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Dry Eye Syndrome

(44 Posts)
GrAnne2 Sat 15-Oct-16 11:04:26

Have been suffering from this for the past few months and have used MGD eye bag, various lubricants, drunk more water, taken 2000mg fish oil supplements daily & finally saw an ophthalmologist yesterday. Basically, he advises a routine (but can't specify which drops will help) which conflicts with optometrists' advice (locum & regular gave different opinions) and GP was different again. I would like to have comfortable eyes again & resume wearing contact lenses - even occasionally! Anyone out there with recommendations? I'm wondering about Chinese medicine, as I don't particularly like all the eye drops. Your experiences would be immensely helpful, please.

grandma60 Sun 16-Oct-16 15:30:19

Forgot to say, there is online company called Butterfly Eye care that is worth a look. It sells ophthalmologist approved eye makeup as well as other eye care products.

GrAnne2 Sun 16-Oct-16 15:51:27

Agree with last post - am also using blephagel wipes post heated eye bag. Also now realise that other medications can exacerbate the problem (antihistamines, SSRI's) and, having had a lot of antibiotics and increased inhaler dosage recently, will be checking out their impact with my GP. The 'forever' nature of the condition is depressing as, since so many people suffer from it - particularly older women - you'd think a solution would be found... I do drink lots of water already - what does adding bicarbonate achieve? (Forgive my ignorance!)

Charleygirl Sun 16-Oct-16 16:04:39

I am rather tired of collecting these medical problems for which there is no cure.

Faye Sun 16-Oct-16 16:06:11

Bicarb makes the water more alkaline. Using lemon juice in drinking water or eating more alkaline foods would be more preventative than using bicarb or pharmaceutical solutions.

grannyqueenie Sun 16-Oct-16 16:14:11

I too struggle with dry eyes and blepharitis. The eye specialist prescribed eye drops which I do use and advised bathing with very diluted baby shampoo which I have done at times. I've also used Blephagel cleanser but it didn't really help. Actually bathing my eyelids night and morning with warm water and a little bicarbonate of soda added is the best thing to control the awful itching I have.

annodomini Sun 16-Oct-16 16:20:55

Dry eyes and dry mouth can be a symptom of Sjogren's Syndrome (auto-immune) which Venus Williams has. And so do I, according to my rheumatologist. I use drops during the day and a gel drops at night. If I forget the night gel, my eyes feel very scratchy and sore when I wake up. Fortunately, these are the only symptoms I have of SS and I refuse to look it up on Google in case I think myself into something worse.

PRINTMISS Sun 16-Oct-16 16:24:00

Sorry, that was a misinterpretation of what I meant, use baby shampoo for your hair - I did say it left my hair very soft, thought that perhaps that was indication enough. In fact I use baby shampoo all the time now, and it certainly does not sting my eyes. I used it on the advice of the specialist I went to see at the hospital.

Iam64 Sun 16-Oct-16 18:22:03

Same for me annodomini. I do have other symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome, very tedious the are, if dry eye was the only aspect I'd be very pleased

Faye Sun 16-Oct-16 20:57:08

Reading these articles it looks like I have been on the right track. I have mentioned it many times on GN for at least the last four years. Basically you need to be eating Anti Inflammatory Foods.

1. Find the source. 2. When Autoimmune Disease Initiates Dry Eye. 3. 27 Acidic Foods Which Can Cause Inflammation. If you went to a doctor he would give you a prescription.

Nandalot Sun 16-Oct-16 22:00:05

This thread is ringing a lot of bells here. My DH suffers from dry eyes and bletheritis. His routine is flannels and hot water twice a day, clean lashes with baby shampoo and drops for the dry eye. He tried the microwave bag bought from the optician but found that it irritated his eyes. When we go away he has to pack four sterile flannels for each day. I call him ' high maintenance'!

GrAnne2 Mon 17-Oct-16 17:49:25

Butterfly Pharmacy (affiliated to Moorefields Eye Hospital) are excellent & sent me some free samples

Charleygirl Mon 17-Oct-16 17:56:31

My eye mask arrived yesterday and for £8 it is fabulous, so soothing.

Vostro1310 Sun 14-Jul-19 12:41:03

I have been through Dry eyes and wrote an article on my website

malangisdiary.blogspot.com/2019/03/how-to-cure-chronic-dry-eyes.html

BlueSapphire Sun 14-Jul-19 20:26:55

My ophthalmologist found dry patches on my eyes - I had kept feeling that I had something in my eye and couldn't find anything, and was always rubbing; sometimes my eyes would go fuzzy and I couldn't read. She recommended Hyabak eye drops, £10 from Boots, but they last 3 months. Have had no problems since I started using them. A couple of drops in each eye every morning.

Tea3 Wed 14-Aug-19 11:43:59

I looked at this thread because hub is having trouble with dry, sore eyes, and I hoped I would pick up a few tips. Yes, some wonderful advice thank you very much. Your posts jogged my memory too. I remember my Nan using homeopathic euphrasia (eyebright) for any problem involving the eyes. A quick surf and I see it's still available. An aunt of mine was more of a stick a used tea bag on it sort of person if anyone had eye trouble. I'd completely forgotten about both of these tips until now.

dragonfly46 Thu 15-Aug-19 09:09:37

I have the opposite problem. The medication I am on makes my eyes stream.

fizzers Thu 15-Aug-19 09:25:07

I have the same condition but it is not too bad. Years ago I had my tear ducts syringed with a saline solution (never again!) that did help for a long time. I too have been advised to use the eye bag and to massage the area, but no suggestion of drops.

Granny99 Sat 15-Feb-20 17:41:34

Thea Thealoz Duo Eye Drops, 10 ml brilliant for dry or watering eyes. Tried boots never worked. These worked like magic.


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