Optimel - Australia's new dry eye treatment.

[vinnieblanco]

Any improvement in using the new manuka honey optimel eye drops?

[Drutt]

Im very interest in hearing from people who have been treated with optimel too, An update would be great.

[soaps]

Tried it for 2 days . it killllllllsssssss . burning continued for hoursssss. redness for days. also on 2 day my mouth and tongue throat burned like i had eaten chilli . not for me.

[OlympusMons]

I haven't tried optimel yet. I do my own manuka honey eye drops until I get my hands on the real product. I use approximately 1 fifht honey, 4 fifths distilled. I have only been using it for five days, but I would say that my eyes feel a bit better. Could be placebo of course. Anyways, be prepared for a stinging sensation out of this world when you take the drops! Fortunately, the pain goes away in a matter of minutes. But your eyes will get extremely read and full of tears.

[DCRdryeye]

Recently my left eye was above 20 during an occular pressure check up. So I'm off prednisolone drops and my eyes have been noticing it!!! I've had a tube of OptiMel sitting on my desk for awhile and haven't tried it until a few days ago. I used the technique in the above video and smeared it with a Q tip on both bottom and upper eyelids. It didn't sting much at all for me but produced copious amounts of tears (probably from 'some' stinging). But later, the relief from my dry eyes burning was almost gone and the comfort was unbelievable. I've never experienced such relief before with any other product.

Btw, I don't work for the company who makes OptiMel and have nothing to do with them. I will now only apply it to my lower lids for compliance issues and continue using daily. However, I'm having two puncta's partially cauterized soon and will have to cease using anything that stings upon application such as Cyclosporine drops and OptiMel until the raw skin heals. So I can't give long term results just yet.

I guess we all have different pain thresholds. I can tolerate OptiMel fine, I don't even flinch when an optometrist places a large Scleral in my eye (he's amazed at that).

[RFREITAS]

Hey all

I hope you are doing well!

Any update after using it? Does anyone with dryeye after lasik uset it?

Do you know where can we buy it in Europe?

Have a great weekend!

[shannon]

Hi All,

I have been using Optimel for a couple of weeks now and I love it. I will keep you posted about my progress but so far so good. It does burn. A lot. It burns less now that I use it regularly. I've been using Azasite for MGD nightly on my lid margins since February (doctor's orders). I used to wake up with such itchy eyes. I'm probably allergic to the BAK (preservative) in Azasite. I stopped using it and no itch! Now, I only use Optimel eye drops and preservative free lubricating eye drops. We'll see how it goes. I know it takes time.

[DCRdryeye]

I'm still going amazingly well with OptiMel. My new strategy is to put a good dab of it (about 5mm) on both ends of a Q-tip. Quickly smear one lower lid from inner to out, then turn the Q-tip around and smear OptiMel to the other bottom lid, inner to outer. Do not squeeze eyes since this will squeeze the ingredients out of your eyes. Rather, gently close eyes for a few seconds then blink a few times to assist distribution. Grab a few tissues...you'll need them since it certainly makes my eyes water. So good to have moisture.

Shannon is correct, the stinging decreases with time. But the few moments of pain is worth the relief afterwards. I can go without my moisture chamber glasses for longer after application and no other drop or ointment has ever done that. I believe it forms a seal over the ocular surface as well as providing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits for the Meibomian glands. Once it all dries (about 30 minutes) I may apply preservative free Sodium Hyaluronate since it's supposed to increase Goblet cells and later, a lipid containing eyedrop.

I believe these type of drops are 'healing' rather than just soothing.

[shannon]

DCR, your eye care regimen sounds great! I'm curious. Which drops with sodium hyaluronate are you using? Also, which lipid containing eye drop do you use? I use preservative free drops only (when possible...Azasite is not preservative free) and would love to hear more about your experience with the sodium hyaluronate and lipid drops and any information about which drops worked for you. I'm loving the Optimel so much and really appreciate that they are natural and not full of preservatives like BAK. I actually had a huge nasal polyp that came out on its own and I'm convinced it formed due to Azasite..just a weird sac of fluid. I've become more and more aware of how what we put in our eyes ends up in our sinues...

