Dry Eye Restasis and Opcon A

I am on Restasis, lubricants and heat for dry eye, but my eyes are
still fairly irritated. I tried some Opcon A in addition to the
Restasis and lubricants and it really helps minimize the irritation. I
used it about an hour after taking Restasis.

Anyone know if there is a problem with taking Opcon A with all the
other dry eye meds? Twice a day ought to be enough.

On Jul 24, 11:20 pm, jay1000 <jfschonSpamgu...@cox.net> wrote:
> I am on Restasis, lubricants and heat for dry eye, but my eyes are
> still fairly irritated. I tried some Opcon A in addition to the
> Restasis and lubricants and it really helps minimize the irritation. I
> used it about an hour after taking Restasis.
>
> Anyone know if there is a problem with taking Opcon A with all the
> other dry eye meds? Twice a day ought to be enough.

conventional wisdom is that Opcon A is contraindicated in dry eye
patients.

Opcon A contains a vasoconstrictor and an antihistamine (which has
anticholinergic side effects). Both of those agents can reduce tear
secretion in the eye. In fact it's use is for people suffering from
allergic symptoms which includes watery weeping eyes-- it is supposed
to dry-up the tearing and reduce itching (another allergic symptom).

Are you suffering from eye irritation after applying Restasis? If so,
then perhaps the Opcon A reduces your inflammatory response to the
Restasis making you feel more comfortable despite the fact that tear
production has not been increased (and perhaps even been decreased).

This is all conjecture on my part, and I am unaware of any data on the
topic.

On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:05:39 -0000, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>On Jul 24, 11:20 pm, jay1000 <jfschonSpamgu...@cox.net> wrote:
>> I am on Restasis, lubricants and heat for dry eye, but my eyes are
>> still fairly irritated. I tried some Opcon A in addition to the
>> Restasis and lubricants and it really helps minimize the irritation. I
>> used it about an hour after taking Restasis.
>>
>> Anyone know if there is a problem with taking Opcon A with all the
>> other dry eye meds? Twice a day ought to be enough.
>
>conventional wisdom is that Opcon A is contraindicated in dry eye
>patients.
>
>Opcon A contains a vasoconstrictor and an antihistamine (which has
>anticholinergic side effects).

AND it's preserved with Benzalkonium Chloride -- virtual Drano for the
eyes.

IF you have ocular allergy, ask your doctor to prescribe Acular PF --
the preservative-free version.

Stay away from ocular preservatives. They're horrible for dry eye.

Refrigerate your Restasis. Some people say that helps a lot.

Neil
Not a doctor

>Both of those agents can reduce tear
>secretion in the eye. In fact it's use is for people suffering from
>allergic symptoms which includes watery weeping eyes-- it is supposed
>to dry-up the tearing and reduce itching (another allergic symptom).
>
>Are you suffering from eye irritation after applying Restasis? If so,
>then perhaps the Opcon A reduces your inflammatory response to the
>Restasis making you feel more comfortable despite the fact that tear
>production has not been increased (and perhaps even been decreased).
>
>This is all conjecture on my part, and I am unaware of any data on the
>topic.
>

Hi Neil,

I was wondering when you said about ocular preservatives. Please could
you explain a little about them? What sort of substances are they?
Where could I find them or buy them?

And also, what is meant by 'Virtual Drano'?

TIA

On Jul 25, 4:46 am, Kisame Hoshigaki
<absolutelyinvinci...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Neil,
>
> I was wondering when you said about ocular preservatives. Please could
> you explain a little about them?

No. Based on your lengthy posting history here--under numerous
aliases--you're really an obnoxious asshole, so ... go find out for
yourself.

Or don't.

Cheers.

> What sort of substances are they?
> Where could I find them or buy them?
>
> And also, what is meant by 'Virtual Drano'?
>
> TIA

On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:05:39 -0000, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>On Jul 24, 11:20 pm, jay1000 <jfschonSpamgu...@cox.net> wrote:
>> I am on Restasis, lubricants and heat for dry eye, but my eyes are
>> still fairly irritated. I tried some Opcon A in addition to the
>> Restasis and lubricants and it really helps minimize the irritation. I
>> used it about an hour after taking Restasis.
>>
>> Anyone know if there is a problem with taking Opcon A with all the
>> other dry eye meds? Twice a day ought to be enough.
>
>conventional wisdom is that Opcon A is contraindicated in dry eye
>patients.
>
>Opcon A contains a vasoconstrictor and an antihistamine (which has
>anticholinergic side effects). Both of those agents can reduce tear
>secretion in the eye. In fact it's use is for people suffering from
>allergic symptoms which includes watery weeping eyes-- it is supposed
>to dry-up the tearing and reduce itching (another allergic symptom).
>
>Are you suffering from eye irritation after applying Restasis? If so,
>then perhaps the Opcon A reduces your inflammatory response to the
>Restasis making you feel more comfortable despite the fact that tear
>production has not been increased (and perhaps even been decreased).
>
>This is all conjecture on my part, and I am unaware of any data on the
>topic.
>

THANK YOU. I suspected that there might be a problem, but was unable
to locate anything with a warning about the use of Opcon A when there
is a dry eye diagnosis. Fortunately I took it only once.

