Thera Tears in the Nordic countries

[Toril]

For those who didn't know, Thera Tears are now available in the Nordic countries! The drops are being distrubuted by a newly established Danish company, AMWO ApS. As far as I know you can't get Thera Tears in the shops yet, but I order them by e-mail and have them sent to my address.

Their website is in Danish; www.theratears.dk

I don't know if the drops are available in other countries in Europe? If they are not, maybe it's possible to buy drops from this company, even if you are not living in one of the Nordic countries?

Greetings from Toril, Norway

[kakinda]

Thera Tears and Systane question

Takk Toril,

is it helping you?

here's some more info on Thera Tears PF availability for non-US residents

http://www.theratears.com/intl.htm

Could you just elaborate on the reaction you had with Systane (and more likely to polyquad, the preservative) as I have had 3 previous reports by the few members (4) of Keratos who have tried it.
That's a lot!

Take care
Kakinda

[Toril]

Experiences with Thera Tears and Systane

Hi, Kakinda!

..I see you know some words of Norwegian? Cool! :-)

TheraTears:

TheraTears for daytime(without preservatives) is the only eyedrop I've tried that gives me the feeling of putting real tears into my eyes. The only drawback is that it's not giving long lasting relief. I'm suffering from really dry eyes, so this might be the reason why it feels like that. Each vial contains more fluid than vials from other companies, so I drip my eyes,..then wait a couple of minutes and then use the remaining fluid.

TheraTears Liquid Gel for nighttime (without preservatives) is a thicker version of TheraTears for daytime. It also contains more fluid in each vial than vials from other brands. I would compare TheraTears for night with Celluvisc, both with it's viscousity and feeling it gives in the eye.

[Systane (with preservatives):

In the beginning when I used the drop, it felt like it was giving some relief(ok..not a fantastic drop, conjuring all the feeling of grittiness away (still haven't found a drop that can do that), but I liked the fact that the drop was based on a "minimal blur liquid gel). Later on, I felt the reliefing feeling of the drop dissapeared, and instead it felt like my eyes got a bit irritated. Not in a way of getting red, itching or something like that, but just feeling a bit uncomfortable.

I've not got the chance to try Systane without preservatives as it's not available on the European market.

PS: Did you get my last private mail with an attachement? I know you are busy and all,..just want to know if you received it (sometimes my computer seems to live it's own life).

Hilsen fra Norge,

Toril :-)

[kakinda]

yes, if a few means a couple of words!
not enough to get passed Oslo right? (I've always wanted to visit the Lofoten... for some reason). By the way, which norwegian do you speak?

Thanks for your impressions on Systane and Thera Tears, I may try the latter someday but it seems that the novagali drop i posted elsewhere is trying to address the 3 layers too...
real reflief but not long-lasting... interesting!

got your message's attachement. I will answer you this week-end, I'll be on holidays then. I hope we can work on representing Keratos in Norge.

take care
K

[sanna]

[QUOTE=Toril;
[B]TheraTears:[/B]
TheraTears Liquid Gel for nighttime (without preservatives) is a thicker version of TheraTears for daytime. It also contains more fluid in each vial than vials from other brands. I would compare TheraTears for night with Celluvisc, both with it's viscousity and feeling it gives in the eye.

I know this is an old thread but still i woud like to ask you about this. Do you still use it? do you think it has helped you? is it expensive?

[Toril]

Hej, Sanna!

I use Celluvisc now as I get the expenses covered by the government. Haven't used TheraTears liquid gel for a long time now as I think it's very similar to Celluvisc (at least it feels like that in my eyes).

I use the regular TheraTears every day though as a part of my dry eye regimen, and I pay 84 NOK + sending for a box at www.theratears.dk. I usually buy 2 or more boxes at the same time. When the Pound is low compared to the Norwegian krone (like these days), I sometimes buy the Thera Tears from www.dry-eyes.co.uk. Then the price is about the same as at the Danish company.

Do you get the eyedrops you use covered by the state in Sweden? In Norway we get some of the drops at the pharmacy on "blå resept" which means most of it is covered. A problem though is that many of the drops they cover contain BAK, and the good quality drops, like Systane, Hylocomod etc. are not covered as they are concidered as medical device and not as drugs. Also, many doctors are not aware of the fact that you can get some of the eyedrops on "blå resept," and many patients end up paying everything.

Hilsen fra Toril

[sanna]

Hej,

I use oxyal, hoylocomod or Metylcellulosa right now at night time but i feel it is not helping me but i guess it is ok but i still wake up with red eyes in the morning and i hate that. As you know doctors do not know much about this in scandinavia. I have been to a few in Göteborg and in Stockholm and know one can help.

