I feel foolish asking, but... Mono-dose eye drops?!

[flow4]

I have very dry, uncomfortable eyes at the moment and have been prescribed Hylo-Tear eye drops... Unfortunately, I'm having real trouble using them: firstly, my poor arthritic thumbs have trouble pushing the dispenser, and secondly I wear vary-focals and can't actually see what I'm doing, so end up dropping 4-6 drops on other parts of my face before I finally get one into my eye! It's not the most serious problem in the world, obviously, but it's frustrating... I wonder if I'm doing something wrong, or if there's some sort of knack to it I haven't got yet... Has anyone got any tips for me, please?!

[allanah]

Go to the chemist they have special dispensers for arthritis . Or  ask your O T 

[flow4 in reply to allanah]

Do they?! Thanks allanah, I'll do that.

[allanah in reply to flow4]

Hope I'm still right but that's where I went! 

[helixhelix]

I don't know if it's the same type of dispenser, but I use Hyco-San extra and find I can hold it in a way with the nozzle sticking out between my first 2 fingers that means I push the bottom with the pad of my thumb.  

And there's no way I could see to aim it right - especially first thing in the morning. So to get it in the eye I rest the bottle on the bridge of my nose, at an angle with the base over my forehead and it just drops in the right place.  Took a bit of practice to work out the angle, but now I do it by feel rather than sight. 

[flow4 in reply to helixhelix]

I like the angle/nose idea helix, thanks, I'll try that. I can't exert enough force with my thumbs to activate the dispenser thingy - they're deformed, arthritic AND double-jointed, so just have no push in them. I need to use two hands, really, which I can't do because I need one to hold my bottom eye lid open... Fingers crossed I can get some other sort of dispenser...

[helixhelix in reply to flow4]

I don't have to hold eyelid, as I do it lying down and look upwards as I do it, and the drop falls neatly into corner of my eye. 

[flow4 in reply to helixhelix]

Ah, lying down, why didn't I think of that?!

[helixhelix in reply to flow4]

Maybe you can see enough without drops to get out of bed in the morning, so wouldn't occur to you?   My eyes are so dry that not really much option unless I want to have bruised feet every day. 

[flow4 in reply to helixhelix]

That doesn't sound good, helix. Mine are not that bad. I'm still able to ignore the dry scratchiness a lot of the time.

[earthwitch]

I have problems too, and there were a couple of types of bottles I really couldn't manage (Hyabak was one that was a nightmare).  I just kept asking for different ones.  my technique is to hold my lower eyelid open with my left hand, then with the bottle in my right hand, I support my right hand on the knuckles of my left hand.  It kind of gets the bottle about the right distance away so I don't poke my eye out.   I do usually get at least half running down my face, but enough goes in to make it worthwhile.  I'm now using viscotears which is a tube of slightly gloopy stuff, and the tube does seem easier (just a very light squeeze) than the dropper bottles that require you to tap them to release the drop.

[flow4 in reply to earthwitch]

Thanks earthwitch. I think part of my problem is that the bottle I have been given has its own dispenser, so is bigger than normal. I don't have to squeeze it, just push its base, but it's harder to hold.

[CarolineC57]

I don't know if this helps as it might be a different kind of eye drop to yours. I have to use carmellose sodium, or something like that. The particular brand called Celluvisc is fine as I can manage to hold and squeeze the container - but if they give me a different brand of it I can't manage it. So my pharmacist now gets Celluvisc in for me every time. So, if you can find a brand you can handle, then ask the pharmacist to get that one for you.

And, yes, there is some kind of contraption you can get to help you handle eye drops like this. Again, ask your pharmacist - they may be able to advise.

[flow4 in reply to CarolineC57]

Thanks Caroline, asking for another brand next time is a good idea, if I can't get the hang of this one.

[smithfield]

That is worth knowing I have real problems not being able to squeeze dispensers.

Hope you get it sorted soon Flow4 x

[flow4 in reply to smithfield]

You too Smithfield!

[Jora]

There's Hycosan and Hylosan.  Or something like that. I've just discovered that one is available on prescription, whereas the other isn't. I also use Blephagel st night, which seems to reduce the risk of my waking to find my lids are stuck to the surface of my eye.  It's so bad that I was at the Eye hospital yesterday to have them checked.  I'm already only partially sighted,and don't want to lose that part!  J 

[flow4 in reply to Jora]

Obviously I'm not 'liking' your situation Jora, but your sense of humour made me smile

[sylvi]

I have a hubby for that job as like you i drip them all over the place except where they are supposed to go.xxxxx

[flow4 in reply to sylvi]

Haha! I haven't got one of those, sylvi... And my teenage boys would be too risky!

[moomie]

I have Carbomer eye gel. The optician wrote to G.p to get him to prescribe it. Bit gloopy when it goes in, but the tube is very flexible. I too get it down my face or on my nose.

Hope you can get it sorted or changed.

[flow4 in reply to moomie]

Gel might be easier, thanks moomie.

[Jackie1947]

Hi.  I'd like to know the knack too. Like you i find them difficult to operate.  Once you get it opened try to squeeze  the bottle and miss the eye it's frustrating.  Not user friendly with arthritic fingers 

.

[flow4 in reply to Jackie1947]

I think I'd like a pipette, Jackie!

[Tessthomy]

Hi bit late with a reply as sounds like you have a few good ideas there.  

 I too suffer with extreme dry eyes due to corneal erosion from RA. 

I use Hylo drops too. They aren't easy but have you got a magnifying mirror as this can help.  

Or I also use small pipettes of a make called Clinitas. These are good to pop into handbag etc and not too difficult to squeeze.  Also better with a magnifying mirror.  Lying down sounds a good idea too.   Let us know how you get on TT X

[flow4 in reply to Tessthomy]

Oo, I say I'd like a pipette, and -lo!- in the next post you tell me about pipettes! Thanks Tess

[Tessthomy in reply to flow4]

Glad to be of help.  Try and get the clinitas ones. X

[bencar]

Sorry seemed to have missed the remainder of my post......proceeded to administer the drops into the corner of my eyes with both closed with my head held back.  I then had to open my eyes immediately and the eye drops found their way in.  This may not be right for some, it works for me, I find this way very helpful.

[flow4 in reply to bencar]

I can't see the beginning of your post unfortunately, bencar, but it sounds like you've found a way to get the drops in with your eyes closed and THEN open them? Might be worth a try...

[hatshepsut]

I have found that if you forget holding your lid down, then aim for the corner of your eye nearest the nose, blink as soon as the drop hits and roll your eyes. That way you can use 2 hands for the dispenser. I usually give r2 to 3 drops just to be sure,. Thankfully, lacrilube is again available, and that is great at night....avoids that scraping of upper eye from lower eye in the morning!! M x