Any Opticians Out There?

[smurfchops]

Been diagnosed with very dry eyes, been given a weeks supply of Fluorometholone steroid eye drops, to use four times a day for a week, and some preservative free eye drops (Evolve) to use every two hours every day, to see if there is an improvement. Didn’t think of asking, can I use both drops at the same time, or wait until I have finished the steroids before using Evolve? Thanks all

[Hopkirk]

Don't know, but surely if they mustn't be used at the same time he would have said.

[barry1010]

Just leave at least 10 minutes between.

[Buenchico]

To the best of my knowledge, we don't have any opticians on AB. (If there are, they've been keeping mighty quiet about their occupation for the many years that I've been here!).

However I think that the answer to your question rests upon how one defines "at the same time". There is absolutely nothing in either of the patient info leaflets to suggest that you can't be on a course of Fluorometholone and a course of Evolve concurrently. The Evolve info though specifically states "Leave at least 30 minutes between administrations of any other ophthalmic drugs". So you clearly shouldn't be administering one drug immediately after the other. You need to wait for at least half an hour before using the second treatment.

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1383/pil#gref

https://www.chemist-4-u.com/evolve-hypromellose-eye-drops-0-3-preservative-free-10ml

[Sqad]

No I am not an optician but we had 0ne York333, a very knowledgable chap.

I really don't think it matters to be quite honest but to be safe leave a gap of at least 5 mins as suggested by barry.

[Sqad]

LOL.

[smurfchops]

Thanks everyone, will do.

[Peter Pedant]

I suppose if you dont want to wash out the steroids wait an hour. I dont ( steroids at night)
Start using the evolve or hyloforte immediately - as needed. After a while - that I like to think is rehydrating the cornea - the need goes down. Mine is around every 4 h

dry eyes is the commonest complaint opticians see in olds

[Peter Pedant]

Sqad - I came 18th in the fac of ophthalmologists students prize in er 1976 - no I am not an optician.

now called duke elder - v famous ophthalmologists

Students who rank in the top 20 candidates in the country will receive a special commendation in the form of a signed letter from the college, and the top candidate will receive a monetary prize of £400.

I lost my letter ! - - I thought it was worth much more now.

No one who won ( I didnt) ever did ophthalmology ( I was told in 2010)

Didnt do narfin in the Barts prize.....

[Bazile]

york310

According to his profile , he is around

[Bazile]

Last activity 01st Mar 2022

[Khandro]

On a slight tangent, but worth knowing perhaps: I have just been told by my Ophthalmologist that I should place a hot towel on my eyes for 3 minutes after which, pull forward my lower eyelids & use a cotton bud to wipe their edges.

Problem: how do know when 3 minutes have lapsed with a hot wet towel on your eyes?

Answer: I have just found this useful online stopwatch website, which can be set for any duration & a buzzer will tell you when the time has lapsed (make sure your sound is on).

https://timer.onlinealarmkur.com/en/

Could be useful for many other things from timing an egg to taking a nap - the alarm can be set to either a buzzer or a rooster!

[Sqad]

PP..well done. Duke Elder.........was the man at the time.

Bazile....york 310.......that was the chap, a good opinion to have on this website, but he fell out with the experience.

[barry1010]

Khandro, I use the timer on my mobile phone.

[Khandro]

barry, that sounds useful, I don't have a smart phone though.

[Peter Pedant]

mobile phone has a timer
and alexa

[Khandro]

Didn't know what Alexa was so looked it up & found:

Is Alexa always listening?

The short answer is yes, Alexa is always listening to you. Or rather the microphone on your Alexa smart speaker is always active (by default, at least) and is constantly monitoring voices in your home in order to hear its wake word.4 May 2022

So I'll pass on that.

[fourteen85]

you should also not put the drops into the corner of the eyes or the fluid will disappear into the tear ducts and not serve any purpose