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blephari tis steroid drops

Posted , 11 users are following.

fiona51388
fiona51388

Is there any truth in the rumour that steroid eye drops for bleph can lead to complications? My GP will not let me have them for this reason, she says. I've been using wet ones for three or four months but past couple of weeks they just haven't worked and I'm miserable with the complaint and desperate for something that will help.

0 likes, 49 replies

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  • Guest
    Guest fiona51388

    Posted

    Hi fiona51388

    I was prescribed steroid eye ointment by the eye hospital, first for 2 weeks, and then later for 4 weeks. The doctor at the eye hospital told me that prolonged use of the steroid antibiotic cream can have side effects so she wasnt happy for me to keep using it after that. 

    When I was using the steroid cream I had to go to the hospital regularly for check-ups. I think they need to test your eye pressure. 

    I imagine it's something that would be beyond the level of general practice, so maybe a referral to the hospital may be needed? See what your GP or optician says.

    At the moment I am using lacri-lube/xailin at night, and washing my eyes with hot water and baby shampoo. 

    • fiona51388
      fiona51388 Guest

      Posted

      Thanks Heuchera, I think I can rule out steroids now as glaucoma runs in my family so it wouldn't be wise. Is the lacri-lube an eye drop?
    • mrsmop
      mrsmop fiona51388

      Posted

      Lacrilube is another gel type Fiona, it is rather like putting vaseline in your eye!  You can buy it at Boots too.

      There is a Systane that is preservative free.

      If you go to your local Optometrist, they can examine your eyes and can refer you to the local hospital eye clinic if necessary.  It might be easier than asking your GP if the GP isn't keen on referring you.

    • fiona51388
      fiona51388 mrsmop

      Posted

      Ok, actually I've already seen the eye hospital and they weren't able to diagnose anything much at all, it was my optician who diagnosed blepharitis around the same time as I saw the eye hospital but they didn't pick up on it was bleph, my optician did.

      I'll ask my GP for the eye drops you mention, thanks.

    • kittycatbabe
      kittycatbabe Guest

      Posted

      Hi heuchera,

      May I know your daily eye cleansing regime??

      Do you use any eye makeup??

      Do you apply warm bag to eyes (warm lid compression) or do you just wash your eyes with hot water only???

    • Guest
      Guest kittycatbabe

      Posted

      Hi kittycatbabe, I used to love putting eye make-up on, but sadly I can't use it as much now. I think mascara would irritate my eyes, but I do use an eyeshadow when I'm going out as my eyelids look much better with a bit of colour! I take it off when I get in because I need to put eyedrops in.

      My cleansing routine at the moment is: rub the lacri-lube from my eyes in the morning using hot water, baby shampoo and cotton wool pads. I then use hylo-forte regularly through the day because my eyes get so dry. In the evening I cleanse my eyeashes and eyebrows with blephasol. I do my eyebrows because I read somewhere that it's the bugs on your lashes and brows that cause blepharitis, so I like to clean them both. 

      Then I put lacri-lube (or Xailin) in my eyes just before I go to sleep at night. 

      For a long while I was using a hot compress on my eyelids for 10 minutes twice a day. I stopped when I got an angry-looking cyst on my eyelid, and it doesn't seem to make much difference. 

      I hope ths helps a bit. I think different things work for different people, though :-) 

    • Sus28
      Sus28 Guest

      Posted

      yes I too read about the eyebrow cleansing
  • Guest
    Guest fiona51388

    Posted

    Vaseline is quite a good analogy, lol, it is quite greasy, but I found that eye-drops didn't have much effect at night so I needed something a bit more long-lasting overnight. My eyelids stick together of a morning.

    I don't think you can get lacrilube without a prescription (?), but xailin (available on amazon) seems to have the same ingredients, or very similar. 

    I guess it's a case of seeing what works for you. I didn't like the Boots own brand ointment, myself, but it may work for you. It costs about £4.75.

    • fiona51388
      fiona51388 Guest

      Posted

      Hi, thanks for this, actually I'd rather get stuff on prescription than on Amazon if I can as mine are free
    • mrsmop
      mrsmop fiona51388

      Posted

      Apart from anything else, Fiona, you don't know what you are getting on Amazon or Ebay, so I agree with you.

      It suggests to me, that someone is buying all the manufacturers stock, to sell and make a profit, which means that genuine patients find it increasingly difficult to get hold of, whether or not they have to pay for prescriptions.

    • mrsmop
      mrsmop

      Posted

      I was referring to VitA-POS, which is available to buy from the manufacturer, excepting they have no stock, unlike Ebay & Amazon!
    • mrsmop
      mrsmop

      Posted

      You can buy Lacrilube otc aswell.

      I have a prescription for some VitA-POS but no pharmacy can get it. The distributers have run out too but someone is selling an 'open box', whatever that means, for £19.99 - absolutely appalling.  I would never buy something like this from Amazon or EBay, who both sell Lacrilube at vastly inflated prices.

       

    • Guest
      Guest mrsmop

      Posted

      I've tried putting in Lacrilube as a search term on amazon, but it only shows 'similar' products, not lacrilube. A quick google search shows that Lloyds pharmacy have it but only on prescription (not sure if we're allowed to put links in here?) The proper stuff is worth getting, in my experience but it seems you do need a prescription. 

      I would avoid EBay, too, for medicines! Amazon is ok because you get proper pharmacies on there who just happen to sell via amazon.

    • mrsmop
      mrsmop Guest

      Posted

      You can post links and it will say 'this reply is waiting to be moderated' and if they approve, it will show.

      I have just Googled it and found mainly online pharmacies listed but it is available otc at around £5 depending on size.

      Some online optometrists also sell it

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