Allergic to all eye drops..anyone??

[eva b]

I have blepharitis and MGD plus dry eyes. Eye specialists have had me try numerous brands of moisturising drops and gels - they all seem to upset me. They work for a day or two, then the symptoms (gritty feeling, stinging, dryness) just get worse. The single-use, preservative free drops are just as had.

A hospital visit in December where they used the usual anaesthetic and dye containing drops to examine my eyes left me with horrendous aggravated symptoms for 4 weeks.

I am now afraid to put anything at all in my eyes, and believe that multiple eye exams during the previous year (as a result of herpes infection) have over-sensitised my eyes.

Does anyone relate to my story?

I live in the UK (London) and we are way behind the US in terms of eye care!

thanks in advance for any replies.

[stella]

I can really identify with you
My eyes are much better - but when i first got blepharitis (MGD) with evaporative DE - I got mine following an infection and had used antibiotic drops containing preservatives for 3 weeks
I found everything i put in ,on or near my eyes agravated them - I was at my wits end.I decided the less i put in ,on or near my eyes ,the better(That rule still applies ) although as my eyes have improved they have become less sensitive i must say
So where does that leave you -
My observation is that when your eyes and lids are inflammed and dry they are highly sensitive to foreign products
Also i am pretty certain that allergy plays a big part in it - Its a vicious circle - the more inflammed your eyes the more allergic they get.then when they are allergic they become inflammed
Unfortunately there are no anti-allergic drops on the market that dont contain preservatives and I certainly can not tolerate any preservatives in drops.I have researched this and even written to Alergen to complain - They tell me they have no plans to produce preservative - free drops in the future (no reason was given)
How did i get so much better ?
Well I found 2 eyedrops that i can tolerate
Minims artificial tears (a thin eye wash that does'nt last )Also celluvisc (a viscous type that does last - blurs the vision a bit for a while)Also i would never be without claramist (a liposomal spray that you can buy in Tesco and spray on your closed lids - I then wipe it on my lids with a clean finger) It stings for 10 seconds at first
I got better by doing eyelid hygiene twice a day for weeks and months At first i could'nt tolerate v diluted baby shampoo on the lid margins ,but now its OK PROVIDED I RINSE OFF REALLY WELL with cool boiled water and then rinse the eyes with the minims artificial tears
Oral doxycillen really helped me - Also for night time I have found that I CAN TOLERATE chloramphenicol eye ointment
You may not be the same as me - but i hope my experience helps
It's basically a long and miserable trial and error experiment and research to find what you can do ,and what best helps you
I wish you all the best in your search

[eva b]

thanks so much for your reply Stella - it's somewhat comforting to know you're not alone!

I'm not certain that my problems are caused by allergy as such - it's that my eyes have become over-sensitised to the point that any chemicals whatsoever put in them now start a flare-up.

They did get a lot better over last spring and summer, but when I went back to work (teaching in a college) as soon as the hot air heating came on the blepharitis got so bad I had to give up and am not working any more.

I do the warm compresses and cleaning twice and day, and am very careful about air conditioning, smokers, wind etc. I'm thinking of trying some of those goggles for sleeping - have you tried them, and if so did they help?

thanks again,

Eva

[stella]

Yes - googles did help at night Thank God i dont need them now 'cos i use chloramphenicol ointment at the moment
I am looking for alternatives for night time without the antibiotic componant -Anyone any suggestions ?? I have been unsuccessful with lacrilube and vasaline -both irritate ,olive oil is OK but not very effective
Back to you Eva - The expert on protective eye wear in my opinion on this site is Rojzen If you look up her posts she is a mine of info on all manner of ingenious glasses/goggles ,where to get them and sites to research them and how to get your own glasses custome made into moisture chambers (Hope you dont mind the publicity Rojzen ) But she has put a lot of work into these things and shared them with us
Maybe if you got the right protective eyeware during the day you could go back to teaching - Too bad you had to give that up

[eva b]

thanks for the reply and the advice, once again, Stella.
I've ordered some of the over the glasses type of moisture goggle and also tranquileyes night time ones, and we'll see how that goes. ('scuse the pun - seems unavoidable in this particular context

I've pm'd you about the doc you saw in London, hope you don't mind.
best,
Eva