Dry Eyes Supersoft Paraffin?

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herbwormwood - 14 Apr 2005 18:55 GMT

Has anyone tried Supersoft paraffin for dry eyes? My eye doctor has given me
a tube for at night but I am a bit wary about using petroleum based products.
Any personal stories on this would be much appreciated.
Thanks

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Shelagh - 14 Apr 2005 20:25 GMT

Nope haven't heard of that one.... please let me know if you do try it and
how it works out for you though! My sjogrens hits my eyes worst of all!
hugs from Shelagh

> Has anyone tried Supersoft paraffin for dry eyes? My eye doctor has given
> me
> a tube for at night but I am a bit wary about using petroleum based
> products.
> Any personal stories on this would be much appreciated.
> Thanks

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herbwormwood - 15 Apr 2005 09:53 GMT

Thanks for the hugs, that is so nice.
How do you cope with computers? My dry eyes came on about 10 years after I
had been using computers fairly extensively, I find now I cannot go too long
looking at the screen.
I will try the SSP soon as I have nearly finished my tube of Viscotears. I
keep the viscotears and the hypromellose beside the bed as I can only put the
drops in when I am lying down.
What do you use?

> Nope haven't heard of that one.... please let me know if you do try it and
> how it works out for you though! My sjogrens hits my eyes worst of all!
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>> Any personal stories on this would be much appreciated.
>> Thanks

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Shelagh - 15 Apr 2005 19:09 GMT

The computer is one of the most aggravating factors in my life for my eyes!
That and the fluorescent lighting in the stores as well as any extended
intense activity such as tv, movie and even reading too long; but the
computer screen is the worst <sigh>!
I use 'clear gel' which is exactly that, a gel which lasts so much longer
than drops and doesn't blur the eyes like ointments can... also use refresh
for a quick use if I am up during the night and my eyes are 'gungy' they
just clear them out and cool them off for the moment till I go back to
sleep.
Please do let me know about how the new product works okay?
(((some more hugs for you)))
from Shelagh
"herbwormwood" wrote in message

> Thanks for the hugs, that is so nice.
> How do you cope with computers? My dry eyes came on about 10 years after I
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> drops in when I am lying down.
> What do you use?

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herbwormwood - 19 Apr 2005 09:55 GMT

I tied the Supersoft parafffin last night and the night before. I found it
hard to apply, but I find all eye products hard t o apply! It seemed more
difficult than others. It was very sticky and I did not find it helpful My
eyes seemed more sore the next morning.
The eye dr said throw it away if you don't like it so I think I will.

> The computer is one of the most aggravating factors in my life for my eyes!
> That and the fluorescent lighting in the stores as well as any extended
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>> drops in when I am lying down.
>> What do you use?

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Shelagh - 19 Apr 2005 18:04 GMT

Thanks for the feedback on it... maybe one day something better/newer will
come out;
FWIW, I did have the punctal plugs put in my eyes a year ago or more, and
they improved my eyes by about 80% at least! well worth the $132.00 charge
for 2 IMO!
They were put into the two lower tear drainage ducts as 90% of the fluid in
our eyes leaves that way, not through the upper 2; it isn't recommended to
get the 4 of them and I did find that they improved my 'quality' of life
significantly!
I use so much less of the eye drops/gel and all;
And really the only time I now need the products is during a bad flare or
infection when I am flaring systemically cause everything gets involved
then.
Good luck with your quest, and I'd suggest looking into the punctal plugs!!
HTH!
hugs from shelagh

>I tied the Supersoft parafffin last night and the night before. I found it
> hard to apply, but I find all eye products hard t o apply! It seemed more
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>>> drops in when I am lying down.
>>> What do you use?

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Dick Chequer - 21 Apr 2005 13:44 GMT

> Thanks for the feedback on it... maybe one day something better/newer will
> come out;
[quoted text clipped - 48 lines]
>>>>drops in when I am lying down.
>>>>What do you use?

Hello, I hope you don't mind my moving in on your chat.

I have had dry eyes for decades and no medic ever takes it seriously.
Apparently the chemistry of tears is complex and is difficult to copy
artificially so you need to get your tear glands working again. I think
another problem is that almost all eye drops contain Benzalkonium
Chloride which is corrosive. In "normal" people, it gets washed away
with tears but with dry eyes it builds up causing irritation.
Paradoxically putting in more eyedrops makes it worse, because it just
builds up the Ben Chlor. Bathing the eye in ice cold water is more help,
or use saline, made fresh daily.

A friend has put me on to Glucosamine Sulphate (taken orally). Athletes
take it, or folks with problems with aches and pains in joints, but it
has the side effect of making the eyes wet. I have been taking it for
the last 5 weeks and the effect has been very beneficial - I am of an
age when aches and pains in joints are quite common. It is glorious
having wet eyes and it helps your sight as well.

Hope this is of interest.

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herbwormwood - 22 Apr 2005 11:13 GMT

>> Thanks for the feedback on it... maybe one day something better/newer will
>> come out;
[quoted text clipped - 69 lines]
>
> Hope this is of interest.

