A Nice Moist Eye Tide Might have turned for me... - Lasik Eye Surgery Message Board

Hating glasses · 03-14-2006, 08:55 AM

Hello my fellow dry eye sufferers. I just wanted to let you know that, a year, one month and 3 weeks after my surgery, I may be kicking the dry eye issue. I still have really, almost painfully dry eyes first thing in the AM when I get out of bed. But, here is how great it is during the day. I decided to throw caution to the wind this past weekend. About 3 months (more but probably less) ago, I decreased my usage of my drops from every 2 hours to every 4 hours. Last week and the week before I started noticing that, after I would put drops in at my noon time dosage, my left eye would get gritty, sore...just really uncomfortable for about an hour or more. I started thinking that, maybe if I didn't put the drop in my eye until I felt like I needed it, since my eyes would feel decent before each drop time, maybe...just maybe...my eye would be ok. So, Friday, I skipped my noon time drop. So, Saturday, I slacked...all day. I only put drops in when I woke up and, I think I remember putting a drop or two in throughout the day because, I think I remember having a scratchy feeling. But, it could just be that that was something I had been dealing with over the past year, so much, that I think I remember it but it might have been another day. Anyway, I dropped my eyes before I went to bed, then again Sunday AM when I got up. And, for the rest of the day Sunday, I ignored my eye drops. Dropped my eyes before bed Sunday night, and, other than the drops I put in first thing in the AM yesterday morning and the 3 or so I put in once I got to work until about 10 AM yesterday morning, I didn't put any drops in my eyes all day yesterday until after I took my shower and as I was crawling into bed. I dropped this AM when I got up, they are fine now and, I don't intend to drop them again until bed time tonight...unless I feel that I need to.

Dare I say it? Was I actually dropping them into annoyance once I decreased my drop times from every 2 hours to every 4 hours? I think I am on the way to a nearly full recovery.

THERE IS HOPE! DON'T GET DISCOURAGED! YOU WILL GET BETTER!

Take care and I hope I was instrumental in providing you a little bit of further hope this AM!

jkm3253 · 03-14-2006, 10:04 AM

Hating Glasses,
Good for you!!!! How exciting, you are proof that patience pays off!! I am this Thursday one month post op,,,thats when they told me I could use different drops,,,I guess from the way I understand it is I don't have to use the individual little vials anymore. BUt still stay pres. free,,,,,does that sound right to you? What kind do you recommend? I have been spending $15 a box on 70 little vials of Refresh, and frankly I don't think I should be spending that much. BUT what do ya do it you need it?! I am hoping to save a little $ if possible. Have a great day!
jkm

Hating glasses · 03-14-2006, 10:47 AM

Thank you jkm,
As far as what brand I use, Systane is my preferred drop. It does come in the vials and the little cap goes back on them so, you can use them for 24 hours instead of the other vials which say you are supposed to toss in the garbage after you open them. But, just from my point of view...I don't really see why you should have to toss them after you open them. As long as you don't have any eye infections, don't share the vial with anyone else, and don't drop it on dirt, it should be fine. I have never just opened, used some and tossed any of the brands I used before. But, maybe I am slightly more brave or stupid than the average person! Heheheh! Anyway, I don't know if there is a brand that is non-preserved/preservative-free that doesn't come in a vial. It would be nice. But, being a girl with frequently smaller pockets, I like the little vials that fit into smaller pockets. Anyway, Systane is what I prefer. There may be other brands that work better for others. But, after I messed up and started using preserved drops, my regular eye doc suggested I get Systane (maybe in August or September if memory serves) and that is what I have been using ever sense. I know it is tempting to get the brands that say that they stay on the lens of your eye longer than something like Systane which leans toward the runnier side of drops. But, as far as I am concerned, if something sticks to your eye, couldn't that mean that any dust or airborne anything you are around could get stuck to the sticky substance that keeps the other thicker liquids on your eye? Wouldn't that irritate your eye more? That is my opinion of the thicker drops. Also, Systane comes in packs of about 36 vials, they are slightly bigger than some of the others which means slightly more lubricant, and, as I mentioned before...their bottles reseal so, the box even says (I think) you can use it for up to 24 hours. The price is high for drops (all drops) but, lower than some. And, if you are only using them every 2 hours, the box should last you about 2 weeks, give or take.

I hope this helped. Take care!

sdv · 03-14-2006, 02:07 PM

Hi Cortney!!!

So glad to hear about your recent progress!!! I do think that overusing drops can cause more problems. Apparently it rinses away your natural tear film, and if you tear film is slightly unstable to begin with (like ours is!) it will be uncomfortable for a while. I have had the same reaction as you where my eye feels good, I put in the drops, and wham...painful again.

JKM - As already mentioned, most of the preservative free drops are in the individual droppers. Systane is actually one of the lesser pricy of the drops. There are some bottled products that are said to be "preservative free in the eye". They contain some sort of dissolving preservative that is not supposed to irritate your eye, so you might want to give these a shot. I believe that all of the GenTeal products (mild, moderate, moderate/severe, as well as the severe gel) are preservative free in the eye and they all come in a bottle, except the gel, which comes in a tube. Also, Systane has a new liquid gel product out called Systane free (you might want to look into this too Cortney) which comes in a bottle and is preservative free in the eye. I have used this, and I like it alot. It is not as thick as the other gels, but is nice and soothing.

-Michelle

Hating glasses · 03-15-2006, 08:10 AM

Michelle,
Thank you for the Systane suggestion. I just worry about the stuff that goes from preserved to non-preserved inside the eye. I think the stuff I was using before my doc told me to use the Systane said that it does the same thing. I can't remember for sure though so, just to be safe...and to keep myself from regressing from my progress, I'll stick with what is working!

I can't believe that I was doing more harm than good by over lubricating! What a fool I feel like. But, in my defense, I was going by what I had been experiencing as little as a couple months ago. I only lubricated 3 times yesterday. When I first woke up, after my shower around 10 pm, and then just before I laid my head on my pillow. My eyes feel pretty good. I have a little bit of irritation in my left eye right now but, nothing unbareable and, just before I left for work this AM, I had a poking something that may or may not have been an eyelash since it happened as I was finishing putting on my makeup and it went away just like that. So, I am sure that this irritation will pass soon enough. I am loving the fact that I haven't had to stick to a rigid dropping schedule since Saturday.

Have you backed off on your drops schedule at all? If not, you should try it too. I know it is scary but, I am glad I decided to brave it out and go for it!

Take care and chat later!