Celluvisc is that eyedrops or gel? I really do not like gels and ointments but i feel that maybe i need this anyway. I have used a gel ultracortenol for 12 days now and my eyes looked a little better in the morning but i can not use it for long cause it can cause cataracts and it has vaseline in it and i do not like vaseline.


Some eyedrops are covered by the state but i still have to pay. Metylcellulosa is covered by the state but i still paid about 150 skr for 4 weeks treatment (one bottle a week)

[Toril]

Celluvisc is a combination of gel and drop, and in single vials without preservatives. I'm not able to close my eyelids properly at night, so using only celluvisc when sleeping isn't enough for me. Instead I first add celluvisc, and then an vitamin A-ointment. The ointment contains vaseline, yes, and that sucks, but my eyes dry out at night if I don't use it.

In the day I use Hylocomod, TheraTears (single vials), Systane (single vials) and Blink (single vials).

I'm also using Restasis 2 times a day and 100 mg. doxycycline Monday, Wednesday and Friday (used to use 100 mg per day, but seems like only using 100 mg 3 times a week has the same effect).

I haven't heard about the ointment you've been using at night that make your eyes less red, sorry. Is it a steroid or antibiotic?

Have you got yourself tested for allergies?


Toril

[sanna]

I would love to try the a vitamin ointment, where do you buy that?

Yes the gel i was useing for 12 days is an antibioic and i can not use it for long.

My eyes is ok if i wake up 2-3 times a night to put eyedrops in but in the long run it s not good to not be able to sleep 8 hours straight i think.

what does doxycycline do for you? i thought that was for ocular rosacea.

take care,

[avee]

oh, Its all Danish....

[Toril]

Avee:

Yes, the page is in Danish, but you will find much of the same information at the American site www.theratears.com

Do they sell TheraTears in Estonia? If not, maybe you can try to order from the Danish site at the e-mail address info@amwo.dk. I've ordered from them since 2005/2006, and they always respond fast to e-mails and ship out the drops fast.

Sanna: I got the doxycyline prescribed by my eyedoctor in Paris (as I couldn't find any dry eye specialists here in Norway, I decided to go and see Professor Christophe Baudouin at Hôpital Quince-Vingts). He wanted me to try it to see if it could reduce some of the inflammation in my eyes and make my meibomian glands woking better, and it seems like it's been working to some extent. When I try to quit, my eyes get more sensitive and painful, and I need to be on it to be able to function in the day. I'm also using Restasis (cyclosporine 0,05 %) and Zaditen allergy drops (without preservatives), and they seem both to help a bit on the inflammation. I'm very far from pain free and my eyes are still very dry, but the treatment I'm on has done something for me.

Do any of the drops you use contain preservatives?


Toril

[Toril]

....uhhhpss...forgot...I buy the ointment containing vitamin A in France when I'm there. It's very similar to Simplex eye ointment (if you know it,..at least it's sold here in Norway), but Simplex does not contain vitamin A. You might find an ointment called VitA-POS (from Ursapharm) in some of the opticians and pharmacies in Sweden. It's very similar to Simplex eye ointment, but contains vitamin A. I buy my ointment in France as it's soooooooo much cheaper there. Same with Hylocomod. A bottle of Hylocomod in Norway cost 250 NOK, but I get it in France for around 120 NOK. Can you believe it?? It's crazy.


Toril

[sanna]

Hej Toril,

250 nok! that is so much for just one bottle.

No i do not use any drops with preservetives, i have heard that it is bad for your eyes, that it can actually cause dry eyes, (i do not understand why they have this in eyedrops).

Yes i know about the simplex gel/ointment and that is the only thing Sweden has. My eyes became red when i started with this and never became all white again. I am scared of any ointment like that now. I guess that is my problem right now. Do not know what to do at night. Also i think my glands are fine. I think my tbut are ok.

This Doctor you see, what type of eye doctor is he or she? (Maybe he/she dosn´t take any new patients)

[Toril]

My eyedoctor is one of the best eye doctors in Europe: http://www.theocularsurface.com/Baudouin_Profile.html

I don't think he's taking any new patients at the time being, as he's already got long waiting lists, but there are supposed to be other very good eyedoctors at the hospital he's working at (Hôpital Quinze-Vingts in Paris) as well. I don't know names on other doctors there though (but might be able to find out).

Toril


PS: Did you sign the Keratos' petition against the use of preservatives in eyedrops?

http://associationgeniris.free.fr/in...joomlapetition

...if not, we would be very happy to get one more signature!! :-)

[avee]

Thank you Toril!
Just ordered my first TheraTears from UK. Let's see! First I had to get acceptance from State Agency of Medicine to order it. They allow people to import food supplements but not medicines. Somehow I convinced them. The only preservative free single vial drop sold here is Ocutears. I've been using Systane lately (regular) and i like it.
Greetings from Estonia to beautiful Norway