Sjogren's syndrome.

Just been told I have this. What do others use to help with very dry eyes, do you get prescription from the GP for this.

[Wendom]

Hi donkey I get gel eye drops in a tube from my doctor but I've also read some people get plugs in there eyes I think there called punctal plugs but it depends on the severity of your dryness hope this helps x

[Hidden]

Hi donkey. I have tried every eye drop on prescription and also had eye plugs, nothing helped. Finally my optician recommended I try an eye wash and drops to see whether they help. Luckily they did. The lotion is blephasol and the drops are Hycosan Extre. As these cannot be got on prescription if I was you I would try everything else first.

[Hidden]

Thankyou both, it is so expensive to buy these products, pharmacy said I will need 2 bottles of drops a month and 1 tube of lube, this will work out cheaper if I can get a prescription from the GP, I am going to see if he will give me a script for at least 2 months supply at a time (more if I can, doubt it though).

[Val02]

I get viscotears preservative-free and they work quite well. 3x a day. Also I was told to wash my eyes once a day in warm water with a couple of drops of baby shampoo in it.

The preservative-free eye drops are expensive and I think you have to get them on prescription.

[Hidden]

Hello donkey.

Don't know if this helps if you do receive a script from the GP for Sjorgen's.

My daughter gets gritty eyes and on visiting the optician last year, he did say you can buy eye drops to use directly from them if you go in person. I did read the label and I think they could perhaps be what are prescribed on a script but if you pay for the script, probably be dearer. I know my daughter pays under a fiver at intervals from the optician for them.

AND I think they are what Val02 has mentioned here, they are V something tears so they sound the same as what our family optician uses.

[sap7649]

Hello, donkey

I agree to use the eye drops too and their is also many rx's your eye doctor can prescribe.

[witchiegirl]

If hypromellose doesn't work, there are longer acting eye drops. I'm hoping to get some of them this week as using a lot of hypromellose now.You can get hypromellose over the counter. I am in Scotland where charges don't apply, but did buy some products OTC. I find, as long as I put Lacrilube on at sleep time, my eyes are better in the morning. I think Lacrilube is prescription only?? It's quite gloopy, hence sleep time only - though I put a little on in the day if eyes especially gritty (or on PC too much!)

I'm not sure about the shampoo rinse idea. I do find plain steam helps. Like if I have a bath before bed, then my eyes are okay to read in bed. Sometimes in the day I bathe face/eyes in warm flannel. It works, sort of! It's a bit of a drag to find what works, I find.

[Maggs3petts]

My sjogren's has worsened within the last year or so. My Consultant Rheumatologist prescribed hydroxycholorquine (think its also known as plaquil, not sure). It has helped with arthritis; fibromyalgia; sciatica and scleroderma. Seems to be easing them all. I got viscotears and lyca-lube (think that's spelt right) and its helping.

[Lucylongstockings]

Hi I use preservative free eye drops called cellovisce and lacrimal lube at night I get them both on prescription the eye dr. Suggested them both the lacrimal lube is thick like Vaseline but that really helps but can onky be used at night. I've also tried opt I've, but became sensitive to the preservative in it.