Hydrotear

[tallyho]

Hi all is anyone on drops for dry eyes IN THE UK my injections are getting more painful and I would like to try drops before the injection and then afterwards. Any info on how to get them ie is it the hospital or GP and how useful they are would be great. Anyone on glaucoma drops and use them too? I think my gluacoma drops are drying my eyes and thus making the injection painful. Could this be the issue?

[Ceri2]

Hi, I am on three combinations of glaucoma drops (have myopic md too) and my eye pain has got much worse over the last 18 months. The hospital recently decided that it was probably the glaucoma drops causing the pain, but as I’m on maximum treatment there was no practical way of altering the drugs. We have just done a three month, three part approach which has made a lot of difference and the pain is much reduced:

Changed celluvisc comfort drops to Oxyal, which hospital said were more advanced and which I find much better. (For use every day as needed not particularly linked to injections as I don’t have injections often)

Going back to microwaving hot, sterile flflannels twice a day and keeping on eyes as long as possible.

Three month course of antibiotics to help with surface of cornea.

Hope that helps. I have mentioned the pain on and off for years and this quite simple plan has made daily comfort so much better.

Hope that helps.

[tallyho in reply to Ceri2]

What’s a 3 month 3 part approach. I am on 2 types of drops but just ganfort for the eye being injected.

Thanks for the reply so hospital gave u drops yea?

[Ceri2 in reply to tallyho]

Hi,

That was just my way of explaining that the three things below were being used together to increase comfort because of the glaucoma medication, not medical terminology. I have the Oxyal on prescription through the glaucoma clinic., though you can buy it over the counter too.

[Hidden]

Hi tallyho. Yes, im in UK and I've used hypromellose drops and Hylotear drops. My clinic gave me a bottle of hypromellose after I went with eye pain and I got my gp to give me a repeat prescription for them. But I found in winter they weren't working so well. Gp changed me to Hylotear which is thicker and I found works better. Bottle also lasts 6 months from opening as opposed to the other's 28 days. Although I do start new bottle after inj.just to be extra safe.

Re glaucoma - I don't have it but do have raised IOP which can cause it. Am on timolol drops for that. I think dry eye is a side effect of inj and drug drops.

I use my Hylotear about 4 times a day in windy wintery weather, less in summer.

FYI I have a prepaid certificate for prescriptions. £10.40 a month and it covers all prescriptions not just repeat ones so if you are on a few meds it saves you money.

[tallyho in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much since That was really helpful since I have Diabetes all my prescriptions are free. So will ask when at clinic on Thursday

[Macular_1]

Hello Tallyho,

This is of course something that you should discuss with an eye specialist; either a good optometrist or better still your hospital ophthalmologist.

Please see our factsheet about 'dry eyes' at the following link;

macularsociety.org/sites/de...

Also please see our factsheet about pain after injections (which you may have seen before as a regular contributor);

macularsociety.org/sites/de...

The Glaucoma helpline; 01233 648170 may be able to offer you some advice as well?

Best wishes

Macular Society

[thom3patty]

I was told my injections r so painful due to my eyes being dry they suggested day of injection to put systane eye drops in several times before my injection hope this helps you

[Handaman]

I don't know if this will have any relevance due to other eye conditions you might have, but I was dreadfully afflicted by dry eye problems and found drops to be totally ineffective. My salvation came in the form of Epaderm cream and ointment. Essentially for dry skin, if you massage a small amount into your eyelids at night and use applications of cream through the day if you are a little self conscious , it penetrates the eyelid and provides a reliable supply of lubrication. Instead of waking up in the mornings with my eyelids glued to the cornea and ripping it as they were opened, I have a trouble free life and this stuff is as cheap as chips. Well worth a try.