I didn't get any responses last time so thought I'd try again, I'm in so much pain! I think (hope) that my PHTN is in remission because for a few months I haven't had any face/teeth/stabbing eye pain. But my eyes are extremely dry and painful. I use TheraTear eye drops every two hours, the problem is the oil under my lower eyelid is just stuck there. It's either from the TN, or just plain dryness, or 10 years of the same blood pressure medicine (I switched 2 months ago to something that doesn't have dry eyes as a side effect). My eye doctor is very hesitant to give my anti-inflammatory eye drops due to the PHTN. What sort of eye drops do you use? Especially those of you with PHTN? Thanks so much!!! From Susan in Eyeball Land
Hi Sue, I haven't been around for a while, so I am not "new" but have you tried seeing an opthalmologist? I don't, personally, think it is a good idea to use eye drops that other people recomment if you have a special eye problem. I see you have seen the eye specialist, suggest you go again an insist how serious it is. Sometime doctors need a hard nudge.
I just wanted to get an idea of what people use for dry eyes, especially those with PHTN. Eye doctors just don't understand PHTN, she keeps pushing me to get my eyes dilated (she actually said for me to come back when she will let me have my eyes dilated). With PHTN and dry eyes, I don't want to do that yet. I think if I saw her again for dry eyes, she MIGHT let me have some eye drops if I have some information about what others with these eye problems use.
dsm said:
Hi Sue, I haven't been around for a while, so I am not "new" but have you tried seeing an opthalmologist? I don't, personally, think it is a good idea to use eye drops that other people recomment if you have a special eye problem. I see you have seen the eye specialist, suggest you go again an insist how serious it is. Sometime doctors need a hard nudge.
Sue, I have no idea if you are allowed to use this with all your problems. Last year I had Shingles which entered my right eye. I had treatment which saved my sight but, it left me with dry eyes. I bought an over the counter eye spray which you spray onto closed eyes. I found this such a comfort and helped me immensely. I hope you find some relief soon.
I have an inherited eye problem called blepharitis. In short, it is dry, irritated eyes that itch and can get goo where I have to use a wet warm compress in the mornings. It is mainly from the oils on my eyelids.
What you have may at least be related, so perhaps what I do will help you too.
Mine can be controlled by washing my eyelids 3 to 4 times a day with baby shampoo to get rid of the accumulated oils on the lids & then regular use of lubricating eye drops. Blink tears has been most effective for me.
Best of luck,
Pam
I've used Rx eye drops with ketorolac in them before without a problem. Are you just needing drops for dryness or for pain? Years ago when I had a problem with crusty eyelids that wouldn't seem to get better. I was told to use baby shampoo to wash my lashes with a soft washcloth and then rinse well and it finally got better after a few days of using this routine. Best of luck!
I think my PHTN is in remission and my eyes are just extremely dry now. The eye doctor said she saw a layer of deep under my lower eyelids that just isn't going anywhere. I do lid cleansing, etc. and she said I don't have "crusties"anymore and the tear situation is good. It's been this improved for about six months. I'm hoping changing my blood pressure medicine two months ago will make a difference but so far it hasn't. I still have white discharges coming out a little on the insidecorners of both eyes. I cleanse my eyelids under the showerhead every morning to massage them, then wipe them off with the washcloth, put in eye drops every 2 hours, and use a qtip to massage up the oils. I have mosture in my eyes, the problem is no oil,. I haven't seen a movie in over three years!!! Thanks for responding to my email. P.S. Living at 6300 feet in the high windy desert isn't helping, but I wouldn't live anyplace else on earth if you paid me!
Sagebrush Sue (the Desert Rat)
How about omega 3 fish oil supplements?
I use Systane Ultra Lubricant eye drops for my dry eyes.
When I'm having severe problems with it I use the gel stuff.
Went thru a lot with the dry eyes, these drops have been a lifesaver to me.
Maddy
Momof3 said:
How about omega 3 fish oil supplements?
If you can, an ophthalmologist is the way to go. They can give you advice on the best drops for your situation and if needed, a prescription eye drop. If the problem is serious they can also check for any scarring. I use Thera tears also but I just started having dry eyes and it's not that advanced. They can also tell you things that another doc can't. For example, my husband was diagnosed with a rare form of arthritis by an ophthalmologist! All of a sudden he couldn't see and had to be taken to the doctor and this particular arthritis presents as a distinct type of iritis. It's just an example but you don't want to gamble with your vision. My mother swears by the gel. She has bad dry eyes and she has to use the artificial tears gel (at night) and a prescription strength drop.
I use Restasis, you will have to get a prescription, sort of expensive , but the only thing that will help my eyes. See an opthamologist .
I have also used Restasis, for me it was bad. I gave it a year and they just got worse.
That is when I started on the Systane ( Dr. gave me Sample)
I have also had tear duct plugs put in but they just don't stay for me.
Everyone is different, anything is worth a try.
