New from the Netherlands

[Kendoji]

Hello everyone, thought I’d register and say hello after lurking over the past couple weeks.

I’ve had some dry eye issues for a couple years, very mild at first and not something I really ever thought about. Then over the very warm summer I felt increasing discomfort in my eyes - I quite stupidly did a lot of motorcyling with an open helmet, with hot air and dust blasting into my eyes for hours on end. More recently I got a cold and then an eye infection, and since then I’ve had more and more discomfort, especially when wearing contact lenses (which I now almost always avoid).

This got me to start researching. I have been to my GP and got the old hot towels + baby shampoo + eye drops regimen, which of course didn’t help. Thankfully over recent weeks I’ve discovered that more options are available. I’ve not been back to the GP to try to get transferred to a specialist for a more detailed diagnosis yet, and will most likely go to a private place that’s specialised in dry eyes instead (there’s a place here that does IPL). But first, I’m starting up a new home-care regimen based on my learnings from reading online, which is:

1. Blephasteam session 1 or 2 times per day (I extend the session to 13-15 minutes as some folks have mentioned on these forums). I’ve been doing this a few weeks, and while it’s soothing it’s definitely not feeling like a long-term solution on its own.

And then my new morning ritual, which I’ve just started:

2. Tea tree oil based facewash around face and eyelids. Have just started doing this - not sure if I have demodex issues, but figured it’s a good thing to include.
3. Hypochlorous acid spray directly onto closed eyelids. Am using Natrasan as that’s what is available here over the counter.
4. Jojoba oil to moisturise face and around eyelids.

Then in the evening I’ll probably just do another couple of squirts of Natrasan onto my eyelids after the Blephasteam.

I start a new office job in a couple weeks so I’m hoping I can get things under control with this regimen, and will probably also go to the specialist for some tests and perhaps plan some IPL if it’s needed.

[Kendoji]

Oh and I’m also doing the whole diet and lifestyle thing. Have completely cut out sugar and alcohol. Am already vegetarian and am making sure to get tons of fiber. Eating mostly fresh organic vegetables. Supplementing with flaxseed omega, vitamin D and a very strong multi-vitamin. And exercising like crazy.

[Fenix]

Hi Kendoji
You are already doing a good job with your eyes, but it is important to go to a dry eye specialist.

I have never used Natrasan or Avenova, but are you sure you can spray it directly on closed eyelids? I would put it on a sterile compress and pass it on eyelids to avoid any possible contact with the eye.

[Kendoji]

Hi Kendoji
You are already doing a good job with your eyes, but it is important to go to a dry eye specialist.

I have never used Natrasan or Avenova, but are you sure you can spray it directly on closed eyelids? I would put it on a sterile compress and pass it on eyelids to avoid any possible contact with the eye.

Hi Fenix, thanks, and yes I’m pretty sure it’s totally fine to spray directly onto the eyelids. Hypochlorous acid is the same PH value as the eye and is totally safe - you could spray into an open eye or into your mouth with no issues whatsoever. It doesn’t sting and is totally non-toxic. And Natrasan’s ingredients are just water, salt and hypochlorous acid - no other preservatives or weird stuff.

A lot of my regimen is inspired by the two doctors behind eyelovethesun.com. They have their own branded products, but I’ve just found locally available equivalents. On their YouTube channel there’s one video where they actually do spray hypochlorous acid directly into their mouth to illustrate how non-toxic it is. Their recommendation is to either spray onto a cotton swap and then wipe the eyelids, or just spray directly onto the eyelids. They say both is fine.