Dry eyes through the night

[AlwaysKind]

Hello! Can anyone share tips on how to cope with dry eyes through the night? Before I sleep I use an eye ointment such as hylo night or xailin night and also optrex night drops but I still wake up every few hours with really sore eyes which I'm presuming that they are dry! I put more drops in them every time I wake up. I'm shattered and would really love a good night sleep! Anyone got any other suggestions? I take tioplex drops in the morning to control my pressures as I have glaucoma I've also suffered from a detached retina and a cataract in the same eye. Thank you!

[Cavapoochonowner]

Hello there,I have high pressures so take drops,I also have thyroid eye disease and use xialin eye drops which help.I have found a soft sleep eye mask helps as it protects my eyes from draughts etc and keeps moisture in.My thyroid eye disease has caused my eyes to bulge slightly so I am unsure whether they close fully when I'm asleep or not.This protects them too.I have also bought a heated eye mask from Amazon which can be heated in the microwave or cooled in a fridge.Dry eyes can sometimes be caused by the oil ducts near your eyelashes becoming blocked and the heat from the mask combined with gentle massage can help release it and provide lubrication for the front of your eye.There are demonstrations on youtube.Sometimes when I wake up I can barely open my eyes as it feels as if my eyelids are stuck down,so I feel for you.These tips have helped me so you could give them a try.All the best to you.

[AlwaysKind in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

Thank you! Those are all very helpful tips. Do you use the heated mask before bed then wear the soft eye mask whilst you are sleeping? Sorry if that's a silly question!

[Cavapoochonowner in reply to AlwaysKind]

Hello Alwayskind(fabulous name).I use the heated eye mask any time my eyes feel irritated and it seems to soothe them.It's best to do any eye massage while they are warm from the mask.I don't normally sleep with the heated mask on but it's so nice you could nod off.I normally use the soft one to sleep in.

[AlwaysKind in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

I'll give those both a try. My daughter has a silk mask so I can try this tonight so that's brilliant! Thanks again for your advice. Wishing you all the best.

[Alprof]

Hi. My only advice to you is to avoid heating of any kind and or air conditioning during the night. May be your eyes remain open while sleeping. Try to cover your eyes with very light cloth.

[AlwaysKind in reply to Alprof]

Thank you that's good advice. I've got myself a new silk eye mask that I'm going to try through the night.

[Tigdad]

after glaucoma and cataract surgery about 7 years ago I have suffered the same problem ( still use Ganfort once a day ). I have used Theoloz UD drops as necessary during the day ( up to 4 times ) and Theoloz UD Gel at night. Seems to be best for me !

[AlwaysKind in reply to Tigdad]

Oh I've not tried these ones! That's a great suggestion and I'll look at them. Thank you so much

[Sufitzy]

hi

I haven’t any answer but I want you to know that I know how awful it is to have this condition and how tired and low it get people. I am in the middle of struggling with it myself. Steroids are the only thing that help a major episode or the eyes just get redder and redder but steroids are not good as they have their own resulting issues , like risk of raising eye pressure .

not helpful but your not alone

X

[AlwaysKind in reply to Sufitzy]

I'm so sorry to hear that you are struggling. It's really awful! But it is good to have support from people who are going through it too. I hope it eases a little bit for you soon

[Nikul]

mine are the same since starting Monopost drops at night. Is it ok to put hycosan night in after the Monopost drops, as that used to help the dryness, but I stopped after starting the M and they are definitely too dry again? Seeing consultant next week so will ask.

[AlwaysKind in reply to Nikul]

I think it's OK to use the ointment after waiting 15 minutes at least. I couldn't tolerate monopost so had to switch to tioplex although still dry eyes but not as bad! It's all such a chore to stay comfortable!!

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello,

It sounds as though you may need to look at a different dry eye ointment as the one you use doesn't seem to work as well as it should. I can see you have had lots of helpful suggestions but I would hold off trying the massage suggestion, and to check with your your consultant 1st. I say this because you mention you have had a detached retina in the past, so best check before trying this suggestion.

[AlwaysKind in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Thank you so much. I shall check with consultant first. I tried a silk mask last night and that helped a bit. I'll have to research more ointments now though!

[DaisyDoolittle]

Hi I have had a macular hole repair and detached retina and cataract surgery in my left eye which also has glaucoma and have very dry eyes,I use monopost before bed and trusopt in the day,I have tried 24 different eye drops and become allergic to all but monopost and trusopt I have discovered why my eyes were like balls of fire every morning it's the Xailin night gel I used overnight I have now become allergic too! My only option which I can tolerate for tear drops is Thealox duo which is such a relief at times,I put it in after monopost and use a silky eye mask and renew in night if I need too so far it seems to be working,I am desperate to get my dry eyes reasonable as I am due an tubectomy as the pressures is rising fast hope you can get your eyes right soon oh and I do gently massage my eyelids after a heated eye mask

[AlwaysKind in reply to DaisyDoolittle]

Oh gosh you've really been through it! Such a shame, I'm so sorry. I never really thought that the xailin night might be causing a problem! I think I'll drop that off and see what happens. I haven't tried the other drops you've mentioned so may give them a try too. I slept with a mask on last night as I discovered my daughter had one and someone else suggested it. And I think it's made a difference so I'll keep with it. I must try the heated mask too. It's such a chore all of this but it helps to know I'm not alone. Thank you so much and take care

[Sufitzy]

let’s keep posting and supporting x

[AlfredV]

I use Xaillin Night ointment and find it very effective. I ha d a few thoughts:

You say you also administer Optrex Night Drops. I wonder whether they could be flushing out or diluting the ointment?

Alternatively you could be reacting to the lanolin in the ointment? Do you get itchy with woolen clothing?

I do think an ointment is probably best for overnight but I don't know if there is an alternative without lanolin.

Another thought could be that perhaps you are sleeping with your eyes slightly open at night making them dry out more easily? A mask, or even taping them could help if this is the case.

I hope you manage to find some relief. Interrupted sleep due to dry eye will only likely exacerbate the problem, unfortunately.

[AlwaysKind in reply to AlfredV]

Hi thanks for your suggestions! I think I'll try dropping the ointment and see if it feels better, incase I am reacting. I think there's an ointment called hydramed night sensitive that's not got lanolin in it so I'll give that a try. I've also got myself a silk eye mask and hopefully this will make it a bit better too. Thanks again

[tkhach44]

You are using too many different medicines that could interfere which each other, especially one of the ingredients in one of them, interferes with another ingredient in the other ones. It would be difficult to know which ingredient is the culprit. For example: Here are "Optrex eye drops ingredients from Google": Aqua, Sodium Chloride, PEG 8000, Boric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chlorite, Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Hydrogen Peroxide. So many ingredients! Try to eliminate the less important drops (and the less ingredients having drops), keeping only 1-2 very necessary ones, just related to decreasing eye pressure, and wash your face very often, with room temperature water, especially before sleep. I personally wash my face with a green natural and mild Turkish soap bar (having olive oil and rosemary in it), as I had the same dry problem at night.

[AlwaysKind in reply to tkhach44]

Thanks for your advice. I think you're right about too many drops! I've ditched the optrex one as well as I thought it could be annoying my eyes and it has made a difference. I've found hydramed night sensitive and just use a little. I've also started using a silk mask at night and that seems to be working. Keeping it all a bit more natural is the best way. Thanks again and take care

[Tigdad]

I have used Theoloz Duo UDfor some years and can highly recommend

[AlwaysKind in reply to Tigdad]

Thank you for your recommendation.