Maddy xxOxx
Sue said:
I use Restasis, you will have to get a prescription, sort of expensive , but the only thing that will help my eyes. See an opthamologist .
My eyes get very dry from my meds and sometimes my mouth and throat too. EXTREMELY dry. I finally found some artificial tears from Walgreen's that seem to work best for me. I don't have to use them but once or twice a night where the other brands I had to use several times a night. And I use that Biotene mouthwash for my mouth and it helps.
So sorry you are not feeling well Susan. I’m afraid I can’t be much help- I have some prescribed allergy eye drops but that’s it. I still have extremely dry eyes (from connective tissue disease) and the drops stop the itchiness, but when my TN flares up I can never get rid of the feeling that bleach is being pored into my eye. Good luck in eyeball land!
I had a client with terrible dry eyes and expensive medicated eye drops did nothing. Finally an eye doctor put plugs in her tear ducts and she could tell a difference that day. I had never heard to such a treatment but it was just what she needed to manage the dryness.
Hi Susan, what do you mean by PHTN? Pulmonary Hypertension or some form of Trigeminal Neuralgia? I too have severe dry eyes and just two weeks ago went to get new glasses and my eye doctor told me most of my dry eyes are problably caused by the pain meds I take for my trigeminal neuralgia. First time I heard that! She recommended Systane Gel Eyedrops before bed and first thing in the morning, and Systane Balance during the day, though I have to admit, I was using the Systane Ultra eyedrops already and like those better than the Balance eyedrops so perhaps whatever works best for you. She also told me to make sure to get plenty of water everyday (2 qts), as well as eat lots of vegetables such as carrots that have a lot of water in them. She also said to take a good Fish Oil capsule twice a day as that will help keep the needed oil in your eyes. Hope that helps, Jack
PHTN usually means post herpetic trigeminal neuralgia (like after having the shingles). What if you are vegetarian and don't do fish oils?
Jack said:
Hi Susan, what do you mean by PHTN? Pulmonary Hypertension or some form of Trigeminal Neuralgia? I too have severe dry eyes and just two weeks ago went to get new glasses and my eye doctor told me most of my dry eyes are problably caused by the pain meds I take for my trigeminal neuralgia. First time I heard that! She recommended Systane Gel Eyedrops before bed and first thing in the morning, and Systane Balance during the day, though I have to admit, I was using the Systane Ultra eyedrops already and like those better than the Balance eyedrops so perhaps whatever works best for you. She also told me to make sure to get plenty of water everyday (2 qts), as well as eat lots of vegetables such as carrots that have a lot of water in them. She also said to take a good Fish Oil capsule twice a day as that will help keep the needed oil in your eyes. Hope that helps, Jack
Yes, its post herpetic trigeminal neuralgia. I think I'm in remission from that and now its just dry eyes from living in the desert. I use Thera Tears for sensitive eyes every two hours. The problem is the oil that is in my lower eyelids won't come up. I also put warm compresses on my eyes and massage them. I used for 10 years a blood pressure medicine that has dry eyes as a side effect, I've been off them for 5 months now and my eyes do a little better with TV and the computer. I take extra strength fish oil every day and eats lots of salmon, my bladder is so inflamed that if I drank even one quart of water a day I would never leave the bathroom. Right now I would dance naked in Macys window at high noon to get this oil to cover my eyeballs!
Jack said:
Hi Susan, what do you mean by PHTN? Pulmonary Hypertension or some form of Trigeminal Neuralgia? I too have severe dry eyes and just two weeks ago went to get new glasses and my eye doctor told me most of my dry eyes are problably caused by the pain meds I take for my trigeminal neuralgia. First time I heard that! She recommended Systane Gel Eyedrops before bed and first thing in the morning, and Systane Balance during the day, though I have to admit, I was using the Systane Ultra eyedrops already and like those better than the Balance eyedrops so perhaps whatever works best for you. She also told me to make sure to get plenty of water everyday (2 qts), as well as eat lots of vegetables such as carrots that have a lot of water in them. She also said to take a good Fish Oil capsule twice a day as that will help keep the needed oil in your eyes. Hope that helps, Jack
There are a lot of reasons for dry eyes, but dry eyes may sometimes be part of the sicca symptoms that characterize sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune condition that is under-diagnosed. It's worth asking your doctor about sjogren's if your eyes are still troubling you, particularly if you also have salivary issues.
Hi, I’m new here, but Iwanted to put in. I wear an occlusion contact in one eye and it gets VERY dry. My ophthalmologist recommended a solution called Oasis tears. It is a glycerin based solution similar to a gel, and stays on the eye much longer. A little pricey compared to other drops but well worth it! Also he showed me the way to get the drops to cover the eye better; put the tip of the bottle near the inner corner of your eye, not touching of course but so the main part of the bottle is leaning near your nose, and look the opposite direction. Don’t immediately close your eye after he drop, but move your eyes left to right a few times first. Then close, and keep them closed for a moment to give it a chance to sink in. I’m getting a lot of relief this way.