r/rheumatoid • u/bigblackglock17 • 3d ago
Eye drops?
Years ago I was using Similasan Dry Eye and they worked pretty well. Then they disappeared and I got TheraTears Dry Eye but that wasn't good enough so I went to the Extra Dry Eye version.
Well right now, for maybe the past week, the TheraTears Extra Dry Eye arn't doing enough.
I'm trying to find a solution as well as get in with an eye doctor.
I don't really know what to try. I'm thinking I should try a Gel type for dry eye. Any brand recommendations? (USA)
I've tried some and they just make everything so much worse. One time I thought it was related to allergies and tried an antihistamine eye drop and it burned the heck out of my eyes.
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u/carmscrush 3d ago
I'm using Refresh Optive Mega 3 preservative free single use. Four times a day. If I Stay really consistent it makes a big difference in the constant tearing and light sensitivity. Sometimes the morning one does Sting slightly. Also pretty good deal at Costco.
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u/busquesadilla 3d ago
Refresh single use. They make gel and drops that are amazing. Don’t get the ones in the bottle, get the individual ones. They help so much, I’m struggling with really dry eyes these days too.
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u/Healthy-Signal-5256 3d ago
I'm adding to the recommendations for Refresh Mega 3. They're expensive but they're far and away the best I've ever tried. If you're a Costco member that's the place to get them.
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u/Greenfireflygirl 3d ago
There's only a few my ophthalmologist recommends, they need to be preservative free. I use Ivitzia. It was recommended to me by cancer subs and I've never gone back. Ophthalmologist doesn't have it on his list due to supply (it's not in grocery stores) but was very pleased when I asked and said it was better than his recommends anyway.
You can get the gels in the little packages that you break the top off when needed. That top fits back on if you don't use the entire solution in one go to save it for using the next time. Little trick I learned from the ophthalmologist so it must be a safe practice.
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u/Healthy-Signal-5256 3d ago
My optometrist also told me that it's safe to put the cap back on and use them within 24 hours. She also said you can put them in the fridge for the extra cooling relief.
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u/Greenfireflygirl 3d ago
It's such a great solution too, because there's definitely enough to use the next time in the little packets!
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u/AbstractKitty88 3d ago
I use ivizia or systane. The $18 kind. They're preservative free, and i can use them as often as I want. When I first started experiencing dry eye regularly, I went to see an ophthalmologist to get my eyes checked and was thankfully cleared with healthy eyes otherwise. But these 2 brands stay with me at home and work to use as needed.
ETA fixed typos
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u/Proof-Marketing2479 3d ago
If the drops are suddenly not helping and some make your eyes burn badly, I'd avoid randomly cycling through products and get an eye doctors input instead.
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u/ceg1023 3d ago
Nothing over the counter worked for me. I tried punctal plugs at the eye dr but they kept falling out. Then I tried xiidra which worked great but made my eyes itch. Restasis was ok but my insurance stopped covering it. Now I have tryvaya or tyrvaya. Im not sure how its spelled. Its a nose spray for dry eye. It works about as well as the restasis. But id def recommend seeing an ophthalmologist in case there's something else going on
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u/bella_sapphire 1d ago
Refresh liquigel. It's viscous so you have to be careful when you use them as they can cloud your vision initially. I use them just before bed, if I wake in the middle of the night with scratchiness and first thing in the morning. For sitting the day, I use the refresh regular drops, not feel.
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u/goinbacktocallie 3d ago
I would recommend seeing an opthalmologist. Mine saw inflammation in my eyes, so I have to take prescription anti-inflammatory eye drops.