recommendation for dry eyes

[NB]

Hi all!
I'm not on any of the meds anymore that have dryness listed as a side effect except bcp's. I don't think the Elmiron causes it.
Well, nevertheless, i have really dry eyes all the sudden this season.

Refresh is a brand of eye ointments for dry eye. If you girls have dry eyes you need to use these drops one or two hours a day. You don't want to get any eye problems which can certainly happed over time. Don't use visine, or murine tears, they have things in it, (i'm not exactly sure of the ingredient) that make it worse. If you can, try and get things without preservatives.

I've been using the Refresh brand, all the different types.

But definately use the refresh P.M. before bed and the drops during the day. I've been able to wear my contacts b/c i do this.

just a thought, i let my dry eyes get too bad and i keep getting this fluid filled thing on the white part, but the DR' said it's also allergies. So don't freak.
hope it helps!

[ICNJess]

Thanks for the info, I get really bad dry eyes, too.

Hugs,
Jess

[ICNDonna]

My ophthalmologist told me to use artificial tears and to avoid any that say they fight inflammation --- the plain artificial tears are best. There are several brands on the market and his suggestion (as he gave me a handful of assorted samples) is to try different ones until I found the one that worked best for me.

Donna

[liz2]

There is one brand of artificial tears that puts out a regular and a thick type as well. I think there is also a jell. You might want to ask you pharmacist. Then you have more options to try. I try to find the thick ones, because I had a parotid lymph gland removed, and its removal has affected salavia and tear production.

[ICNDonna]

The samples I was given included some that were thick. I actually preferred a different one, but as my eye doctor said, you just have to try different kinds until you find the one that suits you best. Husband Terry prefers the thick ones.

Donna

[ICNJess]

I tried Visine, and it didn't really help, but then I tried Bausch and Lomb (sp???) Allergy drops because mine were drying out BIG time from that, and those worked well. I just hate putting stuff in my eyes!!!! (I prefer glasses to contacts any old day lol)

Hugs all,
Jess

[jen48446]

I have been using Refresh PM ointment as well, when I went to the eye doctor a week ago Friday she said to try Omega 3's (fish oil), have been taking them "faithfully" for over a week and already have noticed an improvement!!! I use the ointment @ night (during the colder months only) & Thera Tears in the morning no matter what. I might use the Thera Tears in the evening during the warmer months on occasion, like if we go to the annual family reunion & we're in front of the bon fire, I love roasting marshmallows but don't like how it dries my eyes out, LOL!!

[kadi]

Has anyone tried the new contacts for dry eyes?
Or Restasis?

[jen48446]

No, I wanted to try the Restasis but we don't have health insurance & the doctor said it's really expensive so I decided to start taking the Omega 3's & so far I'm doing better. I have a slight astigmatism in both eyes so my doctor didn't recommend I go with contacts either

[ErinBear]

I saw my eye doctor a few weeks ago and talked about dry eyes too. I had been using some of the "artificial tears" drops already. He gave me a sample of Systane, which is a thicker drop - I've been using that at night before bedtime, and occasionally during the day if my eyes are extra-dry. It seems to last a bit longer for me and seems to work well in my case, anyway.

Take care,
ErinBear

[Angeles]

I have dry eyes too. My ophtalmologist put me on Restasis and I have been on it for 1 year (twice a day), it made a great improvement the first 5 months, then it slowed down, it seemed that it stopped working for a while, however I've never stopped using it. I started omega 3 and 6 as well and I started feeling much better after 4 months (a special brand for dry eyes little expensive but it works). I have really dry eyes, that's why it probbably took me soo long to get well. I also do warm compreses 4 times a days on my eyelids followed by 2 drops of preservative free artificial tears. All of that was my opht's recommendation.
More: OTC allergy eye drops can cause more dry eye so be careful.
I use contacts only on special ocassions, I switched to glasses.
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I hope this helps!