preservative free vs preservative glaucoma eye drops

[CC08]

Hi all, I was curious to know everyone’s experience with eye drops. I have only ever used preservative eye drops but am suffering with bad dry eye. I have on,y used preservative free drops once and they didn’t seem to work at all. I would”d be interested in seeing what people are on and if the preservative free work as well?

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello. long term use of eye drops that contain preservatives can encourage dry eye, as the preservative can affect the surface of the cornea. If you have dry eye, it is best to use preservative free eye drops as they are more gentle on the eye. Preservative free drops are exactly the same, except they do not contain preservative. They come in either individual vials or a bottle with a small blue blister on the top rather the normal spout. This depends on the eye drop you are prescribed.

[CC08 in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Thanks Trish, I think it’s definitely worth speaking to my consultant about next visit x

[muddledme]

Hello CC08,

Sorry to hear about your dry eyes and certainly having had years of preservative containing drops I do agree that they can cause a lot of problems.

Luckily these days there do seem to be many more preservative free drops available.

I also found some drops ineffective in lowering pressure , but it seems it was the type of drop rather than whether or not preservatives were involved.

For dry eyes I have found that putting preservative free lubricant drops in regularly does help me.

Someone on this forum suggested Theoloz Duo UD ,I find them wonderful and they seem to last so much longer than others. My G.P was happy to prescribe them.

Having had a cold I have been drinking much more fluid than normal....either the watery eyes or the extra fluid seems to have banished the dry eyes at the moment. I know it is unwise to drink too much because of pressures, but I suppose there is a happy medium.

Be aware that it is possible to be given the wrong prescription, I assume because of the work load. Once I had totally the wrong drops but in VERY similar packaging, and then I was given some lubricating ointment with preservatives for sore eyes (Liquivisc) ! So now I always check things before leaving the surgery.

There are some excellent dry eye information leaflets on the Glaucoma UK website.

Best wishes

[CC08 in reply to muddledme]

Many thanks that is very useful, I do use Theoloz duo currently and will admit my fluid intake can be a bit low at times so will make an effort to increase that. The heating and cold wind at this time of year don’t help. X

[valfrance]

Hi I just know when I took preservative drops my eyes always felt uncomfortable, like grit in my eyes and I was forever blinking to dry and clear my eyes. I was given slt laser and came off the 2nd drop that had preservatives. I just take preservative free monoprost and i am the one who recommended thealoz duo for dry eyes, it is amazing. As mentioned to you, preservative drops are not good for your corneas. If I had to take a 2nd drop again, I would only take non presevative drops. good luck valfrance

[CC08]

Thanks for your advice valfrance, appreciate it, definitely worth adding to my question list next visit to consultant xx