Dry Eye drops: Didn't get much sleep last night... - Glaucoma UK

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Dry Eye drops

Engima profile image
30 Replies

Didn't get much sleep last night due to my right eye burning and water pouring out for quite a while resulting in a wet face! I had a cataract op almost 8 weeks ago in that eye and it has ached ever since, plus keeps going blurry and have light reflection from the lamps in my house at night time. Rang the eye clinic today and they said the burning and watering was probably due to dry eye and suggested I get some lubricant drops. Asked what they recommend and was told to go to the chemist and ask them. So I went early this afternoon - they seemed at a loss as well but sold me Hycosan Fresh. Put a drop in about an hour ago and so far the eye is still feeling irritated. Not sure how long it takes for anything to happen, if at all! Has anyone else used this particular brand. As they were £8.99 reluctant to waste them after just one try. When I went for my post op check-up for my left eye cataract on Monday I asked about dry eye drops then and was told by the trainee doctor that she didn't think the eye problem (right eye) was due to dry eye at all. And then last night it was dreadful, hence trying some today. Was hoping the eye clinic could prescribe some for me, to no avail. Do not really want to keep paying out for dry eye drops if they are not going to work.

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Engima
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30 Replies
Wales99 profile image
Wales99

Hi Enigma. Sorry to hear of your problems. I use Hycosan but the one in the red bottle. I buy it in bulk from Amazon. My consultant’s secretary recommended it to me. I don’t think routinely clinics do prescribe them but I’m no expert! Are you due to be seen again post-op? Otherwise maybe ring your eye clinic & mention the discomfort to them? Good luck. I hope it starts to feel better soon 😊.

Engima profile image
Engima in reply toWales99

Hi, is the Hycosan you use preservative free? If so and things improve with me taking the drops may be worth a look to buy in bulk. My next appointment is at the end of October so if things do not improve will definitely ring the eye clinic again.

Wales99 profile image
Wales99 in reply toEngima

Hi yes they are preservative free I think most dry eye drops are. It might be worth asking your optician about the best ones as well. Take care & good luck. X

Engima profile image
Engima in reply toWales99

Thanks. Will take a look at Amazon plus when I get an optician's appointment will do as you say and ask them which ones are best to use.

nat10 profile image
nat10

I cannot comment on that make of drops, but on days when my eyes are very sore I do need to but dry eye drops in every hour, if you don’t get any relief from the drops in the next couple of days I would give the eye clinic another call. Hopefully they will work and the discomfort will ease.

Engima profile image
Engima in reply tonat10

Thanks. Yes will definitely ring eye clinic again if things have not settled in the next few days.

Oh Enigma that sounds awful and lack of sleep just adds to the misery . I don't use eye drops but my friend had a dreadful time with his eyes after a trab, eyes pouring constantly and his consultant recommended hylo forte and they certainly worked for him. He has the worst sensitive eyes and most eye drops disagree with him but he had no issues with these drops. Fingers crossed the drops just need time to work but if not I agree with Wales and nat10 phone the clinic again. Sending you a big hug and a wee one for Bletchley x

Engima profile image
Engima in reply to

Thanks Witchie. Must admit my eyes have not felt good at all ever since I started taking eye drops for my glaucoma after being diagnosed with it in June. Have had the glaucoma drops changed once. The Monopost was OK until I was told not take it for threee weeks after my cataract op, then restart. That is when the present trouble occurred. Will have to see if the same happens with the left eye as again have been told to stop the Monopost until after the three weeks of drops for the op have finished! Thanks for the hugs - the same to you and Lu. x

in reply toEngima

Eyes are awkward things unfortunately and your poor eyes are taking a hammering. You can only persevere for so long and then they are going to have to try some other drops. I do hope these drops do help your eyes feel more comfortable. X

