Wellness

[Trailrun23]

 DH had to delay his cataract surgery when the dr said his dry eye was too severe....he didn't even know he had dry eye but had been experiencing watery eyes...the body's attempt to lubricate the eyes when it isn't doing it normally.  She initially put him on Retaine with much success (cheaper on Amazon) but Dr finally put him on Cequa and he could tell the difference immediately. Hope this helps. He could not have his surgery until the dry eye was fixed and the Cequa seemed to work faster according to the dr, but she still told him to use the Retaine when he finishes the Cequa.

[AbbeyPenny1226]

I have dry eyes.
My eye doctor recommended Ocusoft Retaine eye drops.  I can buy them on Amazon.
I am also on Miebo eye drops.  It's a painstaking process to get insurance to cover them, as a tiny bottle costs $500!  

I had to first try Xiidra eye drops, then Cequa (which stung my eyes terribly), then I was approved for the Miebo.

[tends2dogs]

@AbbeyPenny1226 I have been using samples of Xiidra for the last month while waiting for my insurance to okay Xiidra.  It has worked so well.  My burning, eye pain, and vision disturbance due to dry eyes is all but gone. I really hope that it will be okayed.  The price of $2,000 for 90 days is out of the question.

May I ask what type of prescription insurance you have?  I may have to change mine in December in order to use these drops.

[webbgarner1]

@tends2dogs  Hello. I responded to your post some days ago about the eye drops i use for dry eye. But i just went in to the my eye doctor to see a retina specialist and since it had been a long while since i was seen i had to see an optemistrist to get a referall to the retina specialist. Anyway, i had not seen this particular doctor before and his  as soon as he sarted his exam he said you have extremly dry eyes and asked what i was using. Told him the otc drops. He saids i cangive you a prescription because your eyes are so dry the otc stuff is not that effective. And he said OR  ican place puntal plugs in your eyes to relieve the dryness. Completly painless, insurance covers it took him probably less than 2 minutes to do both eyes. They dissolve in about 6 months. They plug the duct that your natural tears flow out of, making your own natural tears last longer. They have helped me a thousand percent. Stll have a little dryness at times, but nothing like what i had. I have not had to use the eye drops yet since he placed them. I am so angry with the 2 previuos doctors including the retina specialist for not offering this to me when i begged for help. You can google it then ask your doctor about it. I highly reccommend. Take care.

[tends2dogs]

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@webbgarner1 wrote:

@tends2dogs  Hello. I responded to your post some days ago about the eye drops i use for dry eye. But i just went in to the my eye doctor to see a retina specialist and since it had been a long while since i was seen i had to see an optemistrist to get a referall to the retina specialist. Anyway, i had not seen this particular doctor before and his  as soon as he sarted his exam he said you have extremly dry eyes and asked what i was using. Told him the otc drops. He saids i cangive you a prescription because your eyes are so dry the otc stuff is not that effective. And he said OR  ican place puntal plugs in your eyes to relieve the dryness. Completly painless, insurance covers it took him probably less than 2 minutes to do both eyes. They dissolve in about 6 months. They plug the duct that your natural tears flow out of, making your own natural tears last longer. They have helped me a thousand percent. Stll have a little dryness at times, but nothing like what i had. I have not had to use the eye drops yet since he placed them. I am so angry with the 2 previuos doctors including the retina specialist for not offering this to me when i begged for help. You can google it then ask your doctor about it. I highly reccommend. Take care.

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Thank you for your post, @webbgarner1 .  I am familiar with the plugs.  My DH had them put in after his bone marrow transplant.  Dry eyes and dry mouth are two of the after effects.  They fell out after a week or so.  They then proceeded to cauterize them.  He said that hurt terribly.  That was 13 years ago.  His eyes are still dry, but OTC helps.  A few times a year he has to use steroid eye drops.

I was prescribed XIIDRA for dry eyes and it has helped so well.  I am waiting for our insurance to okay them.  The cost is over $2,000 for a 3 month supply.  My eye doctor has been generous by giving me samples so far.  I really hope they okay these drops because they have really worked for me.

Thank you again for posting.  

[webbgarner1]

@tends2dogs   I did not know your husband had the plugs and his outcome. Yes, I have had to have steroid eye drops from time to tome due to severe allergies and eye irritation. Glad you are getting good results with the xidra and hope your insurance will cover it. I admired your nic, I assume you have dogs. I have always loved dogs and had several  from childhood on, but due to health issues am no longer able to care for a dog. , oh how i wish  i was. May I ask do you have dogs now, what kind? Best of luck to you and thnaks for responding. 

[tends2dogs]

@webbgarner1 We have had Old English sheepdogs for that past 40 plus years.  We currently have the most special guy that we love dearly.  He will be our last one because of our age and energy  level.  We hope he lives many, many more years.  He is 8 years old.  

In the past we usually had two at a time.  After we lost our last one, we didn't get another.  Puppies require so much energy on our part so we didn't take on that commitment.  Our dogs have been a big part of our life and there will be a huge void when we don't have one.....can't think about that today.

I am sorry you can't have a dog in your life, but totally understand.

Again, thanks for your response.