genteal eye drops

eyes dryness problem?

i m 24 unmarried. 2.5 years back i had undergone a laser eye operation to remove my glasses. after that my eyes usually irritates or beome red. i consulted doctor. he said it is nothing to do with operation. he said my eyes are dry. he told me to put eye drops in them for lifetime. Is there any permanent cure for them? i 1st tried Refresh tears. now i hv chnged to Genteal. which is better? both are costly? plz guide me.

As a disclaimer, I work for a Canadian eye care company. I am not a medical practitioner but I am knowledgeable about the problem.

In my experience, lasik surgery often results in post surgical dry eye. Unfortunately, there is no “cure” for dry eyes. There are however different treatments that can help alleviate the irritation, burning and pain.I would suggest getting a second opinion from another ophthalmologist not involved in your LASIK procedure.

I expect they would suggest some of the following:

Artificial Tears – there are many different kinds of artificial tears two of which you mentioned above. Cyclosporin-based treatments work in about 15% of cases but are expensive (see Restasis link below). In my opinion, the best options out there currently are products based on a molecule called hyaluronan (aka hyaluronic acid). Hyaluronan-based products have a longer dwell time on the eye due to unique physical properties. This can reduce the number of daily applications and event though the product itself might be more expensive, it often reduce the total cost of therapy. It is also always best to choose a product that contains no preservatives. Preservatives invariably cause problems with long-term use.

Punctum Plugs – these small tubular devices block up the canal where tears drain our of your eyes. By doing so you retain more tears on the surface of your eye and reduce the “dryness”. It is a quick and painless procedure and you can try it out with temporary plugs and if you like it can move to a more permanent solution. Optometrists and ophthalmologists can help you find the right plug.

Hope this helps.