I had suspected there might be something in the eye drops which was
counterproductive. Do you know whether Benzalkonium
Chloride is in Hypromellose drops and Viscotears liquid gel?
Thanks for the suggestion about Glucosamine , it is quite popular here in UK
but I am a Vegan and refuse to take any new preparations which involve animal
ingredients (I decided when I became a Vegan a few years back I would
continue taking medications I am already on but would not take any more non
vegan ones unless there was a life threatening reason to). Glucosamine
contains animal ingredients mostly, I think there is a veggie version out now
but I believe it is expensive.
Water does not really seem to help my eyes, but I would be interested in any
natural remedies. I don't want to try the plugs, sorry I know some people
find relief from them but I find the idea frightening, and repellant, sorry
all who have plugs, no offence meant . Also my eyes are only really bad at
night time.

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Andy - 22 Apr 2005 14:50 GMT

[]

>I had suspected there might be something in the eye drops which was
>counterproductive. Do you know whether Benzalkonium
> Chloride is in Hypromellose drops

I think it is, but the bottle doesn't list the ingredients; these will
be on the packet or the leaflet.

Signature

Andy Taylor [Chair, N E Lupus Group]
See http://www.northeastlupus.org.uk for more!

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Sherry - 22 Apr 2005 16:50 GMT

Hypotears® Eye drops
polyvinyl alcohol 1 %, glucose
Preservatives:- benzalkonium chloride 0.01 %
Category :- P
Indications for use:- relief of dry eye symptoms; tear substitute
Availability:- HYPOTEARS gtt, 15 mL bottle
Current optometric application's (UK):- recommendation and supply to
patients with complains of ocular discomfort indicative of borderline dry
eyes (apart from that associated with contact lens wear).
Contraindication/s:- known allergy (sensitivity) to any ingredients of the
eye drops.
Specific precautions:- none listed
Adverse drug reactions:- none listed
Comment/s:-
http://www.academy.org.uk/pharmacy/tears.htm

Sherry

> []
>>I had suspected there might be something in the eye drops which was
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> I think it is, but the bottle doesn't list the ingredients; these will be
> on the packet or the leaflet.

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Dick Chequer - 23 Apr 2005 22:29 GMT

>>>Thanks for the feedback on it... maybe one day something better/newer will
>>>come out;
[quoted text clipped - 85 lines]
> all who have plugs, no offence meant . Also my eyes are only really bad at
> night time.

Hi,
Hypromellose certainly does but as far as I can see Viscotears does
not, however it does contain Sodium Hydroxide which is caustic. Despite
being recommended by my surgeon, I find Viscotears ineffective as I
think it relies on there being some tears there to work on. If your eyes
are very dry it just forms a sticky varnish which is very uncomfortable.

Its very easy to say don't take any medicine which contains an
irritant but Benzakonium Chloride is in most (and I've had more than my
share) of eye drops so if you want the beneficial effect you have to
have the side effect as well.

I have no experience of paraffin but early on I did have Betnesol
ointment to put in at night, which was very soothing and Paraffin based.
Ideally you need someone to put it in for you. Its a non starter during
the day as it is cosmetically bad and blurs vision.

I am UK as well. I have some Glucosamine Sulphate from Discovery
Health which are dairy free and £7.90 for 60; you would need to check
further if they met the standards of veganism you apply. In Tesco they
are cheaper (around £2.50 for 30) but not said to be dairy free.

Good Luck

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Andy - 24 Apr 2005 14:16 GMT

[]

> Its very easy to say don't take any medicine which contains an
>irritant but Benzakonium Chloride is in most (and I've had more than my
>share) of eye drops so if you want the beneficial effect you have to
>have the side effect as well.

It *is* possible to get preservative-free eye drops in UK - but you have
to be persistent, as they are much more expensive. Most come in one-shot
plastic tubes.

Signature

Andy Taylor [Chair, N E Lupus Group]
See http://www.northeastlupus.org.uk for more!

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Shelagh - 25 Apr 2005 01:49 GMT

Yes, in fact Allergen makes a good brand of preservative free drops (called
'clear eyes' and 'Refresh plus') and they do come in individual tiny
capsules that you break the top off of for a one time sterile usage; I
haven't found them to be anymore expensive than the bottles though, as there
is a lot of waste with the bigger drops that come out of the bottles.
JMO.... from Shelagh
"Andy" <andy@kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk> wrote in message

> It *is* possible to get preservative-free eye drops in UK - but you have
> to be persistent, as they are much more expensive. Most come in one-shot
> plastic tubes.

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Shelagh - 25 Apr 2005 01:52 GMT

Have tried GLS as has my husband, with no significant or even minimal
relief for anything except slight improvement with my husbands
osteoarthritis. For me?
~ Nada ~ from Shelagh

>>>>Thanks for the feedback on it... maybe one day something better/newer
>>>>will come out;
[quoted text clipped - 117 lines]
>
> Good Luck

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