Preservative free v preservative drops

[KBIOW]

Hello again,

After speaking to someone today I was unaware there was even such a thing as preservative free eye drops… surely preservative free is better for our eyes…? Any advice would be great. I’m not even sure if I can get all my eye drops preservative free?

I am currently on the following eye drops all with preservatives which I have read can lead to dry eye…. Which I have hence the Viscotears.

Cosopt x 2 a day

Pilocarpine x 3 times a day

Lumigan x 1 at night

Viscotears to help with dry eye at night

I’m also taking Acetazolamide tablets x 4 a day

thank again

[Cavapoochonowner]

Hello there, I have thyroid eye disease which results in dry, red protruding eyes.The thyroid forum always recommends preservative free eye drops as eyes are already sensitive and uncomfortable and preservatives can worsen this.For my dry eyes I use xailin gel during the day and xailin night before bed.These are preservative free and prescribed by my opthamologist.I have been diagnosed with IOP in January and have been prescribed monopost , 1 drop each night.I have been given preservative free ones in the little single dose containers due to already having irritation from my thyroid eye.I have noticed no extra irritation from my new drop thank goodness.Hope this helps.

[mrswaffle]

Hi there, to start with: I am not an expert, just got my own experience! However, I have seen it suggested by a doctor that, if you can tolerate them, eye drops with preservatives are a good idea, to help stop the drops becoming contaminated. I use Azarga (brinzolamide/timolol) twice daily and bimatoprost once. I do occasionally have dry eyes and use Hyco-san extra or Thealoz duo as necessary. This sounds a bit basic, but I also find I need to make sure I am blinking enough! My other solution is (if you can) is to get outside in the fresh air. Good luck!

[lesphoto]

Hello I noticed amongst your medication you are taking Acetazolamide (Diamox) have you been taking it for long as there some side effects I noticed when taking it you can get depleted potassium so should perhaps take one/two bananas a day to compensate also I found it affected my sleep and also caused tingling in hands and feet ,have you been on it for long to help bring down your eye pressure?

[KBIOW]

Hello,

Ive been taking it since the beginning of March.

I started on the slow release two tablets a day for a month but they can no longer get hold of this andit won’t be available until May/June.

I’ve been on the normal 250mg tablets, 4 a day now. I eat a banana a day and try to drink a lot of water. I requested my bloods be taken at the hospital last week and am waiting for the results. I get tingly fingers occasionally not all the time and if I have been out for a walk I notice my legs tingle, occassionally my face tingles too. I don’t like taking these tablets at all, but when they lowered my dose to 2 tablets my pressures went up….and when I didn’t take it at all one morning before a pressure check they were even higher.

I just want to get moving to the next stage in one way to hopefully get off all these drops and tablets, I really hate it ☹️.

[lesphoto]

I do appreciate how wretched you must feel and can only hope that things will improve soon

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello,

As you have dry eyes, preservative free drops where available should be prescribed for you as they are more gentle on the eye.

Cosopt and Lumigan are both available as a preservative free option.

There are no preservative free options for Pilocarpine.

Minims is a preservative free form of Pilocarpine but slightly different. They may be an option.

Speak to your consultant at your next appointment to ask of you could be changed to the preservative free options.

Dry eye drops tend to be preservative free for obvious reason.

[KBIOW in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Thank you, might be a silly question but are the preservative free drops as effective?

Also the dry eye drops iI have been prescribed are Viscotears BAUSCH \ LOMB which I don’t think are preservative free….

Thank you

Katy

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner in reply to KBIOW]

The only difference is they don't have preservatives. The main ingredients are totally the same.

Viscotears single dose vials are preservative free.

[KBIOW in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Thank you, my Viscotears are in a tube!

Do all the preservative free ones come as single vials?

Thank you

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner in reply to KBIOW]

Normally they do