My problem

[Tetley]

Hello everyone,

I have very sore red eyes, painful, gritty and night problems, which have got worse over a long period, currently I'm very worried about them as it's not getting better and I'm only 27.

It took me a while to pluck up the courage to see my Doctor a while ago concerning my eyes.

She first tried allergy drops, which I tried, everytime I used them they stung my eyes like crazy and made them more red, with no effect over time.

She then told me she thought it could be blepharitis and gave me some information about it, telling me how to clean my eyes etc.
I tried all this (noting that I didn't get any mucas or crusty effect which it says I should be getting with blepharitis) with no change, just getting worse.

I went back, depressed and she then gave me a prescription with some things I could try, I got my hopes up but when I left the Doctors I looked at what she had prescribed and my heart sank. Hypromellose eye drops and Lacrilube, the eye drops I had used in the past, which only helped for a few minutes before making my eyes dryer.

Anyway I started using them again, the eye drops not really helping, just making my eyes dryer and the night-time gel actually really aggrivated my eyes (which it didnt do when I used it in the past, so my eyes are much more sensitive).

So, I went back to the Doctor, she's told me she's still convinced I have blepharitis... but thankfully she has FINALLY refferred me to a Eye Specialist, I'm still waiting to be contacted by them, could take a while.

I'm very tempted to buy TranquilEyes goggles, as recently my eyes have got to the point where they are painful and sore so much at night, sometimes I struggle to open them.

The redness in my eyes is so worrying, the bloodvessels just constantly flare up all across my eyes, early morning they look awful, then calm down if I don't do anything.

My Job is affected now, they get more sore at work (I work in a kitchen) and stay sore when I get home, but really, anything I do makes them sore.. reading, drawing, computer, gardening, cooking...

I'm sorry this post is so long..

If I didn't have such a supportive partner, I think I would have gone insane by now, my life is just so limited the way I am at the moment.

Thanks for listening, any advice or anything is greatly appreciated.

[Rebecca Petris]

Hi Tetley,

So sorry to hear what you're going through! I'm very glad to hear you'll be seeing a specialist soon.

In the meantime, some suggestions of non-pharmacological things you could try that should be quite safe and may give you some relief - particularly in light of possible blepharitis/MGD/maybe allergies.

- Physical barrier over your eyes at night - whether Tranquileyes or a sleep mask or whatever, any covering ought to help at least somewhat.
- Careful eyelid cleansing, with the mildest possible method - avoiding soaps etc.
- Warm compresses once a day for at least 10 minutes
- Cold compresses with a gelpack or icepack may help relief discomfort and redness
- Be very observant of anything that seems to irritate your eyes further.

There are several UK users here who may be able to help with suggestions of products that can be helpful. Some of them have found the Clarymist eyelid spray useful.

[Tetley]

Thanks for the quick reply

[brd888]

Hello

Hi Tetley,
You know you have almost exactly the same experience as I have had. Only difference is the red eye - I have a few red blood vessels in my eyes but don't see it as a problem.
I think you very well may have blepharitis. Unfortunately the prognosis isnt good reading and I don't think the specialist will help a lot unless there is an underlying condition.
I would keep the appointment but meanwhile have an optometrist examine your tear film. Get some better drops from the optometrist and start a warm compress and lid hygiene routine.
Also the book, Dry eye remedy, described on this site is a good place for you to start.
Regards.

[stella]

Hi Tetley
Welcome to this community and sorry to here of your problems
Some suggestions
Do read up on this site as much as you can and as brd888 suggested -send for Dr Latkany's book available from this site's shop
When you do get your hospital appointment insist that they review you regularly as you try various things to help your problem - This is a long term condition needing longterm management & supervision
Regarding lacrilube- I cant tolerate that at all and neither can a lot of people on this site
Hypermellose is not a long term option for you as it contains preservatives which can damage your eyes - I am allergic to all preservatives in eyedrops
You will learn that all eyedrops in bottles contain preservatives and all non - preserved drops come in single unit vials - Those are the ones suitable for you
Experiment with different occular lubricants until you find one or two that suit you - one thin and one thick is a good idea
I use minims artificial tears which would be the equivelent of hypermellose (unpreserved single units available at any chemist)
The minims are useful as an eye wash but dont last long
I also use thicker more viscous drop called celluvisc also available at chemist- lasts much longer and useful at night
Lastly i could not do without claramist - a lipasomal eyelid spray which after you have srayed it on closed eyelids penetrates into the eye and helps restore the lipid layer of the tear film- You can buy that at Tesco and it can be used many times It stings initially for about 10 secs but is v good
Hope these suggestions help
All the best
Stella

[Tetley]

Thank you brd888 and stella, it's nice to know I'm not alone (not that I would wish this on anyone).

