Less drops?

[stephgurl1986]

Hi there,

I have a question: How can I reduce my usage of eye drops? I just need them too often, I don't know how I'm ever supposed to work in a normal way when I need drops every 5-10mins. If I don't use them my eyes turn even more red and hurt more. I have plugs and use cyclosporine. What else can I do to reduce the amount of eye drops?

Thanks for your help!!!

[Rebecca Petris]

Moisture chamber glasses.

[stephgurl1986]

Isn't there anything else? I'm 21 and Moisture chamber glasses really aren't a solution for me.

[NYer]

We over-40 women look pretty stupid in them, too, but you gotta start somewhere!

[Rebecca Petris]

There is hope... better looking ones are coming out.

In the meantime, don't rule it out. Have you read any of the threads on custom moisture chambers? I'm not talking just clunky foam-lined sunglasses. You can get moisture chambers that are very subtle.

"Isn't there anything else?" In my opinion, no. But then, I do not consider applying drops 5-10 minutes a viable option either. I think it's bad for the eyes.

Basically it's down to the need. Those who need moisture chambers badly enough will use them.

[Terri]

...I don't know how I'm ever supposed to work in a normal way when I need drops every 5-10mins. If I don't use them my eyes turn even more red and hurt more.

You didn't say what kind of drops you are using, but if you are using commercial bottled drops with preservatives, switch to preservative-free single-use vials and see if that makes a difference. I used to use drops every 5 - 10 minutes, and I found out it was because I had become intolerant of the preservatives. Also, you'll need to experiment with the single-use brands. Some last much less time than others.

And Rebecca is right. Eye protection makes a huge difference. Even eyeglasses that don't seal provide better protection than nothing at all. If you don't wear prescriptive lenses, you can get glasses and moisture chambers with plano lenses.

[stephgurl1986]

I use perservative-free Thera Tears and I already have to wear "normal" glasses - aren't there contact lenses that reduce the amount of drops somehow?

[Rebecca Petris]

I use perservative-free Thera Tears and I already have to wear "normal" glasses - aren't there contact lenses that reduce the amount of drops somehow?

Sclerals.

Same principle, only more intensive. Either you surround your eyes with moist motionless air or you cover them with liquid.

Back on the subject of looks and moisture chambers... seems to me like "dropping" every 5-10 minutes would be as socially inhibiting as wearing some slightly modified glasses?

[Julie1]

Have you tried cold compresses? When I was at my worst, cold compresses helped to dull the pain and to make my eyes appear less red.

I was also using drops every 5-10 minutes and once I forced myself to only use them every hour or so, my eyes seemed to improve and I didn't need the drops as much. I think that excessive use of drops washes away what little natural tears you have and makes the eyes feel more dry. I don't really worry about redness anymore because most people don't really notice that my eyes are fairly red. They would notice me putting in drops every 5-10 minutes though.

Also, are you using any ointments at night? I had problems in the morning during the time I used ointments. I started using Dwelle at night and saw a huge different in my comfort during the day. My theory is that Dwelle protects my eyes at night and helps my eyes to have a better start in the morning. When I used ointment, my eyes started off bad and just continued to get worse until the afternoon when they started to improve again.

[Rory]

Isn't there anything else? I'm 21 and Moisture chamber glasses really aren't a solution for me.

I totally understand not wanting to wear freaky looking glasses at your age.

It is totally understandable. However...have you tried wearing very protective glasses..when you are alone or not in public? I guarantee your eyes will feel fantastic...and it will give them more chance when you go into the real world.....and

when in the real world..certainly in summer or when at all reasonable...get some wrap around sunglasses ...they can offer about 80% protection and should give a massive improvement in your symptoms.....blocking out air currents is the most important thing that you must do!

I wear these in my office when possible and revert to normal glasses for meetings etc.... and in the summer, socially i wear them virtually 24/7!!

I believe if you can do this... those times when you need to look "normal" and wear contacts or normal glasses ...your eyes will be much less dry and inflamed and therefore able to cope better.

