Dry etes

[Citta]

Has anyone had any success in treating dry eyes? Mine developed when I had a really bad inflammatory flare up of my hashimotos. I’ve tried over the counter products and those prescribed by my optician but nothing is helping. They feel very itchy, scratchy, and look red.

[Citta]

That should read eyes 😊🤒

[asiatic in reply to Citta]

As pennyannie said any that are preservative free should do but you have to remember to use them frequently perhaps 6 times a day. I was lucky to be prescribed IKERVIS which worked well but it is expensive.

[Citta in reply to asiatic]

I might ask my GP for that: thank you

[asiatic in reply to Citta]

I think it has to be initiated by an opthalmologist. I was using lubricant over 10 times a day with little relief. ( I have TED ) I used IKERVIS eye drops for 2 years. They brought me such relief when my eyes were at their worst. I stopped using them a year ago and my eyes are fine now although I still use Xialin ointment at night with a mask as my eyes don't close properly and dry out.

[Citta in reply to asiatic]

That's interesting became I was told my eyes don't close properly either when I sleep! Thanks x

[pennyannie]

Hello Citta

I have tried many potions, lotions and drops for my dry eyes.

I think it is a personal thing, but please just remember that they must be preservative free.

[Citta in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you! I think the ones I have are. I’m using Thealoz gel and drops at the minute.

[MichelleHarris]

I use Xalin jel on my eyes at night. I have prescribed Occulube drops but they irrate my eyes badly and I buy Comfort Eye drops from Tescos are the best. I also have an air humidifier by my bed on at night. I have just been diagnosed with Sjogrens syndrome auto immune as well as Thyroid x

[Citta in reply to MichelleHarris]

It’s awful, isn’t it! I think a humidifier would help me too.

[Lucycatnaps]

Hycosan ++ worked the best for me, plus Lacrilube at night, also using cotton pads soaked in boiled water that has cooled somewhat on my eyelids at night helped. I liked the Hycosan the best, it comes in a pump pot and lasts for six months from opening and is preservative free

[Citta in reply to Lucycatnaps]

Thanks for that. That’s another one to think about. The cotton pads sound a good idea too

[Smorzando]

Hi Citta

I've struggled with severe dry eye for years, ophthalmologists were useless. I've got a routine that works for me.

Early evenings I do a 10 minute warm compress on my eyes - very relaxing (search "eyebag", many products available) then gently massage my eyelids, and clean with cooled boiled water and cotton wool.

In the mornings I clean my eyes with manuka honey - sounds weird I know - just rub a small amount onto closed eyelids, leave for a few minutes, then gently wash off with cooled boiled water. I use Activon medical grade manuka honey, bought on Amazon.

I rarely use drops any more but when I do it's Hylo Forte. Very good and preservative free.

[Citta in reply to Smorzando]

That’s very interesting. I’ll try anything! Thanks

[JumpJiving]

There are multiple things that can be done.

Eye drops etc give immediate relief, but depending on the quality of your tear film, they may dissipate very quickly.

Warm swabs help a lot, but they are a bit of a faff to do. It's something that wants to be a regular thing.

Regular use of Omega 3 can help. My eye surgeon recommends ones called Omega Eye from a company called Scope.

Punctal plugs can be inserted by an opthamologist. This can make a massive difference, but they can fall out in time.

Punctal cautery is a minor procedure that some opthamologists can perform. Unlike plugs, there's nothing to fall out. I made the mistake of going to the theatre to see War Horse the day after having punctal cautery done. Let's just say that at the break, I looked like I had been blubbing all the way through, as my eyes were still adjusting to having had the procedure done

There's also a new treatment involving pulsed light, which I've not required.

For more info, I suggest reading centreforsight.com/eye-cond... and centreforsight.com/treatmen... (the latter describes the treatments, including some that I haven't mentioned)

[Citta in reply to JumpJiving]

Many thanks, very informative.

[Yorkie2019]

Hello I also use Hylo Forte during the day. I would recommend these as they provide good relief and I carry them everywhere with me now just in case. I use VitaPos on a night which is a gem/cream and helps to prevent dry/scratchy eyes in the morning. Both prescribed by ophthalmologist

[Citta]

Thanks, great to know there is do much available x

[G2G2]

I use castor oil, 2x drops twice a day. Get organic, cold pressed, hexane free in a glass bottle.

[Citta in reply to G2G2]

Thank you. I’d never have thought of that. Worth a try

[G2G2 in reply to Citta]

Hope it helps! Be sure to get what I mentioned above. You don't want to put impure castor oil in your eyes. Glass bottle's essential to avoid plastic in your eyes.

[Citta in reply to G2G2]

Yes, I’m staying well away from plastic when I can. Thanks x

[Lora7again]

I used to have dry eyes when I was underactive and I used gel eye drops.

[Citta in reply to Lora7again]

Thank you. Are you no longer hypothyroid now? How did you reverse it?

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Hi,

I have mild TED with Hashimotos. I would recommend it HycoSan extra drops and lutein and zeazanthin supplements (eye complex 7 from Amazon). Another forum member Ling recommended them & they have worked for me (took about a month to work). Best wishes! 👍

[Citta]

Many thanks. I was just looking at those supplements, funny enough

[MichelleHarris]

I never knew there was all these products to try. Suffered for years. Love this site x