Trying Lacrisert

[Lucy]

Would saline work the same? Or would the salty water irritate the eye?

[skygoddess]

Good question, I know some people rinse with saline.
I just happened to have a sample of Evian spray in a hotel room once, and it seemed to work well.
It was almost as expensive as the Natures Tears though. So I just went to distilled or bottled water in my spray bottles.
Its my understanding in Ocular rosacea and Mgd the tear film saponifies, or actually turns soapy.
I also use the spray to wash out the soapy film from my eyes.

[Rebecca Petris]

I suspect unpreserved saline is probably the best (safe & effective) way to help dissolve it. If I remember right the optometrist who recently did the Lacrisert Q&A for us in chat suggested this as an option too.

[marcalans]

MGD does soapify the tearfilm, which contributes to discomfort, and that is why I always wondered why patients are advised many times to use diluted baby shampoo for lid scrubs. My ophthalmologist advised me to avoid using baby shampoo because it will just augment the soapification associated with MGD.

I spoke with the people at Bio-Logic Aqua Technologies (the manufacturer of Nature's Tears) and was told that the canisters are irradiated with gamma rays to kill any potential bacteria in the water (basically irradiated tap water). I've purchased quite a few over time and noticed that the quality control of the spray nozzle is very poor. Sometimes the nozzle produces a fine mist, as intended, but other times the nozzle actually squirts with enough force to really blast the cornea. I would strongly urge that you test the nozzle before aiming it at your eye, if you decide to purchase this product. The company sent me 10 free samples after I complained about the nozzle, but I can't say that the product offers any real benefit other than psychological. There is a video on YouTube featuring an ophthalmologist who claims that Nature's Tears is just a scam (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-O_9r9PRXE).

[marcalans]

MGD does soapify the tearfilm, which contributes to discomfort, and that is why I always wondered why patients are advised many times to use diluted baby shampoo for lid scrubs. My ophthalmologist advised me to avoid using baby shampoo because it will just augment the soapification associated with MGD.

I spoke with the people at Bio-Logic Aqua Technologies (the manufacturer of Nature's Tears) and was told that the the canisters are irradiated with gamma rays to kill any potential bacteria in the water (basically irradiated tap water). I've purchased quite a few over time and noticed that the quality control of the spray nozzle is very poor. Sometimes the nozzle produces a fine mist, as intended, but other times the nozzle actually squirts with enough force to really blast the cornea. I would strongly urge that you test the nozzle before aiming it at your eye, if you decide to purchase this product. The company sent me 10 free samples after I complained about the nozzle, but I can't say that the product offers any real benefit other than psychological. There is a video on YouTube featuring an ophthalmologist who claims that Nature's Tears is just a scam (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-O_9r9PRXE).