Do you take anything for allergies? Benedryl is drying to eyes.

I have dry eyes, recently diagnosed. I went in thinking I needed a stronger script for my contacts. Doctor said cataracts. And dry eye. He immediately took my contacts away (Cornea problem) and started treating for dry eye. (Fish oil supplement, warm compresses, gel at night, systane gel drops). After a few weeks he put punctual plugs in my tear ducts. I had never heard of Punctual Plugs, and not too sure they are much help? This all started in early February.

(I’ve also had the cataracts in both eyes removed and multi-focus lenses implanted. My second eye was just done 2 weeks ago. I consider the cataract surgery to be a miracle surgery, I can see 20/20 without glasses or contacts! )

I’ll go back in a couple weeks to see what else I’ll need to do about the dry eye.

all this because I thought I just needed a stronger script.

Ugh, sorry! Unfortunately, being older, female, and screen time are major contributors.

I use Allegra for seasonal allergies, mostly tree pollen, but I've noticed it before pollen season, maybe since the holidays.

No cataracts, and eyes are thankfully otherwise healthy.

Yes but have been helped with drops (Systane Balance) and fish oil (Nordic Naturals from Amazon). And some gentle eye massage to stimulate the tear ducts that an eye surgeon told me how to do. I do the eye massage in the shower while i still have a little non irritating cleanser on my hands.

My doctor has given me samples of evey kind of eye drop, and none of them really helped. But 2 months ago he suggested I try the Systane fish oil capsules, (got them at Walmart) which are recommended for dry eyes. They've really helped!

I have always had dry eyes. But ,was able to wear contacts etc until menopause. Then, they became drier. (If that was even possible)

I use Restasis, take the Thera Tears Omega and use over the counter Systane.

If it is mild, why not just start with over the counter? See how that goes. You can always add on the perscritpion.

I think mine are just “normal” post menopausal dry. I find I don’t notice it much as long as I drink enough water during the day. If not it becomes unbearable. I use OTC drops occasionally. Having the vents blowing a lot in the car now bothers me and that was never the case in the past.

I have dry eyes too which really only bother me when I wear my contacts. I can not wear my contacts to work (12+ hour shifts in a dry hospital environment). I use gel drops when I wear my contacts and have had the tear duct plugs done.

My MD suggested a humidifier on the bedside table. I tried it and am not sure if it helped any.

One thing that I feel has helped is wearing an eye mask at night. Eyes are not always closed all the way when sleeping and fans can be drying while sleeping. My DH'S CPAP machine blows air and that is when I started wearing the eye mask.

Maddielee, how is your close up vision? I have been putting off cataract surgery because of my fear of how that will end up. I currently have poor vision, esp distance but do take glasses off when sewing close up ( or cruising Instagram. :-) )

I have had dry eyes for about 15 years. It got so bad that I would get corneal abrasions which were very painful. I have been on Restasis for years. My doctor also prescribed Bausch and Lomb Erythromycin Ointment to use at night. It is basically vaseline in a tube. As far as I know, this is the only formulation of vaseline in a tube and that is why my doctor prescribed it. I don't need the erythromycin but he said that it is a low dose. I would get the corneal abrasions because my eyes would dry out so much at night. Apparently the eyes aren't always totally shut while asleep and that causes them to dry out. So before I go to bed, I put in Systane Balance Eye Drops and then the Bausch and Lomb ointment. This keeps my eyes from drying out at night. Also, the Systane Balance Eye Drops have mineral oil in them which is a must for me. I use the drops several times during the day. My insurance covers the Restasis and the Bausch and Lomb ointment.

Grape, I have used Vasaline on my face for years, who knew to put it close to my eyes???!!! Will try it.

Re drinking water: This too was recommended to me by my eye doctor. But.....you need to drink it slowly. This will help your body retain the water instead of it getting quickly flushed out.

I have dry skin and eyes, yet I was always okay with not drinking water. Never really thirsty.

It has taken a while for drinking water to become a habit.

I now drink one hot cup of water with a slice of lemon and then one full glass of cold water with my supplements. I gave up the morning coffee. It was decaf anyway. If I want a cup I will have it later, almost like a snack. I get a third/fourth glass of water at night.

“Maddielee, how is your close up vision? I have been putting off cataract surgery because of my fear of how that will end up. I currently have poor vision, esp distance but do take glasses off when sewing close up ( or cruising Instagram. :-) )

I can read without readers although I did increase the font on my kindle a tiny bit for long term reading sessions. I have no problems going from watching the TV across the room and reading the newspaper in my lap. And I can see the rolling news crawl at the bottom of the TV screen with no problems.

Our granddaughter graduated high school last week, I could see her smiling face from across a huge arena!

Driving and being outside doing almost anything is a pleasure, colors really are brighter!

