Post Your Daily Routine

[Silverlady]

My Routine

Daily Routine:
AM: wash goggle pads in baby shampoo and hang to dry.
wash first one eye then the other with a clean washcloth
soaked in very warm water.
Apply Restasis (1 drop each eye)

Rest of the Day:
Bion eyedrops all during the day. (lots)

PM: Wash eyes the same way I did in the AM schedule.
Apply Restasis (same dose)
Soak pads to Eyeeco Moisture Goggles in really warm,
almost hot water in a new papercup.

[Flick]

Time to update my daily routine. To see my old one, scroll down to the first post.

Restasis: first thing in the morning, and last thing in the evening

Systane preservative-free single use vials: throughout day as needed

Theratears Nutrition: one serving 3x/day (one serving is three or four pills, depending on which bottle you buy)

I should probably be doing lid scrubs and warm compresses but I have lower plugs that stick out a little bit so I'm too scared to scrub my eyelids. I'm going to work on these plugs, either get rid of them or try a different pair or get cauterized.

I still think that Dakrina is the best eyedrop around but my eyes have been feeling a little better recently (probably due to summertime humidity) so I've been able to get by with just the Systane. Also, now that I've discovered that you can re-cap the single use vials it is much easier to carry them around and re-use them for half a day.

I honestly think the high dose of omega 3's is helping. I was on lower doses earlier in the year and never really saw any relief. Not a cure or anything, but definite improvement. And Restasis seems to be helping as well.

The main thing I've learned is that each therapy takes time. Before I would try something for a few days and expect to see results. Now I know to wait at least a few weeks, and to not change other things during that period to try and isolate the effect of one therapy.

[Missy]

Morning:
- Shower - Let the hot water run over my face to remove dried gel on lashes.
- Warm Compress - about 10 min.
- Lid Scrub w/ Ocusoft scrub pad
- 1 Drop of Restasis in each eye

During the Day:
- BION TEARS when needed
- 100 mg. Doxycycline at lunch (sometimes dinner if I forget)
- 6 Thera Tears Nutrition Gelcaps

Night:
- Warm Compress - about 10 min.
- Lid Scrub... if I'm not too lazy
- 1 drop of Restasis in each eye
- Genteal Gel
- Sleep Mask

This is my routine. Ugh! I get so tired of it sometimes.

[mef]

lid scrub info.

Thank you!! I just now saw your response. I appreciate your good information!

[Lucy]

Lid scrubs

Question re: eye lid scrubs....what do most people use to do these? Are these done after removing eye makeup? (Please excuse my ignorance!)

Most people=?........As for me, I use Eye Scrub "Sterile Eye Makeup Remover & Eyelid Cleansing Pads." They are expensive @$11.99 for 30 scrub pads.

If I am out of these, I'll use Q-tip moistened with Saline and run the Q-tip over the edge of the eyelid lashline. There is much info on the bb about using diluted Baby Shampoo and cotton balls as scrubs, too. Some people find these a bit harsh. They are more economical than the "Eye-Scrub" by Novartis!

You would use lid scrubs of any kind after washing your face and/or removing any eye makeup. Be sure to rinse well after you do the scrubs.

[Gaye]

To Flick re: steroid drops

Hi Flick - I have sent you a private message about the steroid drops.

[shells]

AM:
Let hot water run over my face in shower for a few minutes then lid scrub
Restasis
Hydro Eye, fish oil, borage oil (with food)

During day:
Bion Tears or Systane Free (usually every 2 hours)
Wrap-around sunglasses for eye protection outside
Similisan drops for allergies when needed (just started giving those a shot!)
Drink lots of water

PM:
Eye wash after work (if its been a bad day)
Compress after work (if its been a bad day) - warm or cold depending on pain
Restasis
Hydro Eye, fish oil, borage oil, 2 tbsp. flax seed oil (with food)
warm compress and lid scrub before bed
Sleep with Genteal gel and sleep mask

[Amy09]

AM:
-Hot shower using warm compress/washcloth while in shower for about 15 minutes
-Restasis
-Serum drops
-Refresh tears
-2 BioTear tablets

THROUGHOUT DAY AND EVENING:
-Refresh Tears and/or Blink Drops

PM:
-Restasis
-2 Biotear tablets
-Refresh Celluvisc for sleeping
-Goggles for sleeping

[Rebecca Petris]

What a great idea to post these

Agree!! I just "stuck" the thread to keep it visible. I'd invite all new & old users to post here with their routine... very interesting reading & always brings up some fresh ideas.