I dont believe any contact lens helps dry eyes...they will all dry your eye out. I have never found one that is really comfortable...(dont know enough about sclerals!)

[Rory]

Sclerals.

Same principle, only more intensive. Either you surround your eyes with moist motionless air or you cover them with liquid.

Back on the subject of looks and moisture chambers... seems to me like "dropping" every 5-10 minutes would be as socially inhibiting as wearing some slightly modified glasses?

I have never really understood how Sclerals would be beneficial for many dry eye people....certainly it is my eyelids that burn and irritate me much more than my actual eyes....

So surrounding my eyes with liquid but irritating my lids with a lens... is this a problem for many prospective scleral candidates?

[Rebecca Petris]

I have never really understood how Sclerals would be beneficial for many dry eye people....

The patients typically pursuing sclerals for something other than optical indications (like keratoconus) are often people whose are in danger of losing vision due to corneal surface damage. Keeping an endangered cornea bathed in fluid is of fundamental benefit to them in terms of vision preservation.

Patients pursuing sclerals exclusively because of discomfort due to ocular surface disease, without any obvious risk of vision loss, are a minority. How much they can be helped without unacceptable tradeoffs depends on the individual case.

The top side of the lens is less of an issue than you would think. There are mitigating factors like plasma coating which makes the top surface wet better. Many of us use wetting drops, and Panoptx or similar glasses outdoors.

If there's active problems going on with the underside of the lid like GPC causing lid irritation you wouldn't be able to use the lens.

[stephgurl1986]

Thanks a lot for all you advice.
I will try cold compresses etc. but I have noticed that e.g. Tranquil eyes do not help me they just make my eyes more red. And yes, I use ointment at night because my eyes stay a bit open when I sleep but when I wake up they are totally red.
I don't know but I have the feeling that my left (which needs these many drops and is horribly red) somehow cannot absorbe the drops because it is just too irritated. Does anybody have an idea with this? According to doctors, my two eyes have the same level of dryness but my right eye is almost normal (just slightly red, doesn't need drops all the time) and my left is just so horribly inflammed, there is a huge pressure because of that.
As I read more about Dwelle, I think I might order them via the international pharmacy and I think I will give scleral lenses a try.

Anyway, thanks for your answers and maybe somebody has an idea on the irritation/drop-thing.

[Rebecca Petris]

Just a couple more thoughts...

You might want to post a question to Dr. Latkany or Dr. Holly about the drops / irritation.

Re: the goggle: Have you tried sleeping with Tranquileyes WITHOUT the moisture pads? This creates a moisture chamber so that you get at least some protection (given the lid closure problem) but without anything touching the lids. If you have and already posted about it sorry... I couldn't remember.

[Rojzen]

Dwelle/Dakrina; good moisture chambers can be invisible

Just want to echo that switching to a Dr. Holly drop, and being patient with the switch, can dramatically alter the frequency with which topical moisture is needed. . .I respect the concept behind TheraTears, but I believe that Dr. Holly has roundly refuted their claim to healing through hypotonicity. . .Any time I've been on TheraTears, I've needed more and more, over time, just to stay functional. . .

As others here have said, it's hard to imagine how much moisture chambers can help 'till you've tried 'em. . .They may help not only with comfort, but with ocular surface health, over time. . .And please dispel notions that moisture chambers are necessarily dorky/ugly. . .Some are. . .but others are not. . .Current frame fashions INCREASINGLY resemble Panoptx, for example. . .Heavy, plastic frames with wide earpieces are all the rage, now, wherever I look. . .These days, half the people I see who wear glasses look like they are wearing tortoise shell Panoptx (;^)). . .

Good custom moisture chambers are essentially invisible, moreover. .Please see the photos of me wearing them, back in Archives, if you doubt this. . .

One last thought: On behalf of the elderly here, above the ripe old age of 30, I would ask that we not assume that the elderly don't care how we look. . .We do, and through our diligence with opticians and manufacturers, we seniors are playing a big role in making wraparounds and moisture chambers gorgeous enough for EVERYONE to wear