What kind of artificial tears/goop do you use?

[katia]

I have been using systane free for the last month and a half, and it is not the worse. The worse being in my opinion soothe, that gives you the blured vision and on top of it makes your eyes feel dry for a long long time.
Now that systane free has been recalled I don't know too much what to try. I have the regulas systane but I don't like it much and also it has preservative. I wish all those docs would really try all those drops before they start advising you... because I think they have no idea how painfull they can be. If only also the manufacturers tried them.. maybe something nice would come out!!!!

[calli66]

Eyedrop interactions

(Under the topic "we all react differently")

Soothe:
Doesn't work at all for me during the day (eyes open), but OK at night as a supplement to Genteal Gel (eyes closed).

NutriTear (Red Drops):
Works OK for daytime, provided I DON'T USE ANY OTHER DROP OR SALINE within 1/2 before or after it. If I do, it "curdles" (makes strings and pieces--very uncomfortable).

My point is that I think certain drops aren't compatible with each other and with each individual's tear chemistry.

I have thrown many bottles and vials of drops in the garbage, too. On the other hand, my drawer is still pretty full of types that I want to give "a second chance." Pretty amazing amounts of money I have thrown away--each products costing upwards of $10 US.

C66

[Steve]

What goop I use

Warning: This gets pretty methodical. Here's what I've used so far: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?k...71601515545106

What I use now:

Night: Visine Night (Europe only?) Once at night, once upon opening eyes, even if going back to sleep.

Day: Artelac hypromellose single-use droppers PLUS a drop of Refresh Endura. Either one alone has problems but together they work very well.

[dianat]

Steve,

What's in that Visine Night you're using?! Visine in the States is no good. I can't read the ingredients on the web site because it's not in English.

D

[neil0502]

Well, it's this, Diana:

Összetevők:

A 10 ml-es flakon tartalma: karbomer 974P, povidon, glycerin (85%), nátrium-acetát trihidrát, benzalkónium-klorid (tartósítószer), trometamol és víz.

The only thing =I= really needed to see was the Hungarian word for benzalkonium chloride.

Hmmmmmm

EDIT: looking at the page Steve provide, though, maybe the Scandinavian formula is different. That bottle LOOKS like one of the preservative free droppers.

Steve??

[Silverlady]

Visine in the States

The Visine in general in the states is as Diana states "no good" with the exception of the Visine Pure Tears. It is a boon for travelers in that it is preservative free and works quite well for those who need a wetter drop. Also it is in a bottle so you can just drop it in a pocket or a purse. I have to use it more often but it is a lifesaver when traveling.

Billye

[dianat]

Thank you for clarifying Silverlady.

Neil, you better set Steve straight here. We might be on to something...

[Rebecca Petris]

visine

All of the Visine products are preserved with BAK except the PureTears Portable, PureTears Single Drop Dispenser, and the contact lens wetting drop. the two Puretears products have as main ingredients hypromellose, glycerin and polyethelene glycol. The one Neil mentioned above was carbomer (main ingredient in viscotears), glycerin (in several products) and povidone (which is in Refresh lubricant eye drops as well as Dwelle, Dakrina and Freshkote).

[Steve]

What's in it in Sweden

Ingredients:

Provodon K-25, carbomer 974p, benzalkonchlorid, glycerol 85% sodium acetylhydrate, trometamol, water.

So it sounds the same as those hungarian ones...

[neil0502]

Ingredients:

Provodon K-25, carbomer 974p, benzalkonchlorid, glycerol 85% sodium acetylhydrate, trometamol, water.

So it sounds the same as those hungarian ones...

...only it tastes just a touch less like goulash.

[insert normal AAAAK, YOU'RE PUTTING BAK INTO YOUR EYES?? rant here]

Careful, Steve. Be very mindful of whether you're getting better or worse with these drops.

[dianat]

Steve,

Stop using the Visine. It's got benzalkonium chloride (BAK) in it as a preservative. That's the reason Neil is here...it's very damaging. Find another drop so long as it doesn't contain benzalkonium chloride.

Diana

[Steve]

So this stuff is bad for everyone?

I had heard that various preservatives were bad for different people. Is this one a categorical "keep far away" for everyone?

Thanks for the heads up, and Neil, Diana, please let me know where I can read more about the hazards of BAK.

Edit: Hmmm, it's bad for slugs: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum

Oh, dear. And very bad for eyes: http://www.iovs.org/cgi/reprint/40/3/619.pdf


Ok, I'm sold. Any others?

[Rebecca Petris]

I had heard that various preservatives were bad for different people. Is this one a categorical "keep far away" for everyone?

Categorical Y E S especially for anyone with already dry eyes.

The only exception (well in my opinion) is if there is a prescription drug one must take for a sight-threatening or other very serious eye condition and for which there is no acceptable alternative to a BAK-preserved product.

[Elise34]

What eyedrop I use

I use Genteal Geldrops and Bion Tears. I have tried most of the ones you all mentioned and none of them worked for me.
Elise

[Mika]

well i use refresh tears....coz we have ONLY 1 kind of refresh here....and dats refresh tears....
but its kinda expensive....
i found that Tears Naturale Forte (alcon) is 2 times cheaper than it....!!! strange!!!

do anyone kno which is better?? Tears naturale of refreh tears??
coz i use both.....i would prefer refresh but its too expensive to use two per months...so i use Alcon+refresh...
anyway....so does anyone kno which is better?