> Does anyone know where I can obtain preservative-free eye drops? The
> preservative that is common to all the various medications (
> Benzalkonium Chloride) is making me quite sick. If I can't get
> preservative-free drops then more surgery is my only option, and my
> operations to date have turned out badly. Help would be hugely
> appreciated. Gregg
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Gregg: Greetings!
I use an Allergan eyedrop product called "Refresh Celluvisc" which is
packaged into very small individual doses. A box of 30 of these
single-use containers is a couple of bucks.
The only thing in them is salt water and a soluble cellulose, which
increases the viscosity to help lubricate the eye. (Some therapeutic
drops also include a viscosity-increasing component to cause the
active ingredients to remain in the eye longer.)
These drops are specifically designed to to allow a user to "...avoid
the use of potentially irritating preservatives found in some bottled
eye drops." (From the package label.)
I suspect that there are other manufacturers of similar products.
Good luck!
earle
(I am an engineer and not a health-care professional.)
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