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Sjogren's Syndrome
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Posted 10/5/2015 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
May I ask what kinds of eye drops everyone uses?
For years and years I've used Systane Ultra High Performance. 4-6 times a day. But then my eye doctor told me to stop because it has preservatives in it. So now I use Thera-Tears (preservative-free) but I'm not impressed. Sometimes I feel like it just sits there instead of my eyes absorbing it.
Posted 10/5/2015 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
I use Tears Naturale II for daytime use and GenTeal Gel before bedtime.
Posted 10/6/2015 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
Systane ultra ,I use and my eye doc told me about it.

Did not care about preservatives as all eye drops have it for extended shelf life.
Systane has other variety too.
Posted 10/6/2015 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
I love Systane and am bummed my doctor told me to stop using it. That's interesting to me that you don't care about the preservatives. He told me that the amount I was using could possibly be damaging my eyes. I was shocked.
Oh yes. I use the night-time Systane (the Vaseline-like kind) as well as the "anytime protection" gel drops and the "restorative formula" Balance. I clearly am a fan!
Posted 10/6/2015 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Preservatives dry the eyes -- the very last thing a Sjogren's patient needs more of.

You need something that says EYE LUBRICANT.
Posted 10/6/2015 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
...
Are you kidding me?
...
That's ridiculous. That's like a diabetes medicine raising blood sugar. Or something like that. Doctor didn't tell me it dried my eyes, he just said it damaged them. I'm blown away by this.
Posted 10/7/2015 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
Was not aware of such fine details,need to be careful.
Posted 10/24/2015 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
I like Blink, GenTeal, sometimes Refresh, and use Prescription Pred Forte when needed...

always use natural, dye free eye drops...I agree with Lynnwood...
Try GenTeal it's good!
Posted 10/24/2015 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
The Restasis works the best, but I am not rich, so I can't afford the stuff!!
Posted 10/26/2015 3:46 PM (GMT 0)

Lynnwood said...
Preservatives dry the eyes -- the very last thing a Sjogren's patient needs more of.

You need something that says EYE LUBRICANT.

Aww, nuts. This bottle of Thera-Tears does say "lubricant eye drops" but I just don't like them. I am hesitant to take something other than what my eye doc told me to take, but I feel like it ain't cutting it.
Posted 10/26/2015 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Try the GenTeal. I think you'll like it better.
Posted 10/28/2015 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
I am going to try Genteal ,my eyes are extremely dry and weird .

Lupus flare makes it much weirder .....

I have Systane and seems to fail for my dryness ......
Posted 10/28/2015 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
I too plan on checking out GenTeal when I get groceries this week.
Posted 10/30/2015 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
Slider, just because retasis says they are tops for dry eyes, this is false info in fact many eye doctors have found them disappointing for their patients. Now this does not mean they will not work good for you, but that they are "not" the cure all as the doctors hoped they would be. Sometimes the less expensive drops help better. Try genteal...also retasis has an online help site if you wish to try them, go to retasis.com, you might find help paying for them...the first few times with retsais they do burn a little...they did not help me and I have the dryest eye going, that my eye doctor could do a thesis on me...I have tried it all...plus I have had upper and lower eye lid plugs in my eyes...usually only lower plugs are place, but that's how dry my eyes are. Before that I was going thru eye plugs every 5-6 months and that gets expensive! I have had that paper test done without the doctor being able to get one tear...
Try the GenTeal or muro...
Posted 11/2/2015 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Well, shoot. I checked out Genteal and it didn't say they were preservative-free. My eye doctor wants me on preservative-free eye drops. I love my Systane but he told me to stop that. Shoot!
Posted 11/2/2015 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Humm.

When my eye Dr said preservative-free, GenTeal was one of the "ALLOWED" brands he listed.

Did he give you a list or any other direction?

I think my directions were something like:
1) non-medicated
2) lubricating
3) preservative-free
plus a list of good ones was provided.

Maybe you can call his office and get more information.
Posted 11/2/2015 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like I'll have to call his office. He just told me to stop my Systane because after 3-4 times using it in my day, it starts to damage my eyes. He also put me on vitamin D.
This is because my eyes progressively get worse throughout the day. I'd been taking this supplement (coromega D3) that did me no good. So he said I could stop that, try the vitamin D, and the new Thera-Tears. Nothing's changed.
Posted 11/2/2015 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
Sky, your right, looked it up and GenTeal uses something called a vanishing preservative, but it's still an acceptable drop to use, just don't use it often. However if the Thera-Tears don't help then ReFresh is a preservative free eye drop by Alleagan.
ReFresh is an acceptable drop and is preservative free...

Look into a supplement that is a cod fish oil supplement called "Right for the Macula" This is a good supplement and it's helped me...Parsley an herb is also good for the eye health...add parsley into your diet!
Posted 11/3/2015 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
I think that's why my doc wanted me to stop the Systane... I use my drops at least 6 times a day. So I don't know if I'd be better off getting the GenTeal anyway if I'd have to use it in moderation. Thank you for finding that out!
Posted 11/16/2015 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Just seeing this about the eye drops. I have been using the Systane Balance. So from what I am reading if we use it too much, it can cause eye problems? Does anyone know what kind of problems?

The three the doctor recommended were Systane Balance, Blink and Optive Advanced (he circled the 3). If I remember correctly the Optive made my eyes burn. The list I have also shows the Genteal but he did not circle that one just the three I mentioned. I wonder why he chose those three only.
Posted 11/16/2015 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
That's a good question, why those 3 in particular?
I LOVE my Systane and I was so disheartened when my eye doctor told me to stop them. He said that after using them more than 3 times in a day it "damages" my eyes. I don't know if I believe that but I was really upset because I've been loyally using them for a decade.
Posted 11/16/2015 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know. Some doctors seem to support certain medications, maybe they get samples.

Did the doctor specify what type of damages?
Posted 11/16/2015 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
Lynnwood mentioned that preservatives can dry out the eye, which is the opposite of what we want. But my doc didn't tell me what damage, he just told me to stop.
Posted 11/16/2015 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe I should find one without a preservative. I am assuming the Systane Balance has that because when I looked it up, it did not indicate it was preservative free.
Posted 11/17/2015 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
I just looked at my bottle of Balance and you're right, I don't believe it's preservative-free. I tell you though, my new preservative-free drops don't compare to my regular Systane. Maybe it's just me but the Systane seems to provide more for me.
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