Optase Eye Products for Dry Eyes

Ever since I started taking latanoprost eye drops for ocular hypertension, my eyes are very dry. Add to that all day iPad reading and painting and it does take a toll. So I’ve been using regular eye drops three times per day. There were at least three instances in the winter where I woke up at night and it felt like a knife was in my eye after having difficulty even opening it. So I poured eye drops in to it fir relief. It took a few days to get back to normal. I had a corneal scratch one time from contact lenses and it felt like that. So the eye doctor prescribed using Optase products. One is an eye mask that warms in the microwave and is worn for ten minutes. The next is a gel to massage your eye lid. Then there are the eye drops that are more intense from the other routine eye drops for dry eyes. This regimen seems to offer some relief - but it’s summer and more humid rather than dry in winter. So when I was reordering some of the products I noticed a spray and thought I would give it a try. The first squirts seemed to do the trick. So I tried it again before bed. I woke up with severe pain in my right eye. I don’t know if it was coincidental, but I’m very hesitant to use the spray again. But why only one eye? Now I also have a cream that is used for these times when my cornea feels abused - again. My eye still bothers me today and it can be very frustrating. My vision gets blurred because it’s just so dry. Now my daily routine is eye drops when I wake up, hot pack and eyelid massage and more drops after a shower, after dinner, prescription drops at night, and more eye drops before bedtime. Getting old is a pain. Yes, it could be worse but this is just one thing to be concerned about. 

MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Systane Ultra

This has been the week for doctor appointments. It's bad because it is never a good way to spend time, but good because I take off work. In Milwaukee it was so easy to get to the eye doctor, but it always takes such a long time to get through the eye drops, the peripheral vision exams, the picture taking session, the pressure readings, the refraction tests, and the actual eye exam regardless of where it is. Make that "times two" because I go with my husband. We always plan these appointments for the first time slot after lunch. That way, we don't have to fight the rush hour traffic that takes us an hour to go about three miles. We do need to leave at least forty five minutes ahead of time because there is always a delay. This time there was construction and road closures right around Washington Hospital Center that took us on a detour. Once we reached the parking structure, we were finally on our way. The parking levels are now marked with pictures since it is so easy to get lost in this tertiary care facility. We go here because we like our doctor, but really don't care for the campus - it's just too much trouble for a simple office visit.  But I don't see us changing that any time soon. Everything was "a- ok" on this visit, except that I was told I have dry eyes. I can't say I really noticed it and was assured that it is "a natural part of the aging process." So I was given a sample of Systane Ultra lubricant eye drops. I'm just glad I don't need cataract surgery any time soon. Then I'd really start to feel old. I suppose that's a part of the normal aging process too. I don't particularly like it.