Eye drops "addiction"

[Cheryl]

Someone close to me suggested that using eye drops for so long has caused me to depend on them.  I was speechless and didn't even respond.  May she never have dry eyes!   

[Gayle]

Hi
I know Afrin can cause a nose spray addition and you can have problems with headache medicines, etc. but eye drops? I have never heard of that before. Regardless, if you stop you will still have dry eyes due to a disease, not because you use wetting solutions to help. I would never stop. When I miss one night I can hardly open my eyes.
Gayle

[Daisy1234]

Cheryl, I'm so sorry that was said to you.

Its so frustrating when someone we know and think understand that we are ill comes up with a remark like that.  I'm right there in your camp, I can't leave the house for any reason without making sure that I have a bottle of eye drops on me.  I was just telling my husband this very morning when I just found out that my Sjogren's has struck once again and manifested itself in a new part of my body (sigh), that I wouldn't wish this disease on anyone. 

Sadly though, when I read comments like the one that was made to you, it seems like some people have to experience the hard things in life to have empathy for what others are struggling with.  I wish more people would try to walk a mile in another's shoes from time to time.

Hugs,
Daisy

[WildThing]

Someone close to me suggested that using eye drops for so long has caused me to depend on them.  I was speechless and didn't even respond.  May she never have dry eyes!   

tell her not to be silly and laugh at her

[Carebear]

Cheryl,

I have found the same thing about eating.     I have been eating food for so long, that I have grown to depend on it.   

As Bugs Bunny would say..."What a maroon!" 

[Crymeariver]

I think I remember that there is an issue with frequent, long term use of Visine "get the red out" type drops.  The capillaries become permanently dilated and they look bloodshot all the time without it.

Your friend might not be coming totally out left field with that but she is pretty far off base.  I'm sure all the eye drops are the same to her.

[WildThing]

Cheryl,

I have found the same thing about eating.     I have been eating food for so long, that I have grown to depend on it.   

As Bugs Bunny would say..."What a maroon!" 

You know what, I get the same problem with breathing

[Crymeariver]

WildThing, u so funny!

[eyeamdry]

Cheryl, I've been battling dry eyes for over 12 years, starting right after Lasik surgery.  The SJS was diagnosed 7 years after that. Lucky me.

I've been on dry eye boards/Lasik boards for this whole time and sometimes people can say things that aren't true.  It's important to keep your eyes moist.  Some of us probably need drops every hour, others several times a day.  I had 5 years or so when I literally did drops every 20 minutes and I was working full time then.  You can damage your eyes if you leave them dry and you can get erosions, which can be a bear to cure.  Very dangerous too.

To those reading this, I'd suggest common sense.  People always want other people "to be addicted" to everything.  They are your eyes and unless you are computer illiterate, we can all get t6 a computer and find some information.  I wouldn't argue and tell them they are wrong, just say you are doing as your dr tells you. 

If you are using drops with bad stuff in them, then you might do some damage.  We all should be seeing our eye dr once a year at least and he is usually your best person to listen to--and if not get a different eye dr. We have enough to worry about without being worried about addiction to eye drops.

[WildThing]

Yeah all joking aside now I think you're being very sensible in taking care of your eyesight.  I have negleted to use drops and now my vision is getting blurry so please just go ahead and use them as much as you need to.  They won't hurt you and you won't have to enter a 12 step prgramme for it so ignore people who judge you it's just plain silly of them.

[Cheryl]

Thanks to all of you for the wisdom and humor!
Cheryl

[WildThing]

Thanks to all of you for the wisdom and humor!
Cheryl

No problem, keep using those drops Cheryl, I admire you for it, wish I did it more often!

[star723]

I have had the same problem with people not understanding how dry my eyes get, now when they are all red, it is oh yes I forgot about that.  My question is, I use so many different kinds of drops, trying to find one that works.  (At one time I did think I am addicted to them.)   Can using so many kinds be a bad thing?  I might use one that says lubricant , redness reliever, then a few hours later one that says lubricant Artificial tear. Some are store brand others name brand.  right now I have Thera Tears, I am thinking that is really messing with my eyesight.  What do you all use?

[Meld256]

Oh Cheryl, you and your "addiction."   

Wildthing and Carebear,  Those are excellent response to this person's silliness! 

Star723,
I think we all try a few different kinds to see which works best.  If you have an eye doc, they should be able to recommend a good one for you.  Only suggestion I would have it to make sure you're buying the OTC drops that state they are lubricating, and not any for "red eye" or allergies.  These types have agents in them that can make our dry eyes worse. 

I found this out the hard way when I first learned my eyes were so dry.  I told my opthamologist I was using this one and that, and the kind that says "gets the red out" and she told me to please not ever use that again.    Hope this helps a bit!
Melinda

[star723]

thanks Melinda~ I had been told that too.  It is just that the ones that "get the red out" feel so good to me.  I am going to try putting a bottle in the fridge to see if that helps.  I am now using a Nightime Lubricant ointment, that seems to be helping as well.  this site has been so helpful, I am so happy to have found it.  the people on here are so encouraging which is just as helpful as some meds!!