[Chris]

My routine

What a great idea to post these. Very interesting and helpful.

Morning:

Hot compress
Rinse with Saline
Freshkote drops (used every 2 hours throughout the day, more or less)
2 Tbl. Flax oil
1 1000 mg. fish oil
900 mg. Neurontin
Drink water throughout the day (I just took a big gulp right now)

Afternoon:

1 hour rest/nap using genteal gel in right eye.
900 mg. Neurontin

Evening:

900 mg. Neurontin

Before bed:

Rinse with Saline
Dwelle and then Refresh PM in right eye only.

Occasional lid scrubs


I don't think I forgot anything. It's become so routine now.

Chris

[Jessica Adams]

my routine

6:30 a.m. a big glass of water with Cellfood and put on my protection glasses
7:15 a.m. flaxseed supplement
(I usually do not instill my eye during the day unless it is really dry and in that case I use Dwelle on a need by basis - I live in a very humid climate in Central America )
9:00 p.m. hot compresses and Dakrina.

J

[fernellen]

routine

I don't know how long anyone's productive day is. Mine certainly became shorter once I developed surgery-induced DES.

4:00 a.m. restasis in both eyes
5:00 a.m. genteal in operated-on eye; drops in eye that uses contact
6:00 a.m. shower/lid massage
6:30 a.m. out the door and work

If a bad-eye day - Systane or Refresh at about 9:00 a.m.

1:00 or so - Systane or Refresh (whatever I started with)

7:00 p.m. contact out
restasis in both eyes
close eyes/listen to books on tape or news/warm compress or
ice depending on need

I can usually go a day on one vial. The operated on eye is the one that needs the major help. Unless I have a late meeting that lasts until 9:00 p.m. (then another squirt), I am asleep by 8:00 p.m. I am still trying to keep up some of the activities and projects from before the surgery, but it's a day to day challenge. I am cautious about where I spend time (humidity, stressors, etc). I do not go out at night if I can help it due to GASH.

I am thinking about starting a saline wash. Also, I liked the discussion about refrigerated meds. Please continue it. My doctor told me to put the open restasis in frig. It stays there for about 9 hours while I sleep. I know where it is in this cycle of care.

[mef]

I use a warm compress upon waking in the a.m. and also one drop of Restasis.
Throughout the day I use Refresh Tears when needed.

I use another warm compress at night and another drop of Restasis before bed.

I recently went to my first opthamologist appointment and she prescribed a 2 week course of Alrex, but I've been scared to try those yet! (This is all so new to me!)

Question re: eye lid scrubs....what do most people use to do these? Are these done after removing eye makeup? (Please excuse my ignorance!)

[Flick]

Gaye - How long did the steriods take to start working? Are you on them indefinitely or are you tapering off?

[Gaye]

For my routine, it goes like this - first thing is a flush with sterile saline, then Systane. Five minutes later it is a drop of Lotemax in each eye. If my eyes feel particularly bad, five minutes later it is Acular in each eye. After that, (depending on how dry I feel), I use NutraTears if not too dry or Dwelle if I am very dry. This is usually about every 2 to 3 hours all day long. All of this is supplemented with HydroEyes and an essential fatty acid supplement morning and night. In the evening, it is once again Lotemax in each eye, then Dwelle a bit later, then GenTeal Gel right before I turn out the light and go to sleep. So far, I have not had to get up for more drops or gel during the night.