Need help w/severe dry eyes | Arthritis Information

I've had RA and sjorgen syndrone for years, and recently my eyes have become irritatingly dry. Because of dexterity and range of motion issues, I'm not able to apply drops myself, and I live alone.

I figured out though, if I lie down, I can sorta manage to apply eye drops, but I still have trouble squeezing the bottle/or individual applicator.

So, first of all, can someone recommend otc drops for severe dry eye and also a night ointment. I have a cousin that lives nearby, so when she comes over, I'll have to have her put some drops in.

Also, can you recommend an eye drop that comes in a easy to squeeze container, that I can try to use myself.

In the past, I've used the no preservative kind.

Thanks in advance.

I use refresh tears. They also make a night ointment.The night ointments are very helpful either day or night, although it leaves your eyes blurry for a while.
I use Restasis and it works well, but is very expensive and when my samples are gone that will be the end of restasis.
Good luck Joy. I did not realize that your RA had left you so limited Joy and I am so sorry.
Huggin ya!
Hi Joie
Sorry to hear you are suffering so bad with the dry eyes...

I've discovered this spray called

Tears Again I've heard alot of good about the Restasis. That is nice that your neighbor can help you. Glad you are still breathing!!!

Jan
How about the plugs they put in your tear ducts? Someone here at work got them and they really helped.I had the ducts put in and they did do a bit of good. You really need to see an opthomologist since there are things that they can prescribe. Restasis is the popular choice for drops but I did not have real success with it. Mr eye dr. said that he has a less than 50% success rate with it.Joie - my eye doctor has me start my day by holding warm/hot washcloth presses to the eyes for 30-40 seconds, three times.

He has me use Sustane drops. He says they lasts about 40 minutes. That surprised me - I was using way too little, and have now really upped the number of times I use eye drops every day.

Lastly, he showed me how to wash your eyes in the shower. Close your eyes and wash from the brow down to the cheek bones, moving your fingers back and forth. Then tip your head back into the spray to rinse. It keeps the soap from getting in your eyes. So I do that with each shower.

Good luck. Cathy
Everyone -- thanks so much for all the advice and great suggestions. I sorta neglected taking care of my eyes, one more thing to do, and it can take me a while to do a simple task, but they were really getting bothersome and affecting my reading! So time to take action.

I've seen an eye doc. I rather do otc drops than restasis, its so expensive, and I might not use it, so I'll try drops and ointments first. GG, thanks for suggesting using "night" ointment during the day. Duh, why not, I imagine once it dissolves, its no longer so blurry, and it must be soothing. So, I'll give that a shot.

Anna, I'll look for that spray, I'm gonna buy several different products, and see which is the easiest to use.   Will buy some flaxseed oil too, I know thats suppose to be helpful for RA and SS. Funny thing, my sister use to work for Spectrum Oils, a company that made flaxseed oil -- wish she still worked for them, then I could get it for free.

Wanttobe, I mentioned those plugs to my eye doc my last visit, and he said some folks find them irritating, I thought he was discouraging, so will try a regiment of drops and ointments, do some research on the plugs, and if dryness doesn't improve, ask him again next time I see him.

Cathy, the hot washcloth, is a simple, easy thing to do. I gotta get more disciplined and set up a routine. I do that occassionally, but need to do it several times a day.  Sustane is a good product too, I've used some samples.

Everyone thanks for all your helpful suggestions, hope you all are doing well, and the SS and RA are being kind to ya.   Take care.

Hugs, Joy (aka Joie)

My opthamologist said his other patients hadn't had any kind of success with Restasis and he didn't recommend it, he said it cost too much to not work. He gave me samples for Refresh Liquigel, it's OTC, but I have to agree it's so hard to squeeze the bottles. Maybe you could get an eye dropper, the bulb on it would be easier to squeeze.
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