Preservative free eyedrops?

I've been getting these, but is there real value to it, or is it just
marketing and catering to the paranoid? It's expensive and somewhat
inconvenient.
--

In <YgfKn.40093$(E-Mail Removed)>,
Chuck <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I've been getting these, but is there real value to it, or is it just
> marketing and catering to the paranoid? It's expensive and somewhat
> inconvenient.

I think it depends on whether you're allergic to the preservatives.

--
TH * http://www.realh.co.uk

On May 23, 12:23*pm, "Chuck" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
> I've been getting these, but is there real value to it, or is it just
> marketing and catering to the paranoid? *It's expensive and somewhat
> inconvenient.
> --

One of the most common preservatives is Benzalkonium Chloride -- a/k/a
BAK.

It has a lengthy history -- well documented -- of eating corneas and
destabilizing tear film (ie, causing dry eye syndrome).

There's less clinical evidence about the other ophthalmic
preservatives.

It's *possible,* though, that anything that's meant to kill
microbes ... may well behave similarly to BAK.

The harm caused by BAK is evidenced in "healthy" eyes. In my
estimation, if you NEED eyedrops ... it's not unreasonable to suppose
that YOUR eyes may be even MORE vulnerable to the harm of
preservatives.

Expensive ?

Inconvenient ?

I'm a victim of preservative-induced ocular toxicity, caused BY the
preservative, BAK. Lemme' TELL you what's expensive and
inconvenient....

Incidentally, BAK is used to preserve many nose sprays. It's equally
well documented that it destroys sinuses, and reduces "mucociliary
clearance --" the sinuses' ability to sweep away debris.

"Allergic" is probably a bad choice of words. I'm not "allergic" to
Drano, but I'd rather not drink it ;-)

Neil Brooks wrote:

> On May 23, 12:23*pm, "Chuck" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
> > I've been getting these, but is there real value to it, or is it
> > just marketing and catering to the paranoid? *It's expensive and
> > somewhat inconvenient.
> > --
>
> One of the most common preservatives is Benzalkonium Chloride -- a/k/a
> BAK.
>
> It has a lengthy history -- well documented -- of eating corneas and
> destabilizing tear film (ie, causing dry eye syndrome).
>
> There's less clinical evidence about the other ophthalmic
> preservatives.
>
> It's *possible,* though, that anything that's meant to kill
> microbes ... may well behave similarly to BAK.
>
> The harm caused by BAK is evidenced in "healthy" eyes. In my
> estimation, if you NEED eyedrops ... it's not unreasonable to suppose
> that YOUR eyes may be even MORE vulnerable to the harm of
> preservatives.
>
> Expensive ?
>
> Inconvenient ?
>
> I'm a victim of preservative-induced ocular toxicity, caused BY the
> preservative, BAK. Lemme' TELL you what's expensive and
> inconvenient....
>
> Incidentally, BAK is used to preserve many nose sprays. It's equally
> well documented that it destroys sinuses, and reduces "mucociliary
> clearance --" the sinuses' ability to sweep away debris.
>
> "Allergic" is probably a bad choice of words. I'm not "allergic" to
> Drano, but I'd rather not drink it ;-)

I hear you, but the implication is that almost everyone is incompetent
and/or foolish. I mean, systane is recommended and used like crazy for
dry eye. Are all the doctors that suggest it actually making their
patients worse?

--

On May 24, 9:29*pm, "Chuck" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
> Neil Brooks wrote:
> > On May 23, 12:23*pm, "Chuck" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
> > > I've been getting these, but is there real value to it,

>
> > One of the most common preservatives is Benzalkonium Chloride -- a/k/a
> > BAK.
>
> > I'm a victim of preservative-induced ocular toxicity, caused BY the
> > preservative,
>
> I hear you, but the implication is that almost everyone is incompetent
> and/or foolish. *I mean, systane is recommended and used like crazy for
> dry eye. *Are all the doctors that suggest it actually making their
> patients worse?

BAK is not in Systane and most of the other doctor recommended
artificial tears. It is in some of the less expensive OTC brands.
And is still found in many prescription eye drops.

There are other, much less toxic preservatives in artificial tears and
some people may be sensitive to them. If you are using the drops more
than 4 times a day, you should use the unpreserved version. And, of
course, if you are one of the people sensitive to the preservatives,
you should also use unpreserved drops.

Ask your eye doc why the unpreserved version was recommended for you
and whether you could substitute a multi use bottle instead.

Judy