Eye gel substitutions in UK pharmacy

[sophie]

Hi! I'm amazed to find so much information, and I'm humbled by some of the things you guys have to put up with: I moan about having to use eye drops every hour, but I now feel I'm getting off lightly.

I use (tube) Viscotears during the day and (vial) Celluvisc at night, and between the two I am pretty much OK. I get them on prescription and I pay about £100 a year as a one-off fee for all my prescriptions, which works out cheaper than paying individually.

But recently the pharmacy - or their suppliers - started substituting foreign brands (in their own boxes) for Novartis Viscotears. I didn't want to use anything I wasn't used to, and my GP wrote 'supply Viscotears' on the prescription, which fixed things for a while. But the last prescription turned out to be tubes of a German brand, repackaged in boxes which say 'Viscotears' (but not 'Novartis') and are in the correct white and pale green colours. The boxes are not identical, but very similar, to Novartis ones.

Has anybody else had this problem? I was reduced to buying OTC in a couple of other pharmacies which both, when asked for Viscotears, supplied the Novartis ones.

Any advice on why it's happening and what I can do about it would be welcome.

[faithlies]

Hi Sophie, sorry that you are having trouble.

I can't use Viscotears myself, I'm allergic to the preservatives (I believe there is a preservative-free version but I've never come across it).

I'm a bit confused, if you have a prescription, why are you buying OTC?

If you have access to other pharmacies that give you the type of Viscotears you are looking for, why not take your prescription and get it filled there?

[sophie]

Hi Sophie, sorry that you are having trouble.
- Thanks.

I can't use Viscotears myself, I'm allergic to the preservatives (I believe there is a preservative-free version but I've never come across it).
- Elsewhere on this site, someone says Viscotears in vials don't have preservatives. I haven't tried them yet, either.

I'm a bit confused, if you have a prescription, why are you buying OTC?
- Because a repeat prescription takes several days to be made up, and I'd just run out of the real thing when I found I'd been given the German tubes. And I was experimenting with other pharmacies, to see what they would give me.

If you have access to other pharmacies that give you the type of Viscotears you are looking for, why not take your prescription and get it filled there?
- Because I'd have to get a different type of prescription: I'm considering doing it. My current pharmacy has been excellent, so I'm reluctant to switch; and I think if I switch it will complicate getting all my prescription medicines (currently several different ones, on different repeat schedules).

- Thank you, Faithlies.
- regards
- Sophie

[faithlies]

Ahh, I understand now, you use like a pick-up service to fill your prescriptions at the same chemist? Got it

I would personally steer you away from Viscotears gel if it's the one with preservative.

In short, my dry eye probs started after I was prescribed three different types of treatment for a viral infection -- chlorophemicol, a steroid drop and Viscotears gel.

I stopped using the steroids and the chlorophemicol after the infection seemed to clear up, leaving but carried on with the Viscotears.

Eyes carried on being really red and sore. Did some research, had a sinking feeling I was allergic to the preservative in Viscotears. Doctor told me I was and to "deal with it".

Still couldn't wear contact lenses. Went back to optician, he suggests that if I'm allergic to Viscotears I'll now be allergic to my all in one contact lens solution.

He's changed my solution and I'm back in lenses, but it's taken nearly two months and still not completely free of problems. My advice would be, see if you can try Celluvisc or something else that is preservative free

[uksnupy]

Has anybody else had this problem? I was reduced to buying OTC in a couple of other pharmacies which both, when asked for Viscotears, supplied the Novartis ones.

Any advice on why it's happening and what I can do about it would be welcome.

Can you tell me where you found Viscotears OTC in the UK just for future ref? I haven't had any luck. I do have a prescription, though, and haven't needed a new one recently so i don't know about new suppliers-I do know that happens with ALL my meds, though. NHS gets whatever is cheapest at the time, and that's what you get whether you like it or not.

[sophie]

uksnupy: I got Viscotears OTC in an NHS hospital pharmacy and at Lloyds Pharmacy (looks like they have branches in Leeds). Thanks for the info about the NHS.

faithlies: Thanks. I think I'm probably not allergic to the preservatives, but I might try the vials. Glad you're back with your contacts, and I hope the remaining problems clear up. BTW, I love that "deal with it" from your doctor - er, isn't that his/her job??

[eva b]

preservative free drops/gels in the UK

Any pharmacy can get you any type of drop or gel which is OTC - they may not stock it as standard, but they can obtain it from their suppliers with no problem...as long as they're feeling co-operative.

I found my local pharmacist most helpful and knowledgeable about p.free eye drops - more so than my GP and even my eye specialist!

just ask