Which Refresh eye drops for dry eye/also have glaucoma

Posted by pljauthor @pljauthor, Jun 22, 2024

Hi, I'm on two types of drops for glaucoma, but I also have dry eye. Refresh has so many options. Which drops (OTC) have you found to work best and need less frequently?

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Profile picture for kayabbott @kayabbott

I used eye drops with preservatives when I only needed them to clear workshop dust from my eyes, several times a week. I now use drops several times a day and the preservative ones irritate and worsen my dry eyes. Heated eye masks and eyelid cleaning also help with dry eye, enhancing oil gland production, thereby decreasing evaporation rates. Here is a research paper on the topic: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20302969/

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The single use drops in tiny vials have no preservatives. Systane also carries small bottles of preservative free drops look closely at the labels.

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I have been using Refresh Plus tears from Costco for years. I use them because they are affordable and I need to use at least three vials every day. I have had no allergic reaction to Refresh Plus, but cannot use many other artificial tears, as I am highly allergic to most. Frequency of use depends on how dry your eyes are.
I do have to use the drops during the night, as my eyes are most dry at night. Hope this helps and good luck.
Madelyn
Temecula, CA

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Profile picture for madelynewing @madelynewing

I have been using Refresh Plus tears from Costco for years. I use them because they are affordable and I need to use at least three vials every day. I have had no allergic reaction to Refresh Plus, but cannot use many other artificial tears, as I am highly allergic to most. Frequency of use depends on how dry your eyes are.
I do have to use the drops during the night, as my eyes are most dry at night. Hope this helps and good luck.
Madelyn
Temecula, CA

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Thank you - I didn't have a vial in hand to look at. If you have dry eyes at night, you can also use Systane Gel - it lasts longer.

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Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

Thank you - I didn't have a vial in hand to look at. If you have dry eyes at night, you can also use Systane Gel - it lasts longer.

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Thank you so much for the recommendation. I will take a look at the ingredients in Systane Gel and hope to give it a try.
Take care & best of luck to you.
Madelyn
Temecula

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If you have a prescription for PF (preservative-free) eye drops that come in single-use vials, you are paying more for them than you would for a whole bottle of the same product . Often there is enough product in each vial for at least two doses, but the twist-off cap is deliberately designed so that it cannot be put back on the vial. Here is a way to get a second dosage out of each vial: save the twist-off caps from your non-prescription PF eye drops like Refresh or Systane. They snap onto the prescription vials. But be sure to use a new cap daily and to store your vials in clean containers. I use a small paper cup in my med cabinet and change it weekly.

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