[DCRdryeye]

DCR, your eye care regimen sounds great! I'm curious. Which drops with sodium hyaluronate are you using? Also, which lipid containing eye drop do you use? I use preservative free drops only (when possible...Azasite is not preservative free) and would love to hear more about your experience with the sodium hyaluronate and lipid drops and any information about which drops worked for you. I'm loving the Optimel so much and really appreciate that they are natural and not full of preservatives like BAK. I actually had a huge nasal polyp that came out on its own and I'm convinced it formed due to Azasite..just a weird sac of fluid. I've become more and more aware of how what we put in our eyes ends up in our sinues...

Hi Shannon, I'm using the new Hylo-Forte for sodium hyaluronate. The lipid drops I use is a replica of Freshkote available in the UK called Ultra Clinitis 3. I use it not only because it feels so comfortable but because of it's high oncontic pressure...the following is quoted on the FreshKote site on the benefits of using high oncotic drops....

"In dry eye, the epithelium may become damaged and/or loosened allowing water to build up in the epithelium in the form of microcystic edema (swelling). This may lead to recurrent corneal erosions and other problems.

The High Oncotic Pressure found in FreshKote (65mmHg) offsets the intra-ocular pressure. This helps to normalize the inward osmotic flow of the tears (from the ocular surface towards the cornea), keeping the tears on the ocular surface.

The High Oncotic Pressure in FreshKote compresses the epithelium, helps to re-establish the integrity of the epithelium and also assists in removing excess water from the epithelium".


I also use Testosterone eyelid cream and will have a yearly Meibomian Gland Probing. In the mornings I use SteriLid to keep lids sterile and then goes on the OptiMel.

On top of all this I'm having another go at having Scleral Lens fitting.

It's taken a long time to get to where I am and it's been expensive on both time and the body in terms of stress.

AzaSite is not available here. We can have it compounded and request BAK not be used in it, it's something I have not tried.

[vinnieblanco]

how is everyone using optimel?

[DCRdryeye]

I'm using a cotton bud to smear it along the lower eyelids. After the initial stinging, it provides great relief.

[lizzyk]

Hi DCRdryeye

Can you tell me about the testosterone eye cream you use, what relief it gives and where you get it from please? Thanks Lizzy

[DCRdryeye]

Hi Lizzy, I was lucky enough to have found an "integrative doctor" whom works with Naturopaths and bioidentical hormones. He didn't really know about the Testosterone eyelid cream, so I took him in the research for it (and also for DHEA drops) - he wrote me a script for both

Since then I've found a fantastic ophthalmologist whom had already been prescribing Testosterone cream along with other compounded drops for the eyes. I see him as Australia's BEST ophthalmologist for Dry Eye in terms of equipment, research, diagnostics, and most importantly his manner is so compassionate, caring, he listens and doesn't rush his consultations. He's in Queensland, a two hour flight for me, but well worth it.

I don't know if my eyes have improved with T cream, I only use it at night. I believe Testosterone drops or according to studies DHEA drops are even more effective than Testosterone drops/cream.

[glee]

Hi Lizzy, I was lucky enough to have found an "integrative doctor" whom works with Naturopaths and bioidentical hormones. He didn't really know about the Testosterone eyelid cream, so I took him in the research for it (and also for DHEA drops) - he wrote me a script for both

Since then I've found a fantastic ophthalmologist whom had already been prescribing Testosterone cream along with other compounded drops for the eyes. I see him as Australia's BEST ophthalmologist for Dry Eye in terms of equipment, research, diagnostics, and most importantly his manner is so compassionate, caring, he listens and doesn't rush his consultations. He's in Queensland, a two hour flight for me, but well worth it.

I don't know if my eyes have improved with T cream, I only use it at night. I believe Testosterone drops or according to studies DHEA drops are even more effective than Testosterone drops/cream.

Hi DCRdryeye, I live in Australia as well (not at the moment but most of the time). Just curious who your opthalmologist in Queensland is? Cheers