Sore Eyes

[Carathedog]

I have had sore eyes, for the past few days, I have recently come down to 8 mgs , after being on 10 for a month, following a flare. I had been on 6.5 before the flare.

Thanks for any advice

[Koalajane]

could it be dry eyes as I find I have that and use eye drops regularly. I use Hycosan Extra as suggested by my optician

[Orange_2022 in reply to Koalajane]

These work for me too...🙂

[Carathedog in reply to Koalajane]

Thanks, I’ll try that

[Carathedog in reply to Carathedog]

👍👍

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Do you use eye drops to combat dry eyes? Have you any other symptoms beside the soreness? Do you ever suffer from hayfever?

[Carathedog in reply to PMRpro]

No other symptoms or hay fever, but Sheffield Jane has recommended eye drops, which I’ll try

Thanks

[SheffieldJane]

Mine have become a chronic condition ( dry eyes) although my optician says they are getting better as time goes on and I reduce Pred. I use Thealoz Duo eyedrops ( by far the best I have found) Thealoz Duo night time gel and Blepharitis eye wipes. I have managed to get the eyedrops on prescription, there was a bit of resistance initially. Nothing is visible they just feel gritty and irritated sometimes. They feel worse if I don’t take these steps.

[Carathedog in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you so much, sounds ideal

[agingfeminist in reply to SheffieldJane]

I haven't had any auccess with the usual eye drops. I am going to try these. Thanks for suggestion.

[Pixix]

I use Hycosan, but have macular degeneration & blepharitis, & was told to you them by my optician. Before that, I reported the issue to a rheumy I saw & she just said it’s normal & you must keep on using the eye drops, very very regularly. She had a point. I was kind of putting up with it & only used the eye drops about twice a day!

[Stills in reply to Pixix]

Good point, I use the ointment at night, drops in the morning once and try to manage the rest of the day. Both treatments amount to £20 and not available on script so have to pay. Just started in March so not sure how long they last but they really help. Optician said the lens os my eyes were scratched from the dryness.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Stills]

Ive always paid for eye drops - like SJ I use Theoloz Duo daily,- and if eyes get particularly bad use a heatable mask and wipes for a few nights.. all from usual online retailer…l

Eye masks etc

[Stills in reply to DorsetLady]

Thsnks DL useful as always

[Carathedog in reply to Stills]

Thanks, they seem to be mostly Recommended

[Pixix in reply to Stills]

Hm….I get some free & some I pay for. But I wasn’t using the drops more than once or twice a day & that’s where the rheumy said I was making a mistake. I found them much cheaper in the USA & check other countries when I visit & buy plenty if I find cheaper! I wear contact lenses all the time, which gives an extra tendency to dry out sometimes, I think. If your lens are scratched from dryness I think it’s best to use them frequently, even if expensive. Can’t buy new eyes!!!!! Since being diagnosed with AMD I’m realising how precious they are…I watched my Dad go blind over the last ten years of his life!! S x

[Nextoneplease in reply to Pixix]

Hi Pixix 😊

I also have AMD and also watched my father lose his sight over a period of years. I used to take him to the Eye Hospital and the Low Vision Clinic, and now, in no time at all it seems, I’m the patient . He also had glaucoma and I have an assessment for that next week…

Anyway I also have dry eyes and use Zaspray which costs me £20 a month, plus the Macushield for AMD which costs £30. Can I ask, are you in the UK and if so, does a GP prescribe some of your drops?

Many thanks and all the best xx

[Pixix in reply to Nextoneplease]

Oh, what a coincidence! Yes, took Dad to low vision unit, got loads of gadgets & items to help. When he dies we passed it all to other people with low vision. I guess I will need it all someday myself!! Never thought of that! My Dad had wet macular degeneration, but I gave dry macular degeneration. I buy Macushield & pay for it myself. I was lucky & two opticians I saw gave me some Hycosan, & I haven’t used either yet as I already had some eye drops I’d bought. But,after that, I will be buying! I am in the UK, & paid for my blepharitis mask, too! For my other ailments I had to spend £50 on recommended splints in the past 3 months(hypermobility, joints keep dislocating)! I also buy time release Vit C & Magnesium. I’m the age now to have free prescriptions& very grateful as my daily intake went over 30 pills a day last month!!!!!

[Nextoneplease in reply to Pixix]

Hi Pixix 😊

Thanks for the speedy reply. Another coincidence- I also take over 30 prescribed pills a day and am also grateful for free prescriptions! I hardly dare add up what I pay for: vit K2, magnesium, Macushield, Zaspray, vit B, vit C…. and a walking stick etc as I’m so unstable, and taxis because I can no longer drive due to my sight.

