Eye Didn't Know!

Using Eyedrops

Did you know? Patients are routinely prescribed eyedrops for a variety of conditions, including dry eye, infections, glaucoma, and for post-operative care. Few patients, however, are given instructions on how to instill their eyedrops. When asked to demonstrate how they instill their drops, few patients are able to perform drop administration reliably, which means that they may be receiving inadequate medicine, or may be spending too much on drops because the drops don't enter the eye on first attempt.

The sketch below shows proper technique. One stands in front of the mirror, pulls the lower lid down, and places one drop into the pocket formed. The drop does not need to be placed on the eyeball, and one drop is all that is necessary.

That's all there is to it!

(image courtesy of American Academy of Ophthalmology)

Did you also know? Closing the eyes gently for a minute or two after drop instillation may help increase its absorption into the eyes and keeping the medication out of the bloodstream.

Omega-3 Oils for Dry Eye?

Did you know? A new study published in the February 2008 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology showed that applying omega-3 fatty acids to the surface of the eyes of laboratory mice protected them from the effects of dry conditions. Eyedrops containing two compounds, alpha-linoleic acid, and linoleic acid, a mixture of the two, as well as a drop containing neither compound, and no treatment, were compared. The mice receiving the alpha-linoleic acid had less dryness and inflammation compared to the other groups.

Did you also know? Many ophthalmologists recommend taking fish oil or flaxseed oil to improve dry eye, including the dry eye which can sometimes occur after Lasik surgery (though I would like to see more well-designed studies proving their benefit). This, however, is the first study I have seen suggesting that a drop containing the oils may prove beneficial.

Doxycycline eyedrops?

Did you know? For many years, ophthalmologists have prescribed doxycycline tablets for patients with rosacea, blepharitis, and dry irritated eyes. In these conditions, the pills do not act as antibiotics, but rather they are thought to decrease inflammation in the oil glands which help lubricate the eyes, and alter the oil so that it is more lubricating and less irritating. This therapy works well, but is limited by frequent side-effects from the oral medication, as well as the length of time (weeks or months) before relief is noticed.

A company, Alacrity Biosciences, has developed a doxycycline eyedrop which promises relief from dry eye and blepharitis without the side effects of oral doxycycline. In a double-masked two-month study of 160 subjects, patients receiving the eyedrop had less burning, stinging, and grittiness than those receiving the placebo. They also fared better when placed in a "controlled adverse (dry and windy) environment."

Did you also know? The same company has a novel treatment for glaucoma in its development pipeline.

A Sweet Cure for Dry Eyes?

Did you know? An Australian company, called Medihoney, is investigating the use of purified, medicinal honey to treat severe dry eyes. Honey has a history of medicinal use since ancient times, and has been studied for use in treating wounds that do not heal. It is thought to have antibacterial properties, as well, from a number of mechanisms. There is a new study, published in a prominent ophthalmology journal, which showed use of their honey decreased bacteria in the eyes of dry eye patients. I await further evidence for this product, but the company is to be commended for using scientific clinical trials to test their products, rather than the anecdotal, anti-scientific approach used by many "natural" healthcare products.

Did you also know? The honey used in these products is not from the grocery store! According to the company, their honey is specially filtered to remove potentially dangerous contaminants, and its antibacterial properties are standardized. (They claim that most store-bought honey has variable, or little, antibacterial properties).