Treating My Dry Eyes
The older I get the dryer my skin becomes but what bothers me the most is my dry eyes. I’ve been struggling with it for years.
It turns out dry eye is a huge problem for older women and many of us suffer from it. When I say suffer, I mean it. My eyes often feel like they have sand in them, they itch, frequently tear and just plain hurt.
My previous eye doctor suggested I wash my eye’s with baby shampoo and apply warm compresses using a damp facecloth for ten minutes at a time. That didn’t help. The facecloth would get cold too fast, the baby shampoo was drying out the skin around my eyes and my eye’s remained dry.
I read everything I could on the subject. I added extra fish oil supplements, switched to preservative free eye drops, upped my water consumption and changed my blood pressure medication to one that did not include a diuretic. Still, no relief.
I finally dragged myself to a new eye doctor for a proper diagnosis. He numbed my eye’s and did multiple weird tests before he concluded…I have chronic dry eye. Duh!
He also told me I have meibomian gland dysfunction. These are the glands in our upper and lower eyelids that secrete oils onto the surface of our eyes which keep our tears from evaporating too quickly. These glands often become blocked as we age and can cause or worsen dry eye.
He didn’t suggest Restasis or Xiidra because they’re expensive, are seldom covered by insurance and his patients have mixed results. He agreed a washcloth was not a great way to apply warm compresses to the eye and suggested I try this 
Let me tell you, it is nothing short of amazing.
I heat it in the microwave for 15 seconds, put a clean tissue over my eyes and lay back to relax. The compress comes with a few disposable sheets to put between your eye and the compress to keep it sanitary. When those ran out I just substituted a clean tissue.
When I remove the eye mask, my vision is totally blurry. Luckily I knew this might happen so I didn’t panic. #neurotic It simply meant the oil from my eye glands had melted and was flowing properly so it could help moisturize my eyes.
I’ve also added 
I now have several brands of preservative-free eye drops which come in these one-use disposable tubes. They’re all single use so I have them scattered in every purse, in my car, and by my desk. I discovered these 
Dryer than usual conditions is still a challenge for me. When we flew to the east coast yesterday, I had several vials in my purse and kept one on my tray table to use every 30+ minutes. These vials are single use only but my eye DR said it was OK to recap and use for up to 3 hours.
It may seem like a lot of trouble to go to but my eyes are finally feeling better. I’m not cured…there is no cure but my dry eyes feel better now than they have in several years.
Do you have dry eyes?
Please share what you use for them.
Thanks for reading and have a great day.
Wow, Jennifer! This is the best post yet! I was just about to put my eye drops in before going to sleep and read this. I had no idea what an issue this is and all the treatment options. Computer screens I would have guessed but not the ceiling fans I have been sleeping under for 20 years! Saving this post!! Thank you and all who posted!
Very interesting to learn of all the different methods to care for this problem. I have worn contacts for 50 years, have dry eyes, meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis at times. My opthalmologist recommended SteriLid cleanser by TheraTears. Amazon has the best price. I tried the gel drops at night, but didn’t care for them. I use the Refresh Optiv Mega3 drops at night and have noticed a marked improvement in the dryness. I also use moist heat, which helps, along with contact rewetting drops during the day if necessary. When I visit my eye doctor and the glands are noticeably mor clogged than usual, he expresses the glands which releases the lubricating oil from the glands into
your eyes
Thank you for this helpful post. I’m going to try that eye mask you are using. I bought a bunch of plain white cotton handkerchiefs that I use only for washing my eyes. Regular washcloths seemed to irritate my already irritated eyes even more.
I have also had to give up all eye makeup, and even foundation or coverstick around my eyes. I can even notice my eyes bothering me more if I use moisturizer too near them, and anything with retinol anywhere on my face really sets my eyes off. Wearing no eye makeup or coverstick under my eyes makes my face look 10 years older. I had Graves Thyroid disease. I wonder if anyone else that has read your post today thinks their dry eyes may be connected to their thyroid disease.
I’ve been alternating between systane lubricating drops, and most recently Retaine lubricant eyedrops in the little vials. My eye doctor said it would be ok to recap the vial and reuse within the same day, as long as I don’t touch the tip to my eye.
I have been so tempted to use the opcon A eyedrops that I used in the past for my dry itchy eyes, but I haven’t because the cardiologist said it could affect my atrial fibrillation, there are days when my eyes are bothering me so much, so far I am refraining. My eyes feel like they are congested, maybe it is the oil glands you wrote about, I am definitely trying the eye mask compress you recommended.
So far my eye Dr has just said to use hypoallergenic eye makeup. I’d have a hard time using no eye makeup because I am so pale. But if it mattered to my health I would do it. Then I would get a slight tint to my lenses so it wasn’t so noticeable.