Engima profile image
Engima in reply to

Eyes a little better today. Will try the dry eye drops for a while, then leave off and see what happens! Went down to the coast today and had a walk along the cliff top path and through heathland. It was lovely but there were loads of people about and it was a bit nerve wracking on the narrow paths trying to avoid them as we are still pretty worried about coming into contact with people we do not know at the moment. Worked it out today was the first time we had been anywhere apart from the hospital, vets and my Mum's since the end of April! x

in reply toEngima

That's positive your eyes are a wee bit better today,let's hope they just keep improving. Your day out sounds lovely and scenic and I think probably much needed as it's been so long since you've done something like this. It's quite difficult with narrow paths trying to avoid others, I'm the same I try to cross over the road etc to avoid coming into contact but it's not always possible.

We are just in from a nice brisk country walk and met absolutely no one 😀. X

Engima profile image
Engima in reply to

Sounds like you have lots of lovely walks in your area to enjoy. Have a great weekend. x

in reply toEngima

Yeah I'm very lucky as my village is rural with fields and woods but also on the side of a loch.I see you got lots of great replies about your dry eyes and good advice. I do think the hospital did fob you off and it's pretty poor of them. Definitely don't let it go in October if your eyes still don't feel right.

You have a lovely weekend too and wee Bletchley too x

Engima profile image
Engima in reply to

Hi. Thought you might like to know that today our beautiful little Bletchley lost his fight against cancer. He has been pretty poorly for the last week and losing weight every day, not eating and just lying around. Took him the the vets this morning and after 12 happy years with Bletchley have sadly had to say our final goodbye to him. We have just buried him in one of his favourite parts of the garden. Feeling devastated.

in reply toEngima

Oh Enigma,I'm so sad for you and your beautiful wee boy . I was actually thinking about him last night and wondering how he was. He was a wee fighter and did his best to stay longer with you. You will be devastated, he was part of your family. That's lovely he's still in his garden. Big huge hugs to you x

Engima profile image
Engima in reply to

Thank you x

Tigdad profile image
Tigdad

Having suffered with dry eyes whilst finding a suitable preservative free medication ( finally now use Ganfort ) I continue to use Theoloz UD which was prescribed via my consultant/ GP. I had laser surgery for glaucoma and cataract surgery approx 6 years ago, with use of Ganfort my pressures seem to be under control.

Further to the other posts, it sounds like you have an overnight problem with dry eye. Regular dry eye drops don't last long enough for overnight comfort. Consider a preservative free ointment for overnight use like Xailin Night. These are quite gunky and obscure your vision which is why they should only be used overnight, but it should stop in and then you can blink or flush it out in the morning.

Also, get an eye bag off Amazon. These are designed to be heated in the microwave then used as a hot compress and a gentle massage to help free up the natural oils to lubricate your eyes. If your eye lids are inflamed though this may not work. I get more joy putting it in the freezer and using it as a cold compress.

Engima profile image
Engima in reply to

Hi, thanks for your advice, if the dry eye drops I am using at the moment do not work will certainly try the eye gel you suggest. Unfortunately will not be able to use the eye bags ads I do not have a microwave!

Sunshine88888888 profile image
Sunshine88888888

Hi Engima I’m so sorry to hear you are in pain. I had to go back a couple of times after the cataract op, my eye just didn’t feel right. I had no problems with the first cataract on my left eye but it was a different experience with my right eye. It wasn’t easy but I did manage to get a consultant to look at my right eye. The first occasion like you it was due to very dry eyes, so consultant prescribed dry eye drops during the day and gel at night. The first gel I had a reaction to so it had to be changed. Haven’t got new gel yet. Now I take my daily dry eye drops, preservative free Evolve last thing at night and whenever I wake up during the night or first thing in the morning. My eye is no longer red or sore. My second visit was because of the flashing lights which happened in the dim light, well I didn’t notice them during the day. These were prolonged flashes and for me more like luminous bubbles. That was I was diagnosed with dysphotopsia, I’d never heard of it however it is very common and now I know what it is and it should go, I’m relaxed about it. So Engima trust yourself and if your eyes don’t feel right, then get back in contact with the eye clinic. I must admit it took all my strength to do that and eventually get the appointments I did, I just knew things weren’t right. Sending you big hugs and don’t wait share your concerns x

