Dry eye: do eyedrops make them drier?

This video is about dry eye and how to properly manage it.
Eyedrops are commonly recommended to those that suffer from dry eyes. Dry eye disease is estimated to affect about 7-14% of the global population.
Meibomian gland dysfunction is a common cause of dry eye but a simple remedy could be to perform hot compresses

[@tickledtoffee]

It sounds really silly, but my bf reminds me to blink regularly while we're gaming. I used to get dry, burning eyes after gaming for a while and thankfully he noticed that I don't blink nearly as much as I usually do. Having him remind me occasionally has fixed the problem 😂

[@makishae9811]

Yeah it’s really common for people to not blink as much at a computer. I think it’s because we are so concentrated on the screen, and blinking is mostly a sub-conscious task we don’t normally need to think about for it to happen. Just like breathing

[@tickledtoffee]

@@makishae9811 that makes sense 🙂

[@piggiesgosqueal8066]

Is the 2000 mg daily supplement for fish oil or for the omega-3 itself? Because Fish oil pills will often have 2000 mg but only a small amount of that is omega-3.

[@lehiawombat]

As someone who really enjoys using eye drops, this was very informative! I tend to use them only a couple times a month. I will ask some questions to my optometrist next time I go and see them. Thank you for this video!

[@FirestormX9]

The optometrists here dont give a shit until you need a surgery 😢🙄

[@alinashirinian2485]

The tips in this video are super useful, thank you! Found your channel recently and it's such an underrated gem, you always present the information in a clear and easy to follow manner, hope you'll get more recognition soon 👍

[@acq8097]

Soo informative! Thanks Antonio!😊

[@michellez13]

I’m so glad I found your channel! I have MGD, I’ve already purchased the eye mask you mentioned on another video and it really helps! So thank you! I would LOVE a video with your opinion of ILP treatment. I’ve been having it done annually for 4 years now. I definitely feel like it helps at first, but it also definitely wears off. I feel like I need it again after 6 months rather than 12 months. However I really do put off having it done even annually as it’s so expensive. Would love to know your thoughts! Am I wasting my money?

[@lovelylittlegirl3332]

I have an eye rubbing problem. I love that I found your video first which encourages me to drop my bad habit first instead of simply reaching for a symptom alleviator. I’ll try the hot compress to sooth the eyes while trying to break my bad habit. Thank you really

[@sulthontrash]

Thank you, Antonio.

[@LotusesGalaxyOcean]

Thoughts on castor oil usage around the eye? And ingredients to use or avoid around the eye for makeup?

[@ghost_of_forum]

Thanks a lot for the video!

[@julietaaboka3285]

Thanks a lot for the honest and clear information! Now I am convinced to try hot compresses first rather than eyedrops. Great video!

[@dude-e]

Really helpful, doc

[@CrimeVid]

My hospital’s senior optometrist is very dismissive of “dry eye” I am pleased to get suggestions that might help

[@kikitauer]

So I take beta blockers, antihistamines and stimulants which all have drying effect on my eyes (and mouth but that's besides the point). I also work as an IT analyst so needless to say I stare at the computer the whole day. I had rather huge problem with it until I tried the massage several times. While I still get dry eyes occassionally, it is never as bad as before. Also blinking very intensely seems to help me a lot. My doctor gave me some artificial tears but it didn't help really. What does help is azelastin and hyaluronic acid. I'd like to ask about the omega-3 supplements - do you have the link to the study please? Or what was the composition?

[@cameron9177]

Your videos are so helpful, thank you for making them! I was wondering if you have any idea about what might cause someone to feel like there's something in their eye when there's nothing there? This happens to me maybe once a month, and I'll wake up from a night of sleep with this pretty intense discomfort in my eye, tears running down uncontrollably. It's always my right eye, I believe, and I wondered if it might be related to my seasonal allergies, which are pretty bad pretty much all year round. Whenever this happens, I stand up and walk around and I also take my allergy medicine, and then the sensation stops within 15 - 30 minutes. Since it's so quick and random, I can never make it to the eye doctor before it's gone and when they look at my eyes without it, nothing seems off, so they can't really help me out. I never rub my eye when this happens because I'm so scared of scratching it, but if you have any insight or other tips to keep my eyes healthy, I'd be really grateful!!

[@readyorknot2344]

Two good possible reasons chalazion or an eroding concretion

[@trinomial-nomenclature]

I suffer from evaporative tears and a lot of the time I feel as though there is something in my eyes. I always think it's an eye lash (but sometimes it feels like sand) so I go to a mirror and try to dig around in there too find it. In the end, there was never any eye lash in there and now I just irritated my eyes even more. It's a really uncomfortable feeling.

