Trying Lacrisert

[lboogie]

Hi all,
So I just put in my first lacriserts. My doctor said yeah, it's worth a try. I'm lucky he's willing to try some of this stuff with me. The Lacrisert costs $213 before insurance!! good lord. Thankfully I only pay $15, but that just floors me. What if it really helps someone but they don't have it covered.

So far so good I guess -- I figured I'd try it on a holiday day -- when I don't have to be at work. Not super duper moist yet.....my tear production via the paper test is like 10 or so....so I hope I have enough in there to dissolve them properly.

I'm thinking I'd like to use these on days that I'll be outside, etc. But we'll see -- I don't get too excited about much anymore. My doc did say he'd keep his eyes out for me at the various cornea conferences for new things.

Any tips for me from other lacrisert users out there? Trying to live life and forget the dumb lasik -- but the dry eyes still makes it hard.

[lboogie]

okay, so these things are no good! My eyes feel more dry with them! What is going on? Anyone else have this? They feel super duper parched -- I'm guess they are not disolving properly? I can see them down in there still. But I'm not getting any relief. ARRRRRGGGGH why can't something just work!

[kitty]

I just tried them, they were a gooey, blurry, uncomfortable mess for me. Sorry you did not have better luck with them.

[VirginiaDryEye]

You need to give the lacriserts some time...

Make sure you add some drops in the beginning to the the "melting" process started. Put the lacriserts in the lower "middle" lid. Don't put them on the outter edges.

[kitty]

Make sure you add some drops in the beginning to the the "melting" process started. Put the lacriserts in the lower "middle" lid. Don't put them on the outter edges.

I did all that you suggested, still very uncomfortable.

[VirginiaDryEye]

keep going...

it took me a week to get used to them....I lost a bunch down the sink, I rubbed my eyes and they fell out, they were tough to remove. but, after a week (like contacts) i got used to them..no promises, just give it a little longer. w/ DES, it's def worth more time. good luck! dave

[izzy3usa2002]

just trying lacriserts

Thanks for the info. I will try in the middle of the eyelid next time. I tried them the other day when I had just had my plugs put in which have already fallen out. They want to do cautery on me but I want to try these things first. Hopefully today I can tolerate them more. Anything is worth a try. On the paper test I get a zero in my left eye and a 3 in my right eye. I plan on trying everything out there!

[Lucy]

Izzy, I found the insertion tool a pain in the butt. I lost many of those slippery little things on the bathroom floor or down the sink. I found it was easier to put the Lacrisert on the tip of my finger first, then pull the lower lid down and sort of scrape the Lacrisert off your finger into the lower lid. No, they didn't work for me and I tried twice. Lucy

[izzy3usa2002]

Lacriserts are working for me!

Thanks for the info Lucy I will try that. I had put the lacriserts in last night and accidently fell asleep on the couch with them in and I must say when I got up this morning my eyes were not gooed over and are feeling pretty good. for me there is some discomfort but it is better than the bad pain in my eyes I was having.

Today I am barely using my artificial tears and I am wearing my regular eyeglasses! No goggle glasses for me today. For me these things are working so I hope this keeps up. Also, I havent had to use the gel at all. For me this is a huge improvement. I will continue with the lacriserts for now.

So at this point I am using Lacriserts, Restasis and Soothe XP tears. I have Graves disease and score zero in my left eye, 3 in my right eye. Feeling more hopeful today.

[kitty]

I decided to try them overnight instead of my gel. I put them in a few hours before I went to bed, and used drops to get them going. When I woke this morning my eyes were dry as a bone. The Lacriserts were still in there, had not dissolved much at all. I had to go through my usual morning routine of saline followed by drops. My eye doc said about 50% of his DES patients respond to/benefit from Lacrisert.

[calli66]

I thought you weren't supposed to wear them while sleeping---what do the directions say?

C

[kitty]

I thought you weren't supposed to wear them while sleeping---what do the directions say?

C

No problem with use at night, per the insert.

[izzy3usa2002]

Yes, You can wear the lacriserts at night. My eye doctor said it's ok if it doesn't bother you. If you rub yours eyes you will just knock the out.

[izzy3usa2002]

DES improvement with Lacriserts

I have been using lacriserts for a week now. Sometimes I have to check my eyes and see if they are still there so I would say I am getting used to them. For me it was eyes drops every 10 minutes and the gel all day & through the night, ice and warm compresses.

At this point I am not using near as much eye drops and only use the gel at night just on my eyelids and only if I decide to sleep without the lacriserts. I can go without my goggle glasses for a few hours at a time but am just leaving them on for now to see how much better these eyes of mine get.

Yesterday my free sample ran out & my husband tried to fill it at the pharmacy but they didn't get it in till 1p.m. today. I really did notice a difference without them last night and this morning. I am so glad i have them again.

I do change mine every 6-8 hours. If i feel the pain coming back, I change them.

I look forward to going to the store tomorrow and only buying 1 bottle of artifical tears and not buying the gel. This will save me some money.

Give it a try and stick with it even when you lose one. What have you got to lose?

Just a re-cap I have Graves disease, on the paper test I get zero in my left eye and a 3 in my right. I currently us restasis, lacrisert, soothe XP tears and genteal gel at night & only if I feel dry.

[izzy3usa2002]

I just wanted to say make sure you still use your artificial tears with the lacriserts. That's what my eye doc told me. He said it helps them to dissolve.

I like wearing the tranquil eyes at night so maybe that keeps my eyes from drying out?

They are a pain but I still feel the trouble is better than the pain and burning. But, I guess everyone is different.

Vicky