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How are you dealing with dry eyes?

Posted by joybringer1 @joybringer1, Dec 6, 2025

Recently, my eye doctor asked how often I use my Thera Tears and when I replied many times a day, he told me I have dry eyes and should not be using these eye drops more than 3 times a day. He gave me a sample pack of Xiidra which has single-use containers and has no preservatives. I quit using them because it felt like I had been injecting sand in my eyes. The prescription for these single-use containers is $300 for 90 days. I asked my pharmacy to hold that RX because I was not sure if I would ever use these again. What do you do for dry eyes?

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ashleyharris728 | @ashleyharris728 | Mar 14 8:16am
In reply to @linda82 "@ashleyharris728 The price I gave you was incorrect. I actually went and it was 1600 But,..." + (show)
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@ashleyharris728 The price I gave you was incorrect. I actually went and it was 1600
But, I decided to start with the zest treatment. ($220)
It will be 3 wks on Monday
I have been happy with it, and I still use my ocusoft cleanser in the shower.
I noticed a big difference and have not had to use eye drops!

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@linda82 thanks for the info! I haven’t heard of Zest before. I will have to check it out. So glad to hear you are feeling better after treatment!

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ashleyharris728 | @ashleyharris728 | Mar 14 11:18am
In reply to @joybringer1 "@abob I thought I was the only one having difficulty with squeezing the two bottles of..." + (show)
Profile picture for joybringer1 @joybringer1

@abob I thought I was the only one having difficulty with squeezing the two bottles of eye drops. This is a cautionary tale: I used my Vevye drops twice a day after heating and wearing my Oasis Rest Relief before inserting my eyedrops. I thought I was doing a good job, but I now have an eye infection and my doctor told me I must have either touched the tip of the drops to my eyeball (I doubt it) or maybe touched an eyelash. Perhaps I did touch an eyelash, but my left eye still feels awful like sand is in my eye. So, in addition to the Vevye drops I am using an RX of Tobramycin and Dexamethasone four times a day. I must wait at least 15 minutes before using the RX after the Vevye. The infection is supposed to be gone by the end of a week. I do not think it will be because that date is in 3 days. I honestly don't know what I am going to do next.
I guess I will have to go back to the eye doctor. I hope many of you have found solutions to your eye problems. With all good wishes, @joybringer1.

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@joybringer1 I’m guessing you have already done this but I’m wondering if you discarded the old bottle and opened a new bottle of Vevye since getting the infection? Are you using disposable heated masks while you have an active infection? I am not a clinician but I am a scientist (in the virology/microbiology field) so I always have an eye on potential contamination issues. Best wishes on your infection to clear up soon, it sounds like you’re having a lot of discomfort on top of the normal dry eye stuff, which is tough enough.

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po1958ling | @po1958ling | Mar 14 1:15pm
In reply to @joybringer1 "@abob I thought I was the only one having difficulty with squeezing the two bottles of..." + (show)
Profile picture for joybringer1 @joybringer1

@abob I thought I was the only one having difficulty with squeezing the two bottles of eye drops. This is a cautionary tale: I used my Vevye drops twice a day after heating and wearing my Oasis Rest Relief before inserting my eyedrops. I thought I was doing a good job, but I now have an eye infection and my doctor told me I must have either touched the tip of the drops to my eyeball (I doubt it) or maybe touched an eyelash. Perhaps I did touch an eyelash, but my left eye still feels awful like sand is in my eye. So, in addition to the Vevye drops I am using an RX of Tobramycin and Dexamethasone four times a day. I must wait at least 15 minutes before using the RX after the Vevye. The infection is supposed to be gone by the end of a week. I do not think it will be because that date is in 3 days. I honestly don't know what I am going to do next.
I guess I will have to go back to the eye doctor. I hope many of you have found solutions to your eye problems. With all good wishes, @joybringer1.

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@joybringer1 After my last eye infection, I learned that I shouldn't keep my Thera Tears eye drop bottle for too long to allow the tip to gather bacteria. Dry eyes are susceptible to bacteria and pollen.

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marlyandtucker | @marlyandtucker | Apr 14 10:11am

I use Ivizia drops during the day and the thicker gel drops at night. I also take fish oil with 980 mg of omega3 withEPA and DHA by Natures Bounty..over the counter. I think I got my dry eye cured!

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clucky | @clucky | 5 days ago

Try low dose naltrexone. It lowers inflammation in your body( which causes dry eyes) It has helped me. Check out the web site http://www.ldnresearchtrust.org for the many conditions ldn can help with.

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edie2716 | @edie2716 | 5 days ago
In reply to @clucky "Try low dose naltrexone. It lowers inflammation in your body( which causes dry eyes) It has..." + (show)
Profile picture for clucky @clucky

Try low dose naltrexone. It lowers inflammation in your body( which causes dry eyes) It has helped me. Check out the web site http://www.ldnresearchtrust.org for the many conditions ldn can help with.

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@clucky never heard of this before. Did your Dr recommend? Any side effects?? How long did it take to see results?

Thanks

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clucky | @clucky | 5 days ago

Yes my pain management doctor recommended it. I did not have any side effects. You titrate up to 4.5 mg very slowly to avoid side effects. It is safe and not habit forming. It reduces inflammation in your body, increases endomorphins and blocks pain receptors in the brain. There are certain drugs you should not take it with. One is antidepressants.

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edie2716 | @edie2716 | 4 days ago
In reply to @clucky "Yes my pain management doctor recommended it. I did not have any side effects. You titrate..." + (show)
Profile picture for clucky @clucky

Yes my pain management doctor recommended it. I did not have any side effects. You titrate up to 4.5 mg very slowly to avoid side effects. It is safe and not habit forming. It reduces inflammation in your body, increases endomorphins and blocks pain receptors in the brain. There are certain drugs you should not take it with. One is antidepressants.

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@clucky thanks

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lisajoe546 | @lisajoe546 | 23 hours ago

Try Refresh--no preservatives--100 individual packets--about $20-25. These work fine during day and easy to keep handy. In morning I use Thera Tears and at night 2 doses of Vital Tears-prescription. This works for me. When there are windy conditions, I'm trying to do Refresh about every 1/2 to 1 hour. So far so good. Hope it helps.

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breakstay | @breakstay | 3 hours ago
In reply to @lisajoe546 "Try Refresh--no preservatives--100 individual packets--about $20-25. These work fine during day and easy to keep handy...." + (show)
Profile picture for lisajoe546 @lisajoe546

Try Refresh--no preservatives--100 individual packets--about $20-25. These work fine during day and easy to keep handy. In morning I use Thera Tears and at night 2 doses of Vital Tears-prescription. This works for me. When there are windy conditions, I'm trying to do Refresh about every 1/2 to 1 hour. So far so good. Hope it helps.

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@lisajoe546
Ask a cornea specialist about Lacrifill. It was approved by the FDA about a year ago and actually makes a difference- significantly better than plugs!!

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