[@HulaHula667]

I have Sjögren’s. Thank you for this. I have to use eye drops and ointment, but haven’t been feeling that the drops were working as well as they should. Guess I’ll be doing some investigation. Thank you for your educational videos (that pass the “Granny test” as my Chem Prof used to say!) they’ve really helped me understand more about my eyesight and now Sjögren’s.

[@SongOfSongsOneTwelve]

I just came on to say that I have primary Sjögren’s syndrome and also have these issues. My ophthalmologist recommended a certain type of drops but don’t remember which one.

[@SongOfSongsOneTwelve]

Hey Dr. Antonio, can I send you a few photos of mine and my daughter’s eyes for you to upload for a few case reviews for students? I think they could learn a lot and also learn about a few rare diseases in the process.

[@larryjones9773]

Try Tyrvaya, which is a new nasal spray that encourages tear production. I've been on Tyrvaya for over a year, and it is a game changer. My dry eye is due to having used Accutane for acne when I was younger. A lady I met online has Sjogrens, and she LOVES Tryvaya has much as I do. Tyrvaya is by prescription. Tyrvaya wasn't on my insurance's formulary, but I had my eye doctor request a formulary exception from my insurance, and it was approved. And, yesterday, I discovered another new prescription for dry eye, that was just approved by the FDA. It is called Miebo and is supposed to help reduce tear evaporation (4 drops per day). I'm going to ask my eye doctor for a formulary exception for this prescription as well.

[@Shatterspeed]

Same here!

[@royrogers3133]

I live in a very arid area. I use eyedrops every night because my eyes dry up at night and I end up rubbing them in my sleep which leave bruises under my eyes. I also don’t sleep well unless I use them.

[@jevinday]

As someone who uses cannabis, I wish you would have mentioned it. I find that I get dry eyes and mouth when I smoke flower but not so much with concentrates and edibles. I wonder if maybe it's irritation from the actual smoke

[@frunomaol5069]

I found that presentation good. When taking a shower, I've started to gently use my clean finger tips to clean around my eyelids. I've found that helpful for dealing with crusts.. Any thoughts on that practice

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

Eye wipes are amazing. My opto recommended them after an examination and they help more and last longer than eye drops. I was wiping them before with towels and it's just not the same. I use wipes that seem to leave behind a thick slippery residue though and that seems to work better for me than wipes that leave behind something less.

[@imahaingtia]

What do you think about Meibo 100% drops?

[@maryfelix1546]

I related my dry eyes to menopause. Now it seems that dry eyes are being related to diseases I have never of. Lately my left eye has been very itchy and relate to allergies or my staring at my phone. I do use homeopathic eye drops but it only helps for a short time.

[@AlexHerrera-wk6lq]

I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT. NO ONE IN MY HOUSE FAKIN' BELIEVES ME BUT I WAS TELLING THEM.

[@AlexHerrera-wk6lq]

EVERY TIME I TAKE EYE DROPS I NEED 3 MORE AFTER, ITS AN ENDLESS CYCLE THAT I CAN ONLY CURE BY KEEPING MY DAMN EYES CLOSED. I THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY!

[@lailistudio3888]

Can dialated vessels from dry eyes be removed?

[@naomisnow-valleley8585]

i been using eye drops but it seems to making my eyes dryer if that makes sense i been taking mega 3 which making my eyes dryer and i havent been out much lately and even with my glasses on dosent make any different my eyes seems to ok for couple of months and then my eyes become dry again any advice would help

[@von186]

i've had dry eyes for most of my life, and yet the optometrists always tell me to just use more eye drops lol. it sounds like there aren't many good remedies for dry eye, esp if you've got allergies, meds and weather against you (and your eyes)

[@reginaw5085]

Hi, a found a few good tips such as the hot compress and the fishoil intake. I will try those. However I’m over 50 and age unfortunately is not reversable. I loved to wear contacts but now I can only wear them when I go out or so. I tried those hyaluronic acid drops but they don’t help. When my eyes are red, I use drops with Naphazolinhydrochlorid but you are not supposed to use them too often. Any advise for the elderly?

[@cameron9177]

My grandmother had a /lot/ of eye issues a while back, including dry eye, and was told by doctors that her eyes wouldn't improve, but she swears that changing her diet has worked wonders. This is entirely anecdotal evidence, so take it with a grain of salt - and I also know not everyone is able to do this! For what it's worth, though, here's what she recommends: drink 1 glass a red wine daily and eat lots of fish, leafy-greens, and orange fruits and vegetables (like carrots and sweet potatoes). Hope this is helpful (if not, that's fine too, just thought I'd share in case)!

