Systane

[Steven Williams]

Thanx for that Gareth.

Yes I put the Systane in whilst the lens was still in my eye (trying to minimise the disruption at work and reduce the eye trauma of putting lens in/out).

Did not experience a problem with lens clouding up and it certainly provided lubrication and took the pain away, enabling me to get my continuous wear time up

Working at a VDU and in an air con environment is a challenge for rgp lens wear though.

The sell by date on the systane is 9/07/, however how long does the systane last after it has been opened. I purchased it last October and opened it shortly afterwards.

Could the crystal deposits be a reaction to the B&L solutions I am using?

I think that MREH were going to send the pics to systane and others to get feedback.

Of course if anything comes to light I will share the information here as I know many KCers use systane regularly.

[GarethB]

Steven,

You are right about VDU use, I have a timer next to my PC and a timer on the pC itself which goes off every 30 minutes reminding me to take a break. This is the time to get stuff from the printer, speak to people instead of phoning someone in the next door office or sending an email (only use email to confirm a conversation), comfort breaks and to get a drink. All this just to give my eyes a brief break, sounds disruptive, but sooner or later you need to speek to fellow workers, collect stuff from the printer, put stuff in the post so why not use them to be productive while resting the eyes to some extent?

Regularly get water, I find having a glass of water in an air con office ups the humidity very slightly and of course you know I drink loads of water so use the brief break to get a top up.

Not founs Systane to react to Baush and Lomb solutions, I use them all the time as they are the only ones I do not have an alergic reaction too. Not used the Systane bottle for about 18 months now since getting the ampoules from post optics which are preservative free. I make one ampoule last a day, the caps push on again quite tightly. For me, the single use ampoule Systane works better

If the Systane is coming to the end of the shelf life, it could be a problem if stored in a warm place, but part of the product testing before it passes regulatory submission is to demonstrate stability at elevated temperatures and humidity. Not sure what is [printed on the bottle if there is just a shelf life which if like contact lens solutions is from date of manufacture if unopend. It might have in smaller writting (these peopel never think of people with visual impairments using their products ) use within a certain period from opening.

Must admit when I was using the bottles, they would only last upto 2 weeks so shelf life was never an issue.

[Steven Williams]

Good news......at my MREH consultation last week the crystal deposits in my right eye have gone and I now have two lenses to try.

There was no follow up from Dr Cindy Tromans of how this could have arisen but I was advsied not to use the systane in future, which is a pity because I find it gives better relief than the viscotears gel.

I am a bit concerned by the gel as would this not block up my already poorly perfoming tear ducts? The idea of the gel as opposed to the liquid is its supposed to last longer.

Not used the Systane bottle for about 18 months now since getting the ampoules from post optics which are preservative free. I make one ampoule last a day, the caps push on again quite tightly. For me, the single use ampoule Systane works better

Thats interesting Gareth. Preservative free systane whats it called, where can you get it and how much is it?

I paid 6-50 for my 10ml bottle of Systane from Superdrug.

I think the crystalline deposits were caused by the rubbing of the lens generating heat and causing evaporation of the chemicals in the systane (maybe the preservatives!). I had been putting systane in my left eye which had no lens in and there were no deposits which would reinforce this hypothesis.

I would prefer not to have to put any man made chemicals in my eye and let nature/my body do the job, but obviously my eyes are not receiving adequate tear lubrication! Same old medical practice, treating the symptom rather than the cause!

Something which Dr CT suggested was to give
the edge of my bottom eyelid a hot bathing with a sterile cloth which has been soaked in hotwater. Have been doing this eye sauna and found it worthwile and very refreshing/relaxing. The theory is that it may open/clear any blocked tear ducts.

[Pat A]

Steven
I get my preservative free systane vials from
http://www.postoptics.co.uk
(as recommended a while ago by Gareth!)

They are currently £6.25 for a pack of 28 + postage, but if you buy other solutions from them at the same time the postage is a one off amount irrespective of size of order.. Or you can get Tesco's pharmacy to order them for you. They won't charge you postage!

[GarethB]

Pat beat me to it, no need for me to be on the forum