Relief for really dry eyes?

Morning everyone,

I was wondering if you TE ladies have any suggestions for something I can put in my eyes to help relieve extreme dryness. I wear contact lenses and use hydrogen peroxide solution to clean them as well as a hydrating rinse and that used to do the trick when I lived in a humid climate. The humidity where I am now is typically less than 10% and by mid afternoon I feel like my contacts are little crunchy discs stuck to my corneas. I try to clean and relube them before riding (or don't wear them at all if it's going to stay light enough and I know the route) but I always come back with really really red eyes and they burn like I've been swimming in a chlorinated pool. I put gel drops in them at night but I still am getting up in the morning with dry red eyes. I've also tried allergy drops and red eye relief drops but nothing works. And I haven't found any good drops yet that I can put in when I am wearing my contacts either.

So I am wondering what y'all do for irritated eyes and if there is any good drop to help relieve the redness and irritation.

Thanks in advance!

Hmmm...there was another thread recently about contacts and moisturizing drops. Might want to take a peek at that one.

I use Blink for Contacts at the recommendation of my eye doc. I can and do use them with my contacts in. Might be worth seeing if it will work with your contacts.

FWIW my eye doc told me not to use the red eye relief drops. She said they aren't compatible with contacts, and that they can make itching worse because they get rid of red by constricting blood vessels (or something like that).

This is the recent related thread.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=42740

I bought some Blink drops last week -- the regular ones. Have only used them once so far.

I got the regular ones because I wanted something I could use at night and first thing in the morning, when I'm not wearing my contacts. However there is no mention of whether you can use them if you put contact lenses in later, so I called the 800 number on the box to ask them. They told me that Blink for Contacts is similar to the regular drops but is thinner to prevent blurriness. You can use the regular drops while wearing contacts, but you might have "transient blurriness" so it's important not to use the drops while driving (or doing anything else that requires you to see) if you have your contacts in. I got the impression that the problem would go away after a few minutes.

Also you can use the Blink drops (regular or for contacts) as needed throughout the day. So you might want to try that.

If you're not able to find OTC drops that help, I would go to an eye doctor to see if they can prescribe something, or perhaps discuss getting a different type of lenses.

I didn't look at the other thread, but an eye doctor can tell you if you have a problem with your eyes actually producing enough tears. If that is the case, then there are a couple of things they can do including plugging the lower tear ducts (not painful) to keep the tears in your eyes, or there is a prescription eye drop called Restasis (expensive if you don't have insurance) that helps your eyes produce tears (in very non-medical terminology.)

I have tried both. The plugs helped, but I could never keep the things in. I would inevitably rub my eyes too hard, and next thing I knew they weren't in there anymore.

The Restasis drops have helped a lot. I used to have to keep a bottle of drops with me at all times, but now I rarely use drops at all. They have a rewards program that helps with the cost of the co-pay and sends you freebies every so many prescriptions - a bottle of drops once and a $20 Target gift card recently.

I have to use drops for dry eyes but I have to take out my contacts for 10 minutes while I use them. If I don't use them, I blink my contacts out when I ride (and I'm blind without them...I couldn't get home). I don't think there is much of anything besides contact rewetting drops or plain old saline that you can use with the contacts still in.

There are some newer contacts that are made with water or gel in them that are supposed to keep your eyes from drying out? I can't remember the brand (I can't wear them b/c of eye allergies) but it might be something to ask your optometrist about.

Sorry I missed the other thread! I scrolled down in the forum, but apparently my mind just blocked it right out.

I got the Blink drops and they are GREAT. Used them last night on my really windy ride and my eyes were comfy the whole time. I think I am going to get a second bottle so I can keep one in the under seat bag for rest stops.

Thanks again!

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Originally Posted by westtexas

I think I am going to get a second bottle so I can keep one in the under seat bag for rest stops.

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I might do the same. I've had a couple of rides lately where my eyes felt irritated, I think by sweat running into them. Nothing major, but annoying enough that I think eye drops could make me happier. Also I think I will try putting lip balm under my eyebrows to keep the sweat away.

Glad the drops worked for you!!

Thanks ny biker for the thread link.. Looking for this one for my mother.. Thanks again!

Late to this party, but Coopervision Proclear lenses are allowed by the FDA to state that they may provide improved comfort for contact lens wearers who experience mild discomfort or symptoms relating to dryness during lens wear.®

I don't have anything to compare them with, but my eye doc says she prefers them because we live in dry dry dry Utah.

NOT during the day. It will blur your vision. I use Similisan drops during the day, and a drop or two of castor oil at night. The oil soaks in well. Don't have to use it all the time; only during allergy season, but it helps regular drops work better. Do your own research tho before you decide.

I didn't read the other thread, but another suggestion would be wear more protective glasses. I wear Wiley X sunglasses and they have a foam insert and makes them into googles. It really helps keep the wind out of my eyes. Others have gave good advice about using drops. If you use drops frequently, you might want to look into preservative free drops. The Target brand is much cheaper than other brands and they work well.

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Originally Posted by malkin

Late to this party, but Coopervision Proclear lenses are allowed by the FDA to state that they may provide improved comfort for contact lens wearers who experience mild discomfort or symptoms relating to dryness during lens wear.®

I don't have anything to compare them with, but my eye doc says she prefers them because we live in dry dry dry Utah.

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These are actually the lenses I already have.

And I do have pretty protective glasses - My Tifosis cover nearly the entire orbital socket.

I think the answer may just be to save up for Lasik!

I can no longer wear contacts due to dry eyes. Restasis and punctal plugs also did not work for me. I use Boiron drops occasionally. However, the biggest help with dryness in my eyes and in my entire menopausal body has been fish oil, with omega 3. I take 3-4 2g capsules daily. The brand I use is Nutraceutical. No fishy taste!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by westtexas

These are actually the lenses I already have.

And I do have pretty protective glasses - My Tifosis cover nearly the entire orbital socket.

I think the answer may just be to save up for Lasik!

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Head's up, lasik does not help dry eye, it makes it worse - at least it did for me!

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Originally Posted by spokewench

Head's up, lasik does not help dry eye, it makes it worse - at least it did for me!

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me, too. Granted, I'm only 3 weeks out from my lasik surgery, but the dry eyes are worse than before- especially in the morning. I even had the bladeless lasik which is supposed to be better for dry eyes than the blade kind.


Refresh Optive is really helping, tho. I use it on my rides, too when my eyes start getting dry.

I am a long-time contact lens wearer and have had dry-eye issues for probably 5-6 years as well (I'm 31). On the advice of my eye doctor, I recently switched to daily lenses (Acuvue Trueye) and while they haven't *solved* the problem, they have definitely reduced my eye irritation from day to day. Also considerably more expensive, though.