Optimel Manuka eye drops and gels

[Littlemisssunshine87]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone’s tried these and had any success with their eye symptoms?

I’ve just had both the drops and gel delivered after seeing a study on it significantly improving people’s MGD etc.

I’ve already exhausted the ophthalmologists under the NHS help after less than a year treatment. All they can offer for MGD is drops and antibiotics. So I’m seeking out alternatives.

There’s a private treatment clinic near me that offers gland probing and Lipiflow but they’re over £1000 for just one treatment. Think it was £2800 to combine the 2!! And then you’d need it again. If I win the lottery I’ll be there every month 😂

So at £30 (£15 for drops, £15 for gel) this seems a more affordable thing to just give a try.

Just tried for first time. They sting a little but it’s tolerable for me. But hey, I’d have someone stick a pin in my eye if it would fix them!

I think my MGD is a big part (if not all) of my pain, discomfort and light sensitivity with my eyes. My tear break up time is 1 second in the left and 2 seconds in the right.

I don’t think doctors take this seriously enough, it’s had such an impact on my life, I can no longer work, our eyes are so precious.

[merriwin]

I am in Australia and have been using the drops and ointment for 12 month. I find they are quite good. I can get the drops from Chemist Warehouse but have to get the ointment from my optician.Yes it really stings but only for the first few seconds.Good luck.

[Littlemisssunshine87 in reply to merriwin]

Thank you that’s good to here. What symptoms would you say have improved with your eyes since using?

Yeah the stinging only lasts few seconds with me as well, don’t mind it at all.

[Rel3216]

I'm in Australia and have used the Manuka eye drops together with Polyvisc and Sustane. The manuka eye drops are very effective when I'm at the end of my tether with very irritated painful eyes and nothing else has worked. They have an antibiotic component from the manuka honey and settle and sooth

[Okebro]

I like the Optilmel gel too. The drops I find sting my eyes too much when I put them in and they go off quickly. I recommend keeping them in the fridge.

Good luck!

[SusieW2]

Hi! I have put off using the prescription drops as my eyes are luckily not so bad yet as to put up with the stinging. I think it has a different name in USA.

I am seeing a dry eye specialist who also has dry eyes. He suggested that I take fish oil or other Omega sources and to use warm eye packs. The fish oil helps a lot. And the warm, moist pack (wash cloth or fancy apparatus) helps for the morning crust.

p.s. I like the Systane eye drops/gel brand myself. I think it arose from a homeopathic remedy.

[Littlemisssunshine87 in reply to SusieW2]

Yeah I have been taking high strength fish oils for years now. Heat, steam and eye packs help but only temporarily, not enough to sort my MGD out. My eyes are very bad. These optimel ones aren’t on prescription in the U.K. I just buy them online. I don’t mind the stinging if it helps but time will tell over the next few months.

[SusieW2 in reply to Littlemisssunshine87]

Good luck with that.

[LH44]

Have you had punctual plugs fitted? My tear break up time was 0 but with those, Hydroxychloroquine (& I do think Levothyroxine helped), they're much better.

[Littlemisssunshine87 in reply to LH44]

No not been offered plugs, I didn’t think I was a candidate with MGD?! I’ve recently seen a private opthalmologist who prescribed Ikervis eye drops which my GP has agreed shared care of so I’m getting my prescription for that next week. The eye hosp on nhs never offered me that. Has hydroxychloroquine helped your eyes then? I couldn’t tolerate it and it made my eyes feel worse. Which brand do you take? X

[LH44 in reply to Littlemisssunshine87]

I'm not sure but if they're that dry I'd think you need them. I do heated eye lid massage every night. Ikervis stings my eyes so I use the unlicensed animals only version, Ciclosporin ointment. Juli Forte is the only other eye drops I can tolerate. Even though I use the other eye products, without Hydroxychloroquine my eyes inflame then I have to use FML steroids for 5-6 weeks. Certain foods like dairy, tomatoes & anything acidic trigger my eyes too but Hydroxy reduces the severity. Initially I used the main brand Plaquenil then used generic brand Zentiva since. Hydroxy take up to 12 weeks to work & 6 months to leave the body x