Overuse of Clear-eyes - now permanently bloodshot eyes

[Jonnyringo]

I'm 30 years old and have had red-bloodshot dry eyes for about 4 years. I think it started with eye-strain from overuse of the computer, I was using it for such extended periods of time that my eyes were getting strained and bloodshot. The solution, stupidly, was to use Clear-eyes or Visine.

The worst part is I knew that you shouldn't use those for extended periods, but the embarrassment of having bloodshot eyes all the time drove me to use it anyway when going out in public. I knew they weren't good for your eyes but I had no idea just how bad they are.

I've been to a few different doctors, optometrists, allergists etc to see if there was something else causing the problems. I've been told my eyes are fine and there is nothing wrong with my vision. I've been told to use Systane drops, which seem to work for a little bit but not that well.

Now, since I've started reading this site I've completely stopped using Clear Eyes and have started using some tips from other members. The keeping hydrated one is a good reminder, it has made a difference for sure.

Do people recover from damage caused by extended use of vasocontrictors? I'm terrified that I've caused permanent damage. Whats worse, I am so self-conscious now and I think my appearance may be affecting my marriage.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[bernmee]

Hi

Welcome to this site. My dry eyes were caused but Lasik and I don't ahve red eyes so our situation is different. However what I will say is that there are many people here who suffer from red eyes, and some who have used those drops, and hopefully they will be able to help you.

But if your eyes were red before you started using the drops there could be an underlying problem. Many people visit a lot of Dr.'s before they can find one who understand their situation. A good Dr. will also explain to you that it is not unusual for an eye to have great test results, but the patients symptoms say something else. Do you have any pain?

Omega 3 oils are good for eye health, so start taking those. Try to improve your diet, get enough sleep and start running a humidifer in your bedroom at night. You can also get hold of the "dry eye remedy" by Dr. Robert latkany, you should be able to order it from your local library or you can get it through the dry eye store.

It seems taht for many people there is no simple formula that works to help the eyes. It is instead a case of trial and error in finding what works, and this can take time. This is a great site for info, though it can be a little overwhelming at first.

If you look at the very bottom of this page you will a list of similar threads on bloodshot eyes, try looking through those and seeing if you can get some help.

Keep posting and keep reading,

Bernadette

[Jonnyringo]

Thank you for the reply. I don't usually get too much pain but my eyes get really strained sometimes, especially when in bright florescent lighting. Definitely not comfortable but its not significant pain.

Sometimes when I close my eyes there a squishing sensation followed occasionally by what feels like slight drainage in my sinus.

Are there any sources of Omega 3 that you would suggest other than fish? I'm not a fan of fish at all

I also heard that Flaxseed is good, do you know anything about that?

[bernmee]

I use Flaxseed oil as I am a little iffy about the possilble heavy metal contamination of the fish oils and how the oil is processed.

Flaxseed can be bought online through the dryeyestore where it is flavored to mask the taste. I drink mine unflavored and store it in the fridge, and I also carry capsules with me for when I am not at home.

In addition to the flaxseed oil, I now eat a lot of hemp seeds and avocado, all of which contain healthy fats.

As for your other questions, if you don't get many respoces here I would advise you to post in teh "open forum" section. i have seen this question about the lights come up a few times, but since it doesn't apply to me I have never really followed the thread.

bernadette

[alisonW]

Hello...

My eyes are almost always red and they look & feel the worst when I'm under flourescent lights. I've been told that this is a symptom of Ocular Rosacea. Those lights are a trigger for many people. Although I've used redness relieving drops occasionally in the past, I can't say how long the effects will last for you, or if that caused your current redness. I tend to think that you may have ocular rosacea (it can show up before facial rosacea) and that's what initially caused your eye redness, hich in turn led you use to the clear eyes, etc. (That's how it was for me anyway.) Another "oil" option is Black Currant Oil. I've just begun taking it after I read that it may help.
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA40029...flamed-eyelids

[huey]

Married!

Hey dude at least you're married! You don't need to pull girls like me! Im a 33 year old male with an interest in bodybuilding and workin on my physique. whilst i feel i look great at 6' 2", muscular and dare i say good looking - my eyes are bloodshot most of the time. i was addicted to optrex clear eyes for years and same as you, knew it was doing damage. i was so addicted to them that i would go home in a taxi to fetch the drops if i had forgot them!!!! The red eye thing has knocked me back and effected my life badly. it was even the cause of me going on drinking binges and loosing control of myself as I was depressed from it. I would look at attractive women and say 'there's no way she'd like me - she'd take one look at my eyes and turn me down'. now for some reason I've accepted it. my eyes are healthy (although redish) and i've perfect vision. also, i've realised that most (good) women are compassionate and don't mind dating a hunk with red-ish eyes! sometimes my eyes feel good and look ok so i go out to meet girls. other times i get a flare up in my eyes and prefer to stay in. my advise to you is to STOP WORRYING (you haven't got cancer!!), START RELAXING, EAT HEALTHY, WARM YOUR EYES to stimulate oil flow, EXERCISE, and ENJOY LIFE!! also, if you're marriage is suffering - there may be other reasons. having this isn't a legit reason for a break up!!

Huey

[calcan]

You are definitely not alone. I abused those drops for years, and I have self-esteem issues with red eyes. (I am female - and personally I always thought it was worse for women to have red eyes than men, but I realize now that the guys on here will disagree.)