[@reginaw5085]

Thank you, good diet is never a wrong thing to do!

[@itachi7285]

I had laser eye surgery (the PRK one) and felt that hot compresses were really effective and my eyes felt more rested if I did it before going to sleep. I used to use hydrating drops which caused more pain when waking up to severe dry eyes. Then I switched to the other drops to clear redness of the eyes but then I just became dependent so I switched to the heat. Just gotta make sure the compresses aren't too heavy/tight on the eyes or it could cause other issues. It's easier to wean yourself into it rather than suddenly stopping the drops because it takes time for your eyes to get used to adequately produce it's own tears without additional help.

[@swager1950]

Help I do have very dry eyes. But listening to you, I will try the hot compress . I ( in the morning wash carefully my yes with a wet cool cloth ) . Keep my eyes close then wipe the water of eyeslids ... no good same problem . as i am typing the word I feel the pain and dryness in my eyes . So tired od it . I am 74 yest old , and like to see what I can do . All the optometrist I have seen sugested "eyes drop 💧 💧" even whaeI told them it does not work . I wish I could see some one that know what they are supposed to know . No all doctor are good agree ?

[@bhaveshkumar215]

my doctor prescribed me with 2 drops 2 times each day,it relieves my red eyes just after using drops but when I wake up next morning my eyes are much more red than they were before taking drops Just wanna know should I continue my drops or discontinue it

[@N0N4M30]

Lol I just got back from my doctor for the 5 th time for this issue and all they do is prescribe me drops 🤦‍♀️ I wish I had seen this before What should I do ?

[@aznzensation]

That’s me with my coloured contacts after 2 hrs and the chronic redness kicks in

[@WetDoggo]

what do you think of working in a dusty environment on a computer screen? 😂 thanks for the free and good information by the way, I really appreciate people taking education seriously and don't focus on money alone

[@carlfromvienna]

Instead of fish oil use algae oil. It‘s cleaner and not contaminated. BTW, fish get their omega 3 from algae. So you can simply skip the middle man.

[@spvillano]

Tears are magic. Magic being defined as that which is quite, for us, technologically advanced. Nature just had a lot longer to get things right. ;) They possess oils that lubricate and retain moisture. They contain natural antibiotics (no, mainlining tears isn't a solution for an infection, that was studied and rejected back when penicillin was discovered). They're largely saline solution, but saline solution alone is irritating as hell, lacking the other magic mixtures in the right balance. I dealt with one optometrist over transitory dry eye, one of the few times I've had use for the profession, the rest I'm stuck with dealing with ophthalmologists. It was due to irritation depleting the oils, leaving me with pretty much only saline tears, so selecting drops for those rare occasion was critically important (critically, as in expensive to keep using the minus moron method of selection, not to mention damned uncomfortable). Work smart, not hard as much as possible, in this case, seeking a professional with enough experience to guide selection of the proper magic sauce. Which reminds me, gotta get with my endocrinologist to get my thyroid hormone levels checked, then get with my ophthalmologist for intermittent double vision. Hyperthyroid can result in fat accumulating in the orbit, which can lead to being unable to keep both eyes properly aligned on an image. Having the hormone levels helps doctor diagnose the issue, leading to an appropriate and effective treatment. Or rule out thyroid eye issues and doctor then has to *really* earn his or her keep figuring it out. Gotta do a follow up anyhow, post IOL implant final followup.

[@Adamplayza]

. I took I drops for two days until dry eyes healed

[@patternsandrhythms]

Ughhh just watched this after using eyedrop 😮

[@redseve]

Ok, but what we really wanna know is how bad are redness reducing eye drops, and what are we supposed to do after smoking weed?... I mean swimming.

[@Shatterspeed]

I have Sjögrens and my husband had his large intestine removed, so he doesn't absorb nutrients and omega 3s like he should. We are a household of eye drops with oils. 🥴

[@rcjward]

Can you tell me how you were able to get your Sjögrens officially diagnosed?

[@Shatterspeed]

@rcjward i asked my primary care physician for bloodwork because my mom had been diagnosed with Sjögrens like a month previous, and our symptoms sounded identical. I listed the symptoms for him, and he called in the bloodwork panel. They specifically look for ANAs in the blood, and mine were positive. So the office referred me to a rheumatologist who diagnosed me.

[@rcjward]

@@ShatterspeedAny nervous system or organ involvement?