I was diagnosed with Meibomian gland dysfunction and have had the Lipiflow procedure ($1,500) which helped. My Doctor took x-rays of my glands and it was very interesting to see the glands that were completely destroyed. I use the microwave pads to get/keep the oil flowing. I prefer to use the OcuSoft Original in pump form at home and the pad form for travel. I use Retaine MGD drops. My Doctor recommended the PRN Dry Eye (De) oil pills because he says they are a very good quality. (Bottle says to take 4 daily, but he said to take 2 since they are not cheap). I take Restasis twice daily. Every 6 months he pushes on my lower eyelid and counts the glands that are still secreting oil. If the count is lower than before, he manually expresses the ‘gunk’ out so that the oil can flow. The average amount of glands in each lower eye lid is 40. I have 16 functioning on one eye and 18 functioning on the other eye. It’s also important to BLINK. It’s when you blink that your glands release the oil that keeps your tears from evaporating. I believe a lot of my MGD was caused by working at a computer screen for all of my working years and I continue to spend many hours on the computer in retirement. When you read a book, or stare at a computer screen, you blink less. I now have a reminder that pops up every 20 minutes that tells me to blink.
I will look into that PRN oil, thank you for sharing. My eye DR did express my glands and said the bottom seemed ok but the top was too watery so suggested this compress. I do go back in several months so I’ll be curious to see what else he recommends.
My doctor also recommended the disposable eye scrub towelettes to prevent ducts from clogging and they make a huge difference. I find that make up does aggravate my eyes as I have aged. Thanks for the tip on the microwavable mask. I will try it!
Here in the UK we have the same problem in our thousands. You should just see the row of bottles and tubes of magic potions purporting to relieve the blasted condition on the shelves of every chemists shop! My doctor and then later on my opthalmologist confessed that there is no cure for chronic dry eye. Nor is there for gout of the bloodstream, or indeed for the fibromyalgia which both grace my person.
I hadn’t heard of the microwaveable eyepads which I shall try to get hold of over here. The equivalent treatment so far suggested for the nonfunctioning glands in my eyelids was the old washcloth soaked in warm water routine which sort of worked if you don’t mind water trickling down your elbows!
Optive Fusion eye drops by Allergan are very comforting when the eyes are blurry and hurting and they even help to cushion the irritation caused when uric acid crystals build up under your eyelids. You need to use it multiple times a day though. I can endorse the ultra cleaning methods as an aid to managing this troublesome condition.
Thank you Jennifer for helping to illuminate such a shadowy area, warmest regards,
Anne xxx
I knew we suffered from this and am so grateful for all the wonderful suggestions my readers are sharing.
I’ve found a tea tree oil foaming eyewash very soothing for my dry itchy eyes, along with Refresh lubricant eye drops. Will have to try your microwave eye mask.
I don’t have dry eyes but my eyes do water when walking on cold mornings or windy days. I figured it was just part of growing old. It’s not a big problem though.
Is Rare Objects a good read?
It is a good read and I’m enjoying it. I’ve read most of her books.
wow…I feel a bit less alone with my dry eye..I am on the extreme side of dry eye, and it took over my life. I do all the things listed above, plus- since I have MGD- I do IPL to help with inflammation and Lipiflow to keep the glands going..I also wear scleral lens to protect my eyes. It took me awhile to find a good doctor, it is important to get diagnosed with the type of dry eye . The doctors who kept up with the latest research have been the most helpful. It is a complicated disease and there are many cause/factors…
PRK procedures, 35 years of contact lenses, cataract surgery all contributed to my dry eye. It flares, then dies down. I had Meibo treatments which is hot massage with an instrument on the lid rims done in the doc’s office and got a lot of relief from that. It’s a cheaper version of Lipiflow. They were able to express the glands to get the oil flowing. My doc put me on Xiidra and says he sees results. I don’t know. I use one tube for 3 days because of outrageous cost. I also use the microwaveable compress when it’s bad. One thing I did learn in the past year is that although I don’t have “allergies” my eyes get a seasonal allergy condition. I have a prescription to use when it flares and I have found is that when I thought my dry eye was aggravated, it was more the blepharitis from the allergies. It all never goes away and sometimes (especially when it’s windy) it can keep me home. I use refresh when necessary for bad days and when I get up and go to bed.
I’ve heard of that eye procedure. I will ask my eye DR about it for me. My insurance is awful and won’t cover Xiidra or Restasis.
Very timely topic, thank you. OcuSoft Plus does not have to be rinsed off but the original does. I clean my eyes with it at night and in the morning I use the original before I shower. I have stopped all eye makeup and wear dark glasses when outside and when driving. This helps.
You have an excellent doctor. My mom went for her yearly exam and was told she has dry eyes, (even though they weren’t bothering her), and the doctor told her it was “urgent” she start using Restasis.
