Tip for those using eye drops

Thank you Scotsmum for the good tips.

I have Sjogren’s disease so dry eyes go with the territory. I work with the practice pharmacist as well as my ophthalmologist, so I have worked out a routine.

Sometimes my eyes are so sore that I can’t get them open when I wake up. I manually pull them apart then bathe them in cooled boiled water and this gives relief, holding a microfibre cloth over them. I used to use blephasol, but it can nip the optician said to use moisturiser afterwards as it is very drying. I use Ceravé eye cream.

Then I massage the meibomium glands to bring the oil up. This helps to reduce the frequency of blepharitis.

Next, drops - hyaluronic and preservative-free high strength - arthritis makes some bottles really difficult to use. Seemingly there are bottle holders/dispensers available. I pull the lower lid down to catch the drops, then roll my eyes to distribute them. Keep them in the bathroom cupboard and handbag. No special storage needed.

If they are really sore at bedtime I have a heated eye mask (usb) which means I can choose the temperature and time. It comes with a little spray bottle that you can put water (again, cooled boiled water) in and spray the inside of the mask. Excellent.
I also have a range of other products like gels, ointments to use.

I also wear daily contacts which are very effective at protecting the surface of the eye from scraping by the eyelid - a bandage in other words. I recently got a nasty virus and as well as a cough and sinusitis it gave me conjunctivitis - incredibly painful and slow to heal - it’s been 3 months.

This routine really helps my eyes. Everything is prescribed by my GP thankfully. Hope it’s of use to someone.

I work as an IT technician and have been dealing with dry eyes for some time. While I still rely on artificial tears, I use them far less frequently than before. I've tried numerous natural remedies found online, including dietary changes and incorporating daily exercise as part of a healthier lifestyle. I also started taking natural eye supplements from Nature's Glory. Overall, these lifestyle adjustments and habits have brought noticeable improvement. However, I still need to use artificial tears during long hours in front of the screen at work. I also want to try refrigerating my artificial tears. Thanks for the idea.

Sago

My eye drops all have to be refrigerated.

Please check first.

Check with your pharmacist - quite often eye drops can be kept at room temp once you start using them and just kept in the fridge for long term storage usually at the pharmacy or your next month's pack.
Might say on the leaflet.
Of course not all are like this.

If you all want to be grossed out , look up Demodex eye mites , we all have them apparently . Yuk !

There is no 'cure' for cataracts only replacement of the lenses. Do not drip anything non sterile into your eyes.

I remember buying castor oil when I was told that I was suffering from blepharitis; in fact it wasn’t blepharitis at all, it was red eye caused by working on an older type of computer ( I worked for the very same doctor who told me I had blepharitis). I also put castor oil on the cysts that my dog is prone to getting. I always make sure that I have some in my medicine cabinet.

Robin202

Also there is much benefit from organic castor oil for various things and a drop in your eyes at bedtime helps and some say it has cured cataracts. Im working on thet atm as was recently diagnosed with the beginning of one.

Do not try this at home with ordinary caster oil!

It is possible to buy sterile eye drops with some caster oil to help with blepharitis but check with a pharmacist first.

Schnackie2

Just wanted to throw this out there, as I am having very dry eyes and find myself using eye drops more often. Many years ago I had an appointment at a university medical school in the ophthalmology department. As I was leaving with prescription eye drops, an assistant told me if you keep them in your pocket (think I was wearing jeans), they will become your body temperature and you won't even feel them going in. This worked marvelously, but I took it a step further and slipped them into my bra! The very cold drops going into our eyes is something of a shock, so this makes sense. Hope it helps someone.

Great idea. Thanks.

I just had the heated eye mask recommended for me and sobe Optase gel. The gel stings like mad so I'm not using that again. The eye mask feels lovely but I found it made my left eye even dryer and quite sore so I'm going back to my optician to see what he suggests as an alternative.

Taking starflower oil capsules has been a game changer for me. Before then, the eye hospital had tried blocking my tear ducts. But that didn't work as the problem wasn't the lack of tears - it was the lack of oil. I use blephasol night and morning to clean my eye margins and now no longer use eye drops. It takes about 6 weeks for the starflower oil to kick in, but it's brilliant!

I find lying down on my bed the best postion for putting in eye drops. You pull the bottom lid down look up and hold the bottle close to the eye and squeeze a drop.

Trying to do them looking in a mirror standing up ended up with the drops on my cheek. Tipping my head back really hurt my achey neck.

Lying down suits me fine.

Also I do find differences in the actual squeezability of the bottles. I am prescribed Ganfort for my glaucoma and the branded bottle squeezes well. The generic version I sometimes receive from the chemist is in quite a stiff plastic bottle and either doesnt come out it comes out in a large blob. The chemist cant guarantee what they get from their wholesaler.

I think we need a combination of heat and drops. I’ve got a microwave heat mask for my eyes and use drops as well.

If my eyes are sore - I pour a little hot water onto a black or green tea bag -let it infuse and then cool it in the fridge.
I sit with the tea bag over my eyes taking care that it doesn't fall onto the upholstery and stain it.
They are wonderful for irritated eyes.

Keep my drops at 30° max so not in pockets or bras.

I was recently prescribed a weighted eye mask and some eye drops by the optician I was told to heat the mask and apply for 10 mins twice a day and to use the eye drops twice a day too. It does seem to help but only been using for about 10 days so far and was told it will take at least 2 weeks and will always come back, no cure. I must say I like the eye drops to be cold so that I actually can tell I've managed to get them in my eye.

I keep mine in the fridge as I love the cool sensation of the liquid in my eyes!

…Carbomer…

Carboner gel is the same as viscotears but is much cheaper.

I am using Viscotears, which are thicker than normal eyedrops. I was recommended by a friend who is a nurse. They are especially beneficial applied before bed, so you wake up without discomfort. I keep them in the fridge, not sure if you have to, but I prefer the cool refreshing feeling.

Schnackie2 That's funny, I have dry eyes and keep my eye drops in the fridge, because I find them lovely and refreshing then.

Curing cataracts!!??? One born every minute

Also there is much benefit from organic castor oil for various things and a drop in your eyes at bedtime helps and some say it has cured cataracts. Im working on thet atm as was recently diagnosed with the beginning of one.

I have very dry eyes. I have found putting gel in overnight helps me.

Also, look in a mirror as you do it, and concentrate on the person in the mirror getting the drops in the right place, sounds obvious, but it really helped my Dad. Also certain eye drops need to be kept cool.