I'm actually off-sick this morning, feeling so rough, and to top it off my eyes flared up badly last night and it's carried on this morning.

Your advice stella has cheered me up, I'm going to try sneaking around to the chemist later to purchase the celluvisc, ClaryMist I've ordered online from Tesco's and I've finally got around to ordering a set of TranquilEyes goggles, which I'm quite excited about, whether they help me, time will tell.

It's so nice to talk about it, I do chat to my partner about it, she's brilliant, but I feel guilty as it's always bothering me so I feel I mention it too much.

Anyway, thanks again, have a great day all!

[Guest]

Tetley

I am going to have the big guns from the NHS on my case if I keep this up but remember your NHS is there to help you with this hideous condition.

The pres free (PF) drops are considerably more expensive than the preserved couterparts so I tend to get mine on prescription.

PF Viscotears for argument sake costs in excess of £10 OTC on prescription they are approx £7. Whilst it is only a £3 saving, I can assure you that all of the £3's add up when dealing with this condition.

Celluvisc is another example that is around £10 OTC, again, you can get them on prescription.

If you have a good understanding GP, sometimes they will double up your prescription so may end up with two boxes for the same price.

My GP is great, he understands the financial impact this has had on my life so therefore gives me a script for two boxes when he deems it appropriate.

Just my thoughts, I don't work for the NHS nor do I support exploiting it but I just feel it is there to help out when you need it and sometime this is difficult to deal with in isolation but when it starts becoming a huge financial burden, sometimes those little savings add up.

Hope this helps

Ian

[Tetley]

Thanks Ian,

That's sound advice, £36 saving a year, which is great considering I don't earn much.

Is the Celluvisc fine for long term use, I've got a bit confused reading different ideas on it.

Also

Another question, once opened, is it ok to use it again? Somewhere it said yes, but only for 24 hours, while somewhere else it said no, just one use then throw away?

Thanks

Simon

[stella]

I put the cap back on the celluvisc and place in one of those tiny plastic bags you get in a stationers - about a couple of inches square,and you can seal the top
That makes sure the opened vial is kept clean and you can put it in your pocket and use again
I get about 2 doses out of a vial, 3 at a pinch
I would'nt use it after 24 hours - maybe 36 at a pinch
You can use celluvisc long term - no problem and as often as you like
All the best

[Guest]

Simon

I support Stella's comments.

I tend to recap Celluvisc and use it throughout the day. I am probably not as careful with it as Stella is. I tend to shove it in my pocket - probably a bloke thing but I do this with all my artificial tears.

There is not a lot available in the UK but you can get it all on prescription to help save a penny when you can. It becomes quite costly after a while.

Celluvisc is made by Allergen, there is also Liquifilm and Refresh Tears all made by Allergen (?sp).

Viscotears (preservative free comes in individual vials but it is also available in a preserved tube form) are made by Nouvatis (?sp).

Minims also make an artificial tear very similar to Allergen's product.they also so a small vial of non preserved saline solution and non preserved steriod drops.

Steripods are non preserved vials of Saline Solution - good for keeping in the fridge and using as an eye rinse when you have those crappy days or get a foreign body.

Lacrilibe is an ointment also manufactured by Allergen which is a take it or leave it product for me and many others. Whilst there is a suggestion that it is good for reducing recurrent corneal erosions (or nighttime dryness) I found that it made my symptoms far worse (think rubbing vaseline on the back of your hand then putting water on it, water runs off, not a good concept for an already dry eye).

This is a quick summary (off the top of my head) of the drop options that we have readily available OTC from most pharmacies in the UK.

There are other products available (Systane, vismed) that are available from specialist optometrists.

Hope this info helps. PM or email me if you need some specific help. I will help you where I can.

Regards


Ian

[uksnupy]

OOh-can't wait to try Clarymist now! Glad to see a few fellow UK users here. I am going back to the US for Christmas and stocking up on Systane, Theratears, etc. If anyone in the UK wants me to bring back anything and post them to you, just pm or email me.

I agree re: Celluvisc. 24 hours is no problem. The problem I have with the Celluvisc here is it is not the same as what I was used to in the US-not anywhere near as thick, unless the US formula has changed. I'll be picking some up so I can compare.