Washing eyes

[bappy]

From what I've read it's not a good idea to rub your eyes if you have KC, so I'm trying my best not to.

However, I do find and have been told by friends that I do seem to rub my eyes a lot. I don't know if my eyes are dry or if they are too "wet" but I often find myself wanting to rub my eyes to get, non-visible I might add, gunk out of them or stop them from stinging, especially around the edge of the eyelid where my eyelashes are.

I've tried standard Optrex eye drops and they don't seem to help for too long. I tried an eye wash/bath and it seemed a bit better but not by much, it was also very difficult to get a seal with the plastic bath so I didn't end up with the solution running down my face! Add to that it's £4 a bottle and I've used half a bottle in the space of 2 days.

I've wondered about using saline to just wash my eyes out but I'm not sure if that is a good idea? Or maybe there are other drops that are medicated or are better at cleaning/melting gunk out and keeping eyes feeling normal?

Does anyone have any tips?

[longhoc]

Hi there Bappy

I use saline to clean my eyes and it is by far the most effective means. I've tried everything -- and I mean everything -- but this works the best. You can use it to wet a cotton wool ball or similar or a sterile dressing for added hygiene. Be careful not to rub too hard, and it doesn't replace washing your face and general eye area with a mild soap (soft soap or hard soap as preferred).

Definitely "off label" -- and so I can't suggest you do this -- is to run saline direct from the bottle around the eye area and eyelid (helps to keep your eye closed while doing this). The main reason the manufacturers put a "don't do this" warning on the product/patient information leaflet is that a) the hydraulic pressure you can generate in a stream of liquid from a bottle of saline is significant and done straight at the eye could certainly cause damage and b) you also risk poking yourself in the eye with the bottle end. I do it at my own risk, maybe it'll all end in tears (or worse) one day, but it cuts down hugely on the eye rubbing so on balance I think it de-risks one problem at the cost of incurring a different risk elsewhere. The trade off is worth it to me anyway. But they do put the warning on the product for a reason !

Best wishes

Chris

[mr_skyfarmer]

Rubbing your eyes is a complete no no when you have keratoconus!
I used to really knuckled down deep rubbing my eyes because it felt good. I stopped completely when I was told this may have caused my condition.
I suggest you get in to the mindset that rubbing will make your sight worse and get your friends to tell you when your doing it!
I just use a cotton wool pad and warm water to clean my eyelashes.
Andy

[jay87]

I like doing this, but I don't like the stream of saline that runs down my face. I really should keep saline in the fridge, or is that being too decadent?!

Someone should invent an eye bib.

[Andrew MacLean]

Rather than "wash" my eyes, I flood them with artificial tears. It is best to use a brand that has no preservatives, I use Clinitas Soothe.

Andrew

[Charlottes mum]

especially around the edge of the eyelid where my eyelashes are.

Well you've just described what I think my daughter Charlotte is trying to explain to me about the feeling around her eye/lashes, so thank you for that
I bathe Charlotte's eyes with (often cooled boiled water for hygiene) but mostly now warm tap water and using a cotton wool pad (the flat ones as opposed to cotton wool that has fibres) and at the moment (left eye hydrops 3 wks 4 days) I put lacri-lube in her left eye for her and use Clinitas soothe individual vials for her right eye, it seems to give her some comfort although that left eye is niggling her somewhat (her story is on the forum made up of various posts - to save me explaining)
Best wishes, Angie