Engima profile image
Engima in reply toSunshine88888888

Hi Sunshine. Thanks for the info concerning your experiences with your right eye. Funny that it is my right eye that is playing up as well! If things are no better when I return to the eye clinic at the end of October concerning the light reflection at night time due to presumably dim light as you say, will tr my best to get an appointment with a consultant instead of one of the trainee doctors to see what is wrong. One can always get fobbed off and that isn't good enough really. Big hugs back to you, have a lovely weekend. x

Lovemy2woofs profile image
Lovemy2woofs

There are a few preservative free eye drops on the market , some of the more expensive ones can last up to 6 months after opening , which is ideal for those that don’t need them regularly ,some last 3 months after opening .

Opticians are a good place for recommendations too .

A warm compress on eyes can also help dry eyes and foods rich in omega 3 and supplements x

Engima profile image
Engima in reply toLovemy2woofs

Hi, thanks. I had thought about trying a dry compress. Luckily I eat plenty of food containing omega 3. x

Bluella profile image
Bluella

Hi Engima

I am sorry to hear about your problem with your eye. It sounds to me like a cop out by the eye clinic. If you are still having problems like you describe 8 wks after the surgery, I'd insist on seeing a doctor. BTW, I do use Hycosan forte (red bottle) preservative free, it's been ok but I don't use them regularly, only when my eyes feel tired. Get in touch with your clinic! All the best, Ella

Engima profile image
Engima in reply toBluella

Thanks Bluella. Yes I think that I am being fobbed off. Will insist on seeing one of the consultants if I can when I return to the eye clinic at the end of October. If not will get in touch with PALS to see if they can help out.

Helen_GlaucomaUK profile image
Helen_GlaucomaUKAdministrator

Hi Engima. Such good advice from everyone! 🙂The bit I don't understand is the junior doctor told you they didn't think the problem was caused by dry eyes, but it sounds like they didn't suggest what it could be? A dry eye gel at night can be very beneficial and help your eye to feel comfortable enough to sleep. If it is dry eye then doing the drops regularly helps. When drops are then stopped the dryness on the eye can return.

If things don't improve, do give the eye secretary a call and ask that you are seen in clinic.

Engima profile image
Engima in reply toHelen_GlaucomaUK

Thanks Helen. Have used the dry eye drops for two days now, and seem to be working. But as you say if I stop taking them the dry eye will return. Will have to restart the Monopost in my left eye next Wednesday evening, so if the same thing occurs with that eye as well will definitely ring the consultant's secretary.

Helen_GlaucomaUK profile image
Helen_GlaucomaUKAdministrator

Good to hear things are improving. If the times for putting the Monopost and the artificial tear drops coincide, leave them 20 to 30 mins apart.

Engima profile image
Engima in reply toHelen_GlaucomaUK

Thanks Helen. Have been leaving them a good while apart, as I am using the dry eye drops three times a day and the last one goes in at around 6.30pm. I do not use the Monopost until around 10pm!

Engima profile image
Engima in reply toEngima

Hi Helen, managed to get an appointment today at the eye clinic, but only with a senior nurse. After lots of tests and a scan, she seems to think there isn't anything to worry about. The reflections around the eye, particular.y at night, she reckons should stop once the brain has got used to them! Meaning that once the brain is used to them, I will not see them any more even they are still there!! Apparently it is because of the shape of the lens and some people get the problem and others do not. She gave me a sample of Xailin night to try but the leaflet doesn't say if I put them in after the glaucoma drops or before. I guess after but do not want to make a mistake. All the leaflet says is to leave 30 minutes between any other drops one may be taking. Any advice would be welcome please.

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