Dry eye drops/gel

[Dayli]

Hi guys and fount of all wisdom, I am looking for advice on dry eye drops.

I was prescribed Hydromoor eye drops but I now need something stronger. My GP prescribed preservative-free (I am allergic to preservatives) Viscotears single dose use eye drops. Early days but these seem to be helping, however, my RA hands are struggling to squeeze out the gel. Can any of you recommend/advise an easy to use alternative I can suggest to my GP. I use them 4 times a day (8 separate units daily!) and I understand the cost of any change in prescription will be governed by cost to the NHS. An optician's report suggested Hycosan Extra but I was told this is not currently on the prescribing list.

Any advice greatly appreciated - Thank you.

[sylvi]

Have you tried Cellvisc you just have to wring the top of.xx

[Pinkypie2018]

I use the hyoscan extra i have to pay £11 for the small bottle lasts maybe 2 months.

[attatel]

Hi, thanks for posting this - I'll be interested to see the replies - I have hydromed drops and it's really hard to squeeze the bottle!

I've been getting keratitis regularly lately as well as dry eyes and applying all the drops is hard work!

[Hidden]

I use Celluvisc and have the same problem. My optician advised me to shake them so all the gel falls towards the exit. I've tried this, sometimes it works - sometimes it doesn't.

[Mmrr]

An interesting post as I use viscotears and have the same problem. I do find slightly warming them before usage helps , either by holding them in my hand ( always hot !) for a few minutes before opening , or running them under warm water. The fluid becomes thinner when warm so comes out with less squeezing !

(It does run down your cheeks though 😂)

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Mmrr]

I often keep little bottles of eye drops in my trouser pockets - to top up during the day - trouble is when they are at body temperature I don’t feel the drops going into my eyes until they run down my cheeks.

[Lizard28 in reply to Mmrr]

Great idea, I must try that with mine, the plastic seems to rigid, It takes three goes to get them in my eyes.

[Fruitandnutcase]

I find any time I’m using individual minims it helps if I hold it upside down after I've twisted the top off and flick it with my fingernail, that sort of gets all the liquid to the bottom.

I’ve used HycoSan and like the pump action at the moment, I’ve also used HyaBak and Theolose Duo. At the moment I’m using one recommended by my rheumy - SnoTears - it’s a pretty old one by Bausch and Lomb and I ended up having to buy it from an online pharmacy.

I’m not sure whether or not they are additive free - suspect not. At night I use one called VitA-POS which is thick and gunky. It isn’t as runny as ViscoTears so you might find that tricky too but I’ve found that by using it at night regular drops cope much better during the day and between the two my eyes have been much better than for ages.

I also use Blephawipes to clean my lids out all the time, just from time to time and an eye bag that I heat for a few seconds in the microwave then put over my closed eyes.

[Dayli]

Thanks everyone who kindly offered advice/suggestions.

[Lizard28]

Hi I use vita-pos at the moment, they are preservative free, but the leaflet says they can last 6 months, I queried this as the printed label from chemist says discard after four weeks. The doctor says this to avoid infection you need to change every month. Finding them quite good for night time, still need to use them even with my plugs in.

[Joodee]

Hi, I can totally sympathise with you on the dry eye situation. I have trouble with squeezing tubes and I opted to buy my own Hycosan. It is expensive (£11.00 bottle lasts between a month and six weeks) but they are so easy to administer. Shame they won't prescribe them but I am always SO grateful for my biologic drugs that I forgive the NHS this added cost.

[Teedeez]

I was prescribed Xiidra drops the side effects are horrible and can’t squeeze the tubes a friend told me about Bion Tears. Ordered off the internet, they are preservative free and the tubes are much easier to squeeze. Has been working great. They are for severe dry eyes. If you haven’t tried the heat packs on your eyes followed by light massage under eyes pushing up, try it works!

[Hobbits]

I use Xidra for anti-inflammation ( script)You can only use it 2x day, in between I use Systaine Ultra ( OTC)

A soothing combo.

[QAGS]

Ring Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, they are the experts on gadgets to help patients with difficultys like this, often their pharmacy section will be the people to give advice

[hatshepsut]

I use hylo forte....dispensed from a bottle, much easier than a tube. Preservative free. Was recommended by my ophthalmologist......available on prescription.

[StormySeas]

As others below, I use Hyloforte preservative free, in a pump dispenser. A single pump between thumb and any finger releases a single drop. It’s a 10ml bottle, lasts about a month.

I also have single use Celluvisc pres- free phials with a twist off tab. These are very wasteful, both in terms of contents and plastic...so I prefer the Hylo forte which is very convenient.

I appreciate the problem of sore hands as I also have Viscotears single-use phials of gel for night time and they are hard to manipulate.

If you can manage to squeeze thumb and finger together Hyloforte might work for you....

[Dayli]

Thank you all so much - you have been a great help.