My eye doctor gave me a bunch of different lubricants to try out. The
best of the lot, for me, are Soothe, Optive, and TheraTears. I don't
think any of them contain the preservative benzalkonium chloride.
Actually, the inactive ingredients in Restasis are fairly
soothing...have to look for an eye drop with castor oil, glycerin and
polysorbate.

On Jul 25, 6:08 pm, jay1000 <jfschonSpamgu...@cox.net> wrote:
> On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:05:39 -0000, p.clar...@gmail.com wrote:
> >On Jul 24, 11:20 pm, jay1000 <jfschonSpamgu...@cox.net> wrote:
> >> I am on Restasis, lubricants and heat for dry eye, but my eyes are
> >> still fairly irritated. I tried some Opcon A in addition to the
> >> Restasis and lubricants and it really helps minimize the irritation. I
> >> used it about an hour after taking Restasis.
>
> >> Anyone know if there is a problem with taking Opcon A with all the
> >> other dry eye meds? Twice a day ought to be enough.
>
> >conventional wisdom is that Opcon A is contraindicated in dry eye
> >patients.
>
> >Opcon A contains a vasoconstrictor and an antihistamine (which has
> >anticholinergic side effects). Both of those agents can reduce tear
> >secretion in the eye. In fact it's use is for people suffering from
> >allergic symptoms which includes watery weeping eyes-- it is supposed
> >to dry-up the tearing and reduce itching (another allergic symptom).
>
> >Are you suffering from eye irritation after applying Restasis? If so,
> >then perhaps the Opcon A reduces your inflammatory response to the
> >Restasis making you feel more comfortable despite the fact that tear
> >production has not been increased (and perhaps even been decreased).
>
> >This is all conjecture on my part, and I am unaware of any data on the
> >topic.
>
> THANK YOU. I suspected that there might be a problem, but was unable
> to locate anything with a warning about the use of Opcon A when there
> is a dry eye diagnosis. Fortunately I took it only once.
>
> My eye doctor gave me a bunch of different lubricants to try out. The
> best of the lot, for me, are Soothe, Optive, and TheraTears. I don't
> think any of them contain the preservative benzalkonium chloride.
> Actually, the inactive ingredients in Restasis are fairly
> soothing...have to look for an eye drop with castor oil, glycerin and
> polysorbate.

Theratears is good. Also consider Refresh Plus and Systane.

On Jul 25, 7:17 am, Neil Brooks <neil0...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Jul 25, 4:46 am, Kisame Hoshigaki
>
> <absolutelyinvinci...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi Neil,
>
> > I was wondering when you said about ocular preservatives. Please could
> > you explain a little about them?
>
> No. Based on your lengthy posting history here--under numerous
> aliases--you're really an obnoxious asshole, so ... go find out for
> yourself.
>
> Or don't.
>
> Cheers.
>

Best response I have seen. Congrats, Neil!

On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:36:46 -0000, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>On Jul 25, 6:08 pm, jay1000 <jfschonSpamgu...@cox.net> wrote:
>> On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:05:39 -0000, p.clar...@gmail.com wrote:
>> >On Jul 24, 11:20 pm, jay1000 <jfschonSpamgu...@cox.net> wrote:
>> >> I am on Restasis, lubricants and heat for dry eye, but my eyes are
>> >> still fairly irritated. I tried some Opcon A in addition to the
>> >> Restasis and lubricants and it really helps minimize the irritation. I
>> >> used it about an hour after taking Restasis.
>>
>> >> Anyone know if there is a problem with taking Opcon A with all the
>> >> other dry eye meds? Twice a day ought to be enough.
>>
>> >conventional wisdom is that Opcon A is contraindicated in dry eye
>> >patients.
>>
>> >Opcon A contains a vasoconstrictor and an antihistamine (which has
>> >anticholinergic side effects). Both of those agents can reduce tear
>> >secretion in the eye. In fact it's use is for people suffering from
>> >allergic symptoms which includes watery weeping eyes-- it is supposed
>> >to dry-up the tearing and reduce itching (another allergic symptom).
>>
>> >Are you suffering from eye irritation after applying Restasis? If so,
>> >then perhaps the Opcon A reduces your inflammatory response to the
>> >Restasis making you feel more comfortable despite the fact that tear
>> >production has not been increased (and perhaps even been decreased).
>>
>> >This is all conjecture on my part, and I am unaware of any data on the
>> >topic.
>>
>> THANK YOU. I suspected that there might be a problem, but was unable
>> to locate anything with a warning about the use of Opcon A when there
>> is a dry eye diagnosis. Fortunately I took it only once.
>>
>> My eye doctor gave me a bunch of different lubricants to try out. The
>> best of the lot, for me, are Soothe, Optive, and TheraTears. I don't
>> think any of them contain the preservative benzalkonium chloride.
>> Actually, the inactive ingredients in Restasis are fairly
>> soothing...have to look for an eye drop with castor oil, glycerin and
>> polysorbate.
>
>Theratears is good. Also consider Refresh Plus and Systane.

Actually I think I am getting best results by switching lubricants. I
use Optive until it no longer stops the irritation, then switch to
Soothe and then to TheraTears (5 minute flood). Systane and HypoTears
don't seem to work as well. Lots of fun!