserves a wheelchair. The added advantage is that we go to the front of all queues (in the US anyway) - this means we save plenty of time at the baggage screening queues, but even more importantly (for non-US passport holders), at the immigration queues when entering the US. These can easily be an hour wait otherwise.

Neil