I believe those of us with this chronic redness may have ocular rosacea - flourescent lights just kill me - they make my eyes burn and look even worse. I too take flaxseed and fish oil, which seem to help. I use various lubricating drops. I put castor oil on my eyelids at night, which also seems to help. I agree with another poster that we have to put this in perspective -at least it's not life threatening, and some people are not as put off by the redness as we imagine them to be. We may magnify the problem to ourselves because we are so aware of it.

[Jonnyringo]

I really appreciate the replies. It's so true, we need to keep it in perspective I guess. Things could be much worse than having eyestrain/bloodshot eyes. I guess I'm just so frustrated with it because in my work I have to deal with people face-to-face ALL the time and it makes me very self-conscious when people I've just met make comments about how tired I look.

I appreciate the suggestions from everyone. Reading this site has been so helpful and has made me feel better about my situation. I've obtained more information through reading this site than my doctors ever provided.

I've found a great dietary supplement from GNC that I hope will make a difference. It seems to have a lot of what people are suggesting.

I will have to mention the possibility of Ocular Rosacea to my Doctor next time I'm in. There is definitely something wrong and I'm sick of them telling me to take lubricant drops...would be nice to have an actual diagnosis.

[RedEyez]

- I have always had few blood vessels in both eyes maybe due to the fact that my eyes are big.
- It got worse two months back.. very bloodshot that I can't even look at them in the mirror.
- I never had any type of eye surgery nor have I wore a contact.
- I work on computers all day but I try to take frequent breaks.
- Fluorescent lights irritate my eyes so I got tinted eyeglass. Felling much better now but still bloodshot eyes
- I went to almost 7 ophthalmologist and they all told me my eyes are fine and there is nothing wrong with my vision just a mild dryness and blepharitis
- My last Opt gave me a drop, supposedly better than clear-eyes, to hide the insanely large blood vessels; used it for two weeks and paying for it now (rebound effect)
- Also told me to use preservative free eye drops. I used both Refresh Optive, and Systane Ultra and felt like my eyes are more dry. so I stopped.
- He prescribed me restasis unfortunately I couldn't afford it
- I tried systane nighttime ointment and my eyes were 10 times red literally no white spot
- My doctor thinks I have anxiety issue more than eye problem... he has crystal white eyes, how could he ever understand what I go through everyday
- I am hopeless, please help!

[farmgirl]

- I tried systane nighttime ointment and my eyes were 10 times red literally no white spot [/B]

That is a very common sign that you were sensitive to something in the product.

[RedEyez]

farmgirl, I thought so too so I stopped using it. But my eyes are still bloodshot red even after weeks ...

[farmgirl]

HI RedEyez:

Have you seen a dry eye specialist. For sure I would drop the Dr that says you have anxiety issues in my mind those guys have just written you off and will not be able to help you. Of course you are anxious, who wouldn't be under the circumstances but that doesn't negate the fact that you have a debilitating problem. If you need to work on computers all day then you really need to limit TV, video games, computer, texting etc in the evenings. What I have found is the less I put in my eyes, the better they feel. I am now down to serum tears and non preserved saline and they feel better than they have in years.

I also read that if florescents are bothering you try putting an incandescent lamp on your desk. Bottom line, keep searching, keep looking and trying.

Here is a forum thread that you may find helpful if you haven't already seen it.

http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/forum...dry-eye-battle

[RedEyez]

Hi farmgirl

yes, the very doctor that said I have anxiety issue is a dry eye specialist. Unfortunately, I can't afford to change a different specialist because of the cost. I don't have insurance, paying from pocket. I am planning to buy a glass for the fluorescent lights and hoping it won't bother me as much when I wear them. But still my concern is the bloodshot eyes. Do you take the serum tears for your dry eyes? do you use any sleep googles?

[farmgirl]

Yes I use the serum tears for dry eye and my corneas have stayed healthy ever since. I do have sleep goggles but they did not help. I do have to put drops in if I wake up in the night. I am not a good sleeper so that amounts to about 3 times but mercifully I have never had problems with corneal erosions in the AM like some on this forum. So my question is, has anyone every looked for possible problems that could be causing your eyes to be so bloodshot like ocular rosacea or anything like that. My eyes are very dry (sjogrens) and are usually a bit on the pink side but not so's you'd notice without a close look. They are better now than they used to be.

I am also quadra plugged and use goggle glasses.

Maybe give the incandescent lamp on your desk a try for a month or so in case the fluorescents are part of the problem. That will be free if you bring one from home.

[Bones1579]

Hi farmgirl

yes, the very doctor that said I have anxiety issue is a dry eye specialist. Unfortunately, I can't afford to change a different specialist because of the cost. I don't have insurance, paying from pocket. I am planning to buy a glass for the fluorescent lights and hoping it won't bother me as much when I wear them. But still my concern is the bloodshot eyes. Do you take the serum tears for your dry eyes? do you use any sleep googles?

This is why I'm hesitant to even bother going to a dry eye specialist because all they'll probably do is say there's nothing that can be done about the redness/veins in your eyes, your eyes are healthy, and you have anxiety. I'll probably still make an appointment to at least give it a try but I doubt they'll be helpful.

They act like the anxiety caused or came before the red eyes/veins. No. The permanent redness/veins in my eyes causes anxiety cause I look like I've been using illicit substances and haven't slept in 48 hours. They'll never understand though because they probably have perfectly white eyes with no veins and their eyes don't feel like sandpaper. It's easy for someone to downplay and minimize the seriousness of something that they've never experienced.