Drop Addict asks…I read your post about being addicted to lip balm and I have a similar problem: I think I’m addicted to eye drops. My eyes constantly feel dry and I’m always putting drops in them. Is this bad for me?
The Right Brain Responds:
Dear Drop Addict, we’re not opthalmologists so we’re not qualified to give you any medical advice about your eyes (or any other part of your body for that matter.) But, since using eye drops to moisturize your eyes is kind of like using lotion to moisturize your skin, or conditioner to moisturize your hair – what the heck, let’s give it a shot.
Dry eye
It’s possible you have a condition called “Dry Eye.” If that’s the case, the answer isn’t putting drops in more often – it’s finding a drop that’s longer lasting. Plain saline drops have a very transitory moisturizing effect – they just don’t coat the eye very well. What you need are drops that contain ingredients known as hydrogels that increase the drops ability to stay on your eye.
Common hydrogel ingredients include Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Carboxy Methylcellulose, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Carbopol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, dextran, and hyaluronic acid. Look for drops with any of these ingredients and you should see some improvement.
And by the way, here’s a GREAT reference for all things related to eye moisturization.Learn amazing things about real tears, find out what’s in artificial tears, and see almost 30 different kinds of moisturizing eye drops. Just reading the list of soothing drops made our eyes tired and dry!
Finally, for a different kind of eye drop check out Eyegazms. (If for no other reason than the cool sounding name.)
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w.t.f is that picture. i am completely disturbed.
Don’t worry Kimberly, it’s a photoshop.
If simple irritation is an issue with eyes I use an MK Soothing Eye Gel, like when ozone is high and I get itchy eyes. Or when I’m riding my motorcycle and get wind-burn in the eyes. I hate putting drops in (it never gets in) but the gel is all organic and goes over the lids.
thank you for this post. i just realised that my new eye drops contain tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride (for redness relief) and these should not be used for prolong periods of time! and here i was thinking that they are effective in helping with my dry eyes
You can get plugs put in the eyes if you suffer from Really bad Dry eyes= they are made of silicone- VERY tiny and they put them in the inner corner of the eyes, where the tiny hole is- BUT this is done only by a Doctor that deals with the eyes.
They are permanant- it my help-
Great post! Anyone suffering from dry eye should try new ROHTO Hydra. Specially formulated to relieve and soothe dry, irritated eyes, new ROHTO Hydra eye drops provide protection against extreme eye dryness with the hydration that is closest to natural tears, plus ROHTO’s signature cooling sensation. These drops moisturize and protect against extreme eye dryness without the blurriness associated with other eye drops. The brand’s special cooling sensation enhances the relief and provides a “pick me up” for tired, parched eyes. They’re available at most drugstores nationwide and on drugstore.com.
err im actually using rohto lycee eyedrops, which contain tetrahydrozoline (for redness relief). yes they wake up my eyes but looks like its not good to use them in the long term, so i’ve gone back to my regular brand
There’s an even better solution than drops, and it’s nighttime eye moisturizer that comes in a tiny tube. There are a few brands that all have the same two totally harmless ingredients — part petroleum jelly and part mineral oil. Refresh PM is one brand, but they’re all the same, so just get the cheapest. It’s best to use only at night because it temporarily clouds vision, and it shouldn’t be used with contact lenses. Eye drops have never, ever worked for me, but this stuff has enabled me to continue wearing contacts when my eyes are naturally so dry, I’m sure I would have had to give them up by now.
ewwwww that picture is wrong! Who can do that? I discusted! Ciara xx
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