If you had glaucoma, what would you use for chronic dry eye?!
Question: Please, serious answers only! I have had glaucoma for seven years now, or at least that is how long I have been taking the eye drops. The eye drops make my eyes dry, and weepy, they tear all the time. They feel like there is sand in them. I have stopped taking the prescription eye drops for awhile. I use warm compresses on my eyes, artificial tears in them, and I am careful to not use preservatives in my eye drops. Even the prescription ones come in individual dose capsules. So, to my question, if you had glaucoma, with chronic dry eye, what would you use to ease the symptoms?
Answers: Please, serious answers only! I have had glaucoma for seven years now, or at least that is how long I have been taking the eye drops. The eye drops make my eyes dry, and weepy, they tear all the time. They feel like there is sand in them. I have stopped taking the prescription eye drops for awhile. I use warm compresses on my eyes, artificial tears in them, and I am careful to not use preservatives in my eye drops. Even the prescription ones come in individual dose capsules. So, to my question, if you had glaucoma, with chronic dry eye, what would you use to ease the symptoms?
If the the lubrication drops aren't adequate alone, then the next step would normally be to consider occluding the tear ducts, to keep more of your tears in your eye.
That can be done as a temporary trial with collagen inserts, to see if this method is likely to be of benefit.
That has no implications for the glaucoma or glaucoma treatment at all, while the timing of lubricating drops has to be thought about, lest they wash out the glaucoma drops before they have their full effect in reducing your IOP.
Otherwise, zinc deficiency can be an issue in poor tear quality, and massage of the inferior lid margins can help unblock mebomian glands, if that is part of the problem.
Optometrist, retired.
The treatment for dry eyes is the same, whether you have glaucoma or not. Warm compresses, artificial tears, etc.
It sounds like you have a sensitivity or an allergic reaction more than dryness. I worked at a glaucoma clinic for a few years, there are patients who can't tolerate any drops. Be honest with your Dr., there are oral medications, lasers, and traditional surgeries that may be appropriate for you.