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Dry eye - any tips on how to ease discomfort?

(37 Posts)
curvygran950 Sat 04-Jan-20 18:03:25

I have had several episodes of 'dry eye', usually after flying or having been out in windy/ very dry weather.
I have now had it for at least 6 weeks, and nothing I do - hot compresses, eye drops ( substitute tears) seems to ease it.
I am particularly concerned as I am due to have a cataract op in a few weeks time and I know it won't go ahead if my eye isn't healthy.
Any advice gratefully accepted!

grannysyb Mon 06-Jan-20 18:05:49

DH has dry eyes, went to the optician who did the shermers test for dry eyes, he has blepheritis which apparently is for life. She said that it gets better with the treatment, but you have to keep using the medication as it will come back if you stop.

Hotmama Mon 06-Jan-20 18:14:09

You may like to try Omega 7 Sea Buckthorn Oil. It helps to support the skin tissue that protects and lubricates the nose, eyes and intimate areas. I have been using it for several years now and so does my daughter as we both suffer from dry eyes. It is available from Healthspan and comes as a capsule.

Tigertooth Sat 11-Jan-20 01:33:48

Do any of you wake with your lids stuck to your eyeballs? If I use drops I get this several times a night - only gel seems to stop it at night. but in the day I'm absolutely fine.

Barmeyoldbat Sun 12-Jan-20 19:38:02

Yes I can wake up with eyelids stuck to eye, its al part of dry eyes. The dr has prescribed an eye gel, think its called Eye Lube, and you just put a spot in each eye before sleep. It does tend to make things blurred a bit at first. But I found it great.

hugshelp Sun 12-Jan-20 20:04:39

Wow, so many suggestions. I have been suffering with dry eye that sometimes really affects my already very poor vision so was really downhearted when told by 2 doctors that there wasn't much else they could try. I haven't been offered most of these things. Have an appointment at hospital shortly, will be asking more questions.
Started bookmarking lots of your suggestions to try. Can I ask where anyone gets the Hydo or Hydro tears please, if I google it keeps bringing up Hylo tears instead, which I've tried and was allergic to.

I do find vit-Apos ointment at night very soothing - but it makes your eyes really blurry. So I'm still looking for drops that suit me for day time.

Patsy70 Sat 18-Jan-20 15:48:42

The eye drops are available in Boots and most pharmacists, hugshelp.

Elegran Sat 18-Jan-20 16:30:25

"Dry eyes" are apparently often caused not really by a shortage of tears, but by the tears not staying in the eye. Blocked oil glands at the roots of the eyelashes can't produce the tiny amounts of oil that blend with the water from the tear ducts, and stop it drying out, lubricating the eyeball.

I suse Blink eye drops too, NanKate. They contain 2% hyaluronic acid, which is very slightly oily. There are other eye-drops with this in.

I found a report of a comparison of different percentages of hyaluronic acid at www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jop.2018.0032 They said that 2% was better than 1%, and that 3% gave the best results, but I can't find any 3% online. I have used one brand which didn't say what % they contained - that wasn't nearly as effective (for me) as the 2% one.

Patsy70 Sat 18-Jan-20 17:27:46

Isn't what you describe Blepharitis, Elegran, which is what I was diagnosed as having? I've just ordered the Omega 7 Sea Buckthorn Oil, as recommended by Hotmama. Currently I use the Hyco San eye drops, as recommended by the optician, although these are not on prescription, and the percentage of sodium hyaluronate is only 0.1%. Thank you for the link, I'll look on line for an alternative. The consultant at the eye clinic prescribed Hydrosan, which didn't help the condition at all.

Elegran Sat 18-Jan-20 18:12:36

patsy have just seen that I mistyped .1% as 1%, .2% as 2%, and .3% as 3%. Sorry.

Patsy70 Sun 19-Jan-20 17:35:06

No problem, Elegran. Thank you.

DanniRae Sun 19-Jan-20 19:02:13

For a while I have experienced dry eyes when I am stressed or nervous.
My eyes can be fine - I get a phone call for example about something that troubles me and wham my eyes are dry!
Has anyone else experienced this?
BTW I use Hyco san extra (red box) and I also have Systane individual vials on me at all times. I get both from Boots.