What Are The Best Eye Drops For Sjogren's Patients?
How does Sjogren's impact the eyes?
Sjogren's Disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the exocrine glands, including those that produce tears.
As a result, individuals with Sjogren's Disease often suffer from dry eyes, which can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms and complications.
What treatment is available for Sjogren's patients managing dry eyes?
Fortunately, there are several different type of treatment available that can help manage dry eyes as a Sjogren's patient.
This includes using a moist heat mask, such as the Bruder mask, over-the-counter eye drops and gels, prescription eye drops, or treatments such as the Lipiflow procedure or iLux procedure.
There are several types of eye drops that can help manage dry eyes in patients with Sjogren's Disease.
Today we will discuss the different types of eye drops available, the importance of using preservative-free drops, and recommend some of the most common brands that can help.
Types of Eye Drops
There are several types of eye drops that can be used to manage dry eyes in patients with Sjogren's Disease. These include:
Artificial tears:
These are the most common type of eye drops used to manage dry eyes. They work by lubricating the eyes and replacing the missing tears.
Artificial tears can be used as often as necessary, depending on the severity of the dry eyes.
Gels and ointments:
These are thicker than artificial tears and can provide longer-lasting relief. They are often used at night or when the patient does not need to see clearly, as they can cause blurred vision.
Prescription eye drops:
In severe cases of dry eyes, prescription eye drops may be necessary. These can include anti-inflammatory medications, immunosuppressants, and medications that stimulate tear production.
Preservative-Free Drops
Preservative-free eye drops are essential for patients with severe dry eyes, especially those with Sjogren's Disease.
Preservatives, such as benzalkonium chloride, can irritate the eyes and worsen dry eyes over time. Therefore, it is crucial to choose eye drops that are preservative-free.
Most commonly recommended eye drops for Sjogren's patients
There are several brands of preservative-free eye drops available, including:
HYLO:
HYLO is a popular brand of artificial tears that provides long-lasting relief and can be used as often as necessary. HYLO has both regular eye drops and gel drops - this is the brand Heather (author and Sjogren's patient) uses most often day-to-day.
Systane Ultra:
Systane Ultra is a popular brand of artificial tears that provides long-lasting relief and can be used as often as necessary.
Refresh Tears:
Refresh Tears is another popular brand of artificial tears that provides relief for dry, irritated eyes.
TheraTears:
TheraTears is a preservative-free artificial tear that is designed to mimic natural tears.
Oasis Tears:
Oasis Tears is a preservative-free eye drop that is specifically designed for patients with severe dry eyes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, managing dry eyes in patients with Sjogren's Disease can be challenging, but there are several types of eye drops available that can help.
It is essential to choose preservative-free drops to avoid further irritation and worsen dry eyes over time.
Patients should work with their ophthalmologist or optometrist to determine the best type of eye drops for their specific needs.
If you are a Sjogren's patient looking to purchase some preservative free drops recommended by patients throughout the Sjogren's community, be sure to check out the storefront here.
References:
Sjogren's syndrome. American College of Rheumatology. Retrieved from https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Sjogrens-Syndrome
Management and therapy of dry eye disease: report of the Management and Therapy Subcommittee of the International Dry Eye WorkShop (2007). Ocul Surf. 2007 Apr;5(2):163-78.
Lemp MA, Baudouin C, Baum J, Dogru M, Foulks GN, Kinoshita S, Laibson P, McCulley J, Murube J, Pflugfelder SC, Rolando M, Tsubota K. The definition and classification of dry eye disease: report of the Definition and Classification Subcommittee of the International Dry Eye Workshop. Ocul Surf. 2007 Apr;5(2):75-92.