Best drops for dry eye?

[geishagirl81]

I went to optologist for my bad dry eyes two years ago. NO drops would help, even the prescription varieties. He recommended that I get a lot more essential oils like DHA in my system. So add flax seed to smoothies, take fish oil pills, etc etc and after a couple months my dry eyes completely resolved themselves and have never had an issue since. Anyways, it may not be your issue, but I thought I'd share just in case.

 

[leahjade]

So add flax seed to smoothies, take fish oil pills, etc

I started taking flax oil and krill oil pill January 1 so I guess I have to just give it more time!

 

[holycow]

This is their website:

http://Liquavisioneyecare.com/

 

[Bonniec]

This is their website:

http://Liquavisioneyecare.com/

I'd recommend checking with the eye doc on these. I'm not saying they are bad, I've never seen or heard of them before. They certainly aren't well known in the eye industry. They aren't FDA approved, though many holistic remedies aren't and I'm all for anything that works.

BUT...their web site comes off looking like a bad TV infomercial. And some of the "testimonials" on their website are not possible. That just makes me leary.

But if they are working for you, that's great. Just be aware you have no idea what's really in those. I would just make sure the eye doc thinks they are okay.

 

[si-am]

I second the flaxseed recommendation! I take it daily, and if I forget, I can definitely tell because my eye starts feeling dry and uncomfortable the next day.

 

[holycow]

I've never used them. My husband swears by it. He's had problems with dry irritated eyes.

I suggested what he used and that is it.

I'm sorry their website offended you.

 

[Bonniec]

I'm sorry their website offended you.

Why would that offend me? I'm all for whatever works! Sometimes holistic meds are the way to go. I was just adding on that it would be good to run them by the eye doc and make sure they are safe. Some of the testimonials on the web site are false. For example, curing night vision and astigmatism. Astigmatism has to do with the shape of your cornea or lens. Eye drops won't fix that. I just think it's suspect that they would even put that on there.

I just think the safe bet would be to show them to the ophtalmologist and make sure the ingredients listed are safe to use.

 

[leahjade]

Is it best to take drops four times daily or just when needed? I've heard it both ways - not to wait till the eye is too dry and just take them regularly. Then I've also heard that taking drops too often backfires in that your eye starts to need them to lubricate??

 

[Bonniec]

Is it best to take drops four times daily or just when needed? I've heard it both ways - not to wait till the eye is too dry and just take them regularly. Then I've also heard that taking drops too often backfires in that your eye starts to need them to lubricate??

Every eye doc I've worked for says to take as much and as often as needed. But when someone starts needing them more than 6 times a day, they usually switch them to the preservative free drops (they are pricer).

For my own recomendation on what we see with patients...try the thicker gel drops (they will blur your vision a bit), add the flax and fish oil vitamins. If that doesn't work, go see your ophthalmologist. If you don't have one, look for a cornea specialist. You can ask for a shirmer test which checks to see if you produce enough tears. If you don't, you may need to try plugs.

 

[brettgirl]

My eye doctor diagnosed me with chronic dry eye.....he was in no rush to put me on prescription and I endured months of constantly putting over the counter drops in my eyes-they looked terrible (like I was out partying all night and I dont even drink! or I had a case of pink eye-I work in schools so that went over real well!)

Now I use: Flax seed 1x day, fish oil 2x a day, restasis (if you are very careful a little bottle can last 2-3 days) 2x a day, tear drops as necessary (not near any time restasis was put in), drink lots of water, cut caffeine down, wash my lashes/eyes with baby soap daily........I should humidify my home per the doctor. I also try not to sleep on my face/eyes, I rarely use eye make up.

I have felt much better about how my eyes look and feel, some days they are red, some days not.

good luck.....

 

[mermaidwannabe]

My eye doctor diagnosed me with chronic dry eye.....he was in no rush to put me on prescription and I endured months of constantly putting over the counter drops in my eyes-they looked terrible (like I was out partying all night and I dont even drink! or I had a case of pink eye-I work in schools so that went over real well!)

Now I use: Flax seed 1x day, fish oil 2x a day, restasis (if you are very careful a little bottle can last 2-3 days) 2x a day, tear drops as necessary (not near any time restasis was put in), drink lots of water, cut caffeine down, wash my lashes/eyes with baby soap daily........I should humidify my home per the doctor. I also try not to sleep on my face/eyes, I rarely use eye make up.

I have felt much better about how my eyes look and feel, some days they are red, some days not.

good luck.....

What does washing your lashes and eyes do for you? I have 0 on the Schirmers test in one eye and 1 in the other. I've tried plugs and they don't work. I tried Restasis for 3 years, but I only used once a day since they were so pricey, and it didn't seem to work but maybe because I should have used more. I'm just starting fish oil and flax oil but wondering what washing my eyes would do? Thanks!

 

[brettgirl]

mermaidwannabe.....the doctor says your eye lashes are like your hair folicles on your head......washing them keeps the oils/dirt/etc. out. I thought it was so silly but have gotten use to the whole thing and do it as routine in my morning shower.

I know that my eyes are terrible in the dry department but I dont know my scores.

Give the fish and flax oil a bit to start working-dont give up!

Add some more water to your diet too.

good luck!

 

[mermaidwannabe]

mermaidwannabe.....the doctor says your eye lashes are like your hair folicles on your head......washing them keeps the oils/dirt/etc. out. I thought it was so silly but have gotten use to the whole thing and do it as routine in my morning shower.

I know that my eyes are terrible in the dry department but I dont know my scores.

Give the fish and flax oil a bit to start working-dont give up!

Add some more water to your diet too.

good luck!

Thanks and thanks for the water tip too!

 

[Bonniec]

Thanks and thanks for the water tip too!

Just wanna add my sympathy for you. As a person who administers that test often, that is REALLY dry! I hope the vitamins help.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Just wanna add my sympathy for you. As a person who administers that test often, that is REALLY dry! I hope the vitamins help.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Thank you that was sweet.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

I like the gel/goopy drops - one of the better brands is fine. I have tried Restasis and it makes my eyes burn so badly, I can't use it. Unfortunately, this seems to be something I'll just have to deal with. I have chronic giant papillary conjunctivitis from my contacts that just will not get better (even after rounds of steroid drops and periods of no contact wear), so that makes it worse, too. And I am too blind in my glasses to give up my contacts.

I am hoping to get LASIK or something in the next few years, if my diopter is not too high.

 

[leahjade]

I am hoping to get LASIK or something in the next few years

I have several friends who have had LASIK and now have extreme dry eye and are using drops all day long so be careful before proceeding!

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

I have several friends who have had LASIK and now have extreme dry eye and are using drops all day long so be careful before proceeding!

I know... that's one of my hesitations in getting LASIK! I have other issues too - have trouble tolerating my contacts for much time (have a lot of gritty, foreign body sensation, itching, burning, feeling like they are floating off my eyes, etc) and don't see well out of my glasses due to high diopter (which would be helped by the surgery).

Well, it's probably at least another few years away for me, so there's time to think.

 

[leahjade]

cut caffeine down,

Just read in Men's Health that a recent study shows that caffeine HELPS dry eye! Anyone notice any difference with or without caffeine?

 

[Shelby5514]

I accidentally poked my eye one morning while getting ready for work. Ever since then I've had problems with that eye being dry in the morning. The doctor recommended Miro-128 ointment at bedtime and it is AWESOME! Very rarely I have a problem during the day, but I always keep a bottle of Systane Balance with me and it does the trick when I need it.