individual eye drop units

[muddledme]

At last I have read the patient information leaflet properly ! It seems counterintuitive but the Thealoz Duo UD and especially the Thealoz Duo Gel are so easy to use when first shaken UPSIDE DOWN so the fluid is above the opening, then carefully remove the end plug and the medication will easily drop into the eyes when squeezed.

I imagine most people would follow the instructions , so no problem , but I have been struggling for months holding the unit upright, shaking the fluid to the bottom , removing the top and taking ages to get the lubricant in my eyes.

But if there is anyone else like me perhaps starting on these individual drops then hopefully things may be easier.

Best wishes

[whitedog]

I used the Thealoz Duo drops for a while, on my opticians recommendation. But my consultant said Hylo Forte would be better for me. It's slightly more viscous, which I suppose is why.

Like you, I got a bit frustrated with the Thealoz bottle. The Hylo is a simple pump action, so you can spray the drops in without even thinking about it, really.

He also prescribed Xailin Night gel. It's a nice, thick consistency but in a plastic tube with a thicker nozzle than some, so it can sometimes come out in a blob. I got some Hycosan Night as an alternative a while back. Metal tube, easy to roll up and it comes out in a finer line so easier to squeeze a line of it in.

I wonder how much the manufacturers take the practicalities of using these things into consideration? I'm struggling a bit with my Prednisolone minims at the moment due to arthritis in my hands. They are very small and the plastic tube is quite firm, so hard to squeeze. I keep the boxes on the window sill in my bathroom to keep them cool - maybe I should warm them up a tad before using!

[muddledme in reply to whitedog]

Hello whitedog,

Yes, I agree the minims can be trickey as they are so small. Do you also turn them upside down after shaking the solution to the opening ? I have a friend who uses pliers !

Luckily I have found that the Thealoz Duo Gel is so effective that I now rarely need anything else during the day . The GP has exchanged my Hylo Forte months ago for a cheaper ? brand. The Hylo spray sounds good and useful to bear in mind. That system would probably be good for many people. Those little tubes of gel I have tried but the medication seems to go everywhere except where it is needed.

I wonder if the manufacturers ever ask eye patients about the ease of use and effectiveness of their medications ?

Best wishes

[whitedog in reply to muddledme]

I brought the minim into the living room to warm up a bit so the bottle is slightly softer. Even getting the top off can be hard work sometimes, so I find myself biting it off with my teeth! The drop comes out easily once I've managed to squeeze it.

Funnily enough, I've been thinking about using pliers! 😁 I do have some somewhere. Seems a bit drastic though, so was trying to think of something a little smaller or more compact. A spring clothes peg maybe. Or bulldog clip.

Both my Prednisolone and Monopost come in single use containers. Seems such a waste as I only need one drop of each in one eye. The rest gets thrown away.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Can I just add that if any forum members are using the Thealoz Duo UD and want help with positioning them as well as squeezing them, we have a dispensing aid on our website designed by the manufacturer. It is called the Thea Eyot. I have attached the link for anyone interested in getting one. This is also suitable for any UD eyedrops.

There are photos of the UD's/vials that are suitable to use with the dispensing aid to help make sure that you are ordering the correct dispensing aid.

glaucoma.uk/product/thea-eyot/

[whitedog in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

I just spotted a spelling mistake on that link. On the list of eye drops, Monopost is listed as Monoport.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner in reply to whitedog]

Thank you for telling me. I'll contact the dept to amend the error.

[whitedog]

Just to say I had a dig through all my boxes of tools etc and found an ancient pair of pliers. Using them now for my minims and they're a Godsend! 😁

So now I'm looking for something a bit lighter as these are solid metal.

And I'm also Googling tube squeezers as I'm really struggling with my tube of Xailin Night now!