I’m not entirely sure what type of AMD dad had in the end as there was no treatment for wet AMD then as far as I know….and he got so down about it he rarely talked about it. So far I’ve bought magnifiers x2, spotlights etc. And a total blessing is modern technology, which dad didn’t have, sadly. I’ve got into the Accessibility settings on my iPad and phone, use smart invert, bold type and large font etc.

Thanks for the feedback on buying drops etc.

All the best 😊 xx

[Pixix in reply to Nextoneplease]

There we go…twins & we didn’t know it! The same…Dad had wet AMD & no help during his lifetime! A friend has the injections & they are helping her to save some of her sight. She can’t drive now, but can still see, garden, read big print, join in social media etc etc. Take care, S x

[Stills in reply to Pixix]

You’re right of course I can’t buy new eyes but I can buy more drops. Optician said to use them at least 4 times a day. I wore contacts for many years but had to stop when cysts developed under my eye lids . The optician at that time mentioned dry eyes but I didn’t make the connection to Still and RD until much later.

typo edited.

[Stills in reply to Pixix]

Good point! I will use them more, optician said at least 4 times daily. I used to wear contacts years ago but had to stop after developing cysts under both eye lids due to dry eye. I didn’t make the connection with dry eyes and rheumatoid conditions back then though. I will use more drops !

J x

[Pixix in reply to Stills]

I hope it helps! I wasn’t trying to tell you what to do…in fact, I think I was trying to tell myself! I tend to need them late afternoon, but somehow I know they’re dry, but don’t bother! S x

[Stills in reply to Pixix]

😉

[Daffodilia]

I use Theoluz Duo eye drops 4 times a day - good luck

[Carathedog in reply to Daffodilia]

Thank you

[MiniSpec]

This may sound strange, but having tried all sorts of eye drops for my dry and gritty eyes (I have Blepharitis!) I tried using neat Castor oil. My missus uses it on her leg, where she has a patch of rather dodgy skin due to Lymphoedema and Cellulitis.

She suggested it might help my eyes, so I tried it and was surprised. It's a bit thick and can be sticky if I don't wipe off the excess, but I just dip my index finger into the oil, then rub it along the edge of my eyelids while they're closed. I'm finding that since using it, I don't suffer from the sore itchiness anywhere near as much as I did before.

I normally apply it when my eyes get tired, i.e. in the evening, and find that it lasts till the following lunchtime, when I add another light smear of it to see me through the afternoon.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MiniSpec]

Since there was some shock at the idea the first time it was mentioned - supporting literature!

health.com/does-castor-oil-....

[MiniSpec in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for finding that article Pro, it was very interesting to read. The stuff my missus bought is Holland & Barrett 100% pure organic Castor oil, in 2 x 250ml bottles. I've just read the blurb on the side of the bottle and it says

"Caution: For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes........"

Ooops!!

I didn't read the instructions or I'd not have used it, but I'm glad I have. It's made a positive difference for me, although I don't believe the hype about it improving eyesight or reducing bloaters, cataracts, etc. that Tik Tokkers have claimed.

Apparently there's an Aussie woman called Barbara O'Neil who has been singing the praises of Castor oil for years, but I didn't know anything about that when I tried it. I just trust my missus to be the sensible one in our family.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MiniSpec]

Fine if you keep it to closed lids - just don't use it as eye drops!!! I actually found a study on it the last time - but thought the article was just as useful.

[Carathedog in reply to MiniSpec]

Worth a try

[Stills]

note my diagnosis is Adult onset Stills disease which manifests as RD for me. I have dry eyes and use hycoscan extra and the day time drops, both really help.

[Carathedog in reply to Stills]

Thanks, that seems to be the most used from all your comments

[Eatsfruitsandleaves]

I just looked at a well known high street chemist chain website and the Hycosan Extra drops are currently buy one get one half price.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Eatsfruitsandleaves]

You can say who you know!!!

[Joseph14612]

My Ophthalmologist blamed it on dry eyes as well....He has me on Genteal moderate and Systane gel drops at bedtime. Also Refresh gel drops which aren't as blinding as Systane...I am much improved...

[Thelmarina]

Lots of great advice here. I have just discovered through my optician that my perpetually watery eyes are due to blocked tear ducts. He said it would require a painful operation to unblock them and to be very careful to avoid dry eyes on top of it. I’m interested in using drops four times a day. Thanks for raising this issue.