I did get the good lenses, the ones that insurance and Medicare don’t help pay for. Dang shame because the world is a better place when you are able to see. They should be available for everyone who needs them.

Thanks for your answer but I think it just confuses me more. So you got the multi-focal lenses which are similar to multi-focal contacts. I know from experience that fitting those are a bit of a process. I always seems to see better super close up without my lenses. Getting the lens right the first time with cataract surgery worries me.

“I know from experience that fitting those are a bit of a process”

The measuring, photographing and testing my eyesight for the correct lenses took numerous visits. Completely different then I ever had done by any previous eye doctor. After the first eye was done the measuring started again for the second eye. One eye needed a toric lense, the other didn’t. It’s important that you have an opthalmologist who does lots of cataract surgeries.

edited to add: the multi focus contacts never worked for me either.

Interesting about the multi focal implants. I tried multifocal contacts and never felt like I could really see clearly like I could with glasses. I’m sure things have greatly improved since then and the implant lenses are completely different. I don’t have cataracts yet but have thought about the corrective lenses. The only person I know got mono vision lenses and I know that never worked for me with contacts.

Suggest if first drops don't work well, try another brand. Had an eye injury and tried > a dozen before finding the right combination of drops for day use and ointment at night.

Increasing the frequency of blinking may also help. Good luck.

This may help you when reading the labels.

Thanks, everyone. I just need to clarify of what I need to use when? Are the gel drops morning and night? What about the other drops? I've got a follow up for the contacts on Thursday so I will ask him then.

Lots of good info here.

RNmom - My near vision got worse with cataract surgery. The dr improved my distance vision a little but said improvement of distance vision eliminating need for glasses would have meant I wouldn’t recognize myself in the mirror without readers, I.e. my distance vision was REALLY poor before surgery.

I‘ve had dry eye for about 8 years.

Gave the gland massage a year without success so now just use Restasis plus Systane at bedtime and upon waking. I also sleep with an eye mask on which really helps. I will now try the fish oil capsules (thank you!).

I still can wear contact lenses and find they actually help prevent effects of dry eye. When I wear my glasses I’m always removing them for closeup work then find myself forgetting to put the glasses back on, which leads to eye strain. The effects of eye strain are worse than dry eye!

I have dry eye as well, though apparently not dry enough for prescription drops. I used to be under the impression that if I used eye drops too often it would not be wise or that it would make me reliant on them. A few years ago when I went for my exam, it was explained to me that I was WRONG. The Dr recommended a few brands to try and said I should use as needed and no harm in using it at all. I think initially I was using Genteal and found it very soothing. I don't wear contacts. I had Lasik over 15 years ago. Maybe 20?

Since then I have tried a few more brands and now that I know I can use them as much as needed or wanted, lately I seem to be using it less which is a nice thing. I like Soothe and a few others. I don't care for Lumify.

I have to use them right before bed time because I was sometimes almost unable to open my eyes in the middle of the night. Imagine that.

Delilah, thanks for your input. I am just afraid that I may end up with vision that I don't like! Although the thought of close to 20/20 vision sure does sound appealing. I see the MD in the fall for management of my glaucoma. I think I will bring it up again.

RNmom, I had similar concerns as I had excellent near vision prior to surgery. After ten consultations, I finally found a surgeon who allayed my fears. Now I have 20/40 distant vision and need readers for close up. Since I knew exactly what to expect, the trade off was worth it.

For anyone considering monovision lenses (contacts or implants) please ask your dr about this: A couple of years before I had cataract surgery my eyes suddenly started crossing. I didn’t know it until almost a year when I had my annual eye exam. For that year I experienced what I called lack of focus. Had to keep blinking to see straight and ended every day exhausted.

A specialist determined the only option for me was glasses with prisms. No surgery would affect the cause. <Shoulder shrug.>

After cataract surgery in 2015 I asked my surgeon about my eyes crossing. He said there was a hypothesis that having worn monovision contact lenses was a possible cause for developing crossed eyes. He said everyone is born with crossing eyes, but the brain quickly develops the ability to keep your eyes straight: it becomes an autonomic function. The use of monovision lenses switches off that autonomic function because the whole point of differential lenses is to have each eye work independently to focus at different distances. That brain function withers without exercise and in some doesn’t return. I had worn monovision lenses for several years.

I have no idea whether the theory has been proven or not.

Nannygoat, so you need readers for your cell phone? I text a fair amount and would be irritated if I need readers for that.

That was a huge concern for me as well. If i hold the phone a bit farther away, I don’t need them. You can adjust the font size on some phones as well. Finding the right surgeon was the most taxing part of the process.

I have these on the back of my cell phone case for when I’m reading a lot on my phone. Very convenient.