When I saw the extreme cost of Restasis, I did a quick Google search. It was a surprise to learn Restasis is a target of government lawsuits because the test results were falsified. Other countries deemed Restasis a questionable product that leaves the eye vulnerable to infection, and they refuse to prescribe it.
Quoted from the article “Pharma Cash Flows to Doctors For Consultant Work Despite Scrutiny,” the article says, “All the money and attention drug representatives shower on doctors has its intended effect: building relationships with doctors and changing how they prescribe.”
Restasis, apart from ripping off Medicare to the hilt, could have seriously damaged my mom’s eyes. But her doctor was pushing it on her.
Thanks to the internet, its easy to research one’s medications. But we’re accustomed to trusting the standards of health care in this nation, so we often take whatever is given. Thankfully, your doctor is picky about what goes into your eyes – I wish my mom had a provider like that! Thanks for a very helpful and informative post!!
I just read about a lawsuit where several doctors were being prosecuted for taking payoffs from pharmaceutical companies. You’re exactly right, we need to be our own medical advocate and research everything…no matter what a doctor tells us.
I was prescribed Restasis after my Lasik and PRK since I still need a contact lens to see. Drying! I’m on the generic Cyclosporine now, which is much cheaper. I think it helps (mind you, I did not have dry eye before the procedure so I don’t have a true before and after.) My eye docs seem to swear by it. I also swear by the preservative-free drops. Love your honest disclosure as always. Isn’t aging a blast? Xx
Oh yeah, nothing easy about aging but the alternative is worse :). xx
I was diagnosed with Meibomian gland dysfunction and blepharitis a few years ago. I use the microwavable eye mask and love it (you can get them much cheaper at Walmart than at your eye doctor). Also use OcuSoft lid scrub for the blepharitis after using the mask, and HydroEye fish oil twice a day. When I was diagnosed I told my ophthalmologist I was worried about getting all my eye makeup off each day so I wouldn’t clog my glands any further. He suggested I get permanent eyeliner. After I got up the courage to research permanent eyeliner, I had questions about the aftercare routine….a medicated Vaseline on your lids for about a week. I wasn’t sure how that would work with using my eye mask and eye scrub. I called my doctor and he said they don’t recommend permanent eyeliner anymore. Research has show that it can damage the Meibomian gland further. So I’m makeup-less, use my mask and scrub daily and still searching for the perfect eye drop.
That’s good to know. I was wondering about permanent eyeliner since mine often runs off.
It is my belief that people with various dry eye conditions should be checked for endocrine issues by their GPs.
One of these issues, hyperparathyroifism, is not so rare at all. It involves two blood tests done at the same time: serum calcium and parathyroid hormone. This condition affects mainly women in their 50s and beyond, but it also affects men, and younger men and women.
I wear sunglasses from Panoptix and 7Eye. They are basically goggles and are especially useful in the car when the a/c or heater is on. They come with clear lens also for night driving and to wear while drying your hair. Well worth the investment.
Those sound great for windy conditions too!! Thanks
Jennifer, thank you for writing on this topic and for the suggestions from the readers! I, too, have dry eyes made worse from the hormone blocker I must take due to breast cancer treatment. I have been using Refresh drops four times a day with improvement, but not complete success. I am definitely going to try some of the other suggestions. Thank you for covering other topics from time to time besides fashion. We all benefit with sharing ideas!
I had just doused my dry eyes with drops before opening your blog! I have that mask. I will have to give it a better try.I have used expensive drops and cheap drops frequently – no real difference. What really helps is just taking an extended break from the computer screen. Do you wear eye make up?
Computer time is terrible for dry eyes and yes, I am on mine a lot. I try to take breaks and make a point of blinking more often. I do wear eye makeup but no longer apply it along the lash line.
I use a contact lens in my non-dominant eye instead of wearing reading glasses (monovision). I do not understand why everyone doesn’t do this, it’s so wonderful. However, after 15 years, this eye is getting dry.
Clear Care is much better than standard contact solution, if anyone has a need to know.
I would love to know which fish oil supplement doesn’t make you ill!?!?
Initially I found the Bruder products because I had a stye. The compress that you put in the microwave works SO much better than a washcloth compress. I also love the OcUSoft products, but I prefer the pump-bottle version to the wipes. I too was surprised that even after using eye makeup remover, there was still some residue which the OcUSoft removed completely. It is really important to clean your eyelids! Then, I had cataract surgery and developed dry eyes, which can be a side-effect of the surgery. It was miserable. Painful, scratchy, felt like there was something in my eye, especially in the morning. I literally cried and even though my vision had been improved with the surgery, I regretted it. It lasted a few months and then cleared up completely, thank goodness. I still use OcUSoft daily and always will.