Returning to Contacts.. ?

The thought of returning to contact lenses has always been on my mind but the best thing that I have done thus far in improving my stringy discharge/dry eye condition is to cease the use of contact lenses. My overall eye health has definitely improved by simply allowing them to breathe naturally. (With the exception of the eye products that I've used.)

However, there have been occasions where the use of spectacles has been very bothersome (e.g., playing sports, working under vehicle, etc.). For these reasons, I have decided that once I hit the 6 month [1 year] mark of wearing glasses, I might then return to the occasional contact lense use.

I recall in October my optometrist stated that if I decided to start using contacts again that I should try 'daily disposable contacts.' I have been reading many articles and websites regarding the types of contacts available for individuals suffering from dry eye and started to do some comparisons. (Useful links provided at bottom of post).

Before I would wear weekly disposables:

Acuvue Oasys                              ($33.99/ box) or ($67.89/ 2 boxes : 3 month supply)

Candidates for daily disposables:

1-Day Acuvue 30 pack                  ($29.99/ box) or ($59.98/ 2 boxes : 1 month supply)

1-Day Acuvue Moist 30 pack          ($29.99/ box) or ($59.98/ 2 boxes : 1 month supply)

1-Day Acuvue Moist 90 pack        ($69.99/ box) or ($139.98/ 2 boxes : 3 month supply)

Biomedics 1-Day 90 pack              ($44.99/ box) or ($89.98/ 2 boxes : 3 month supply)

ClearSight 1 Day 30 pack              ($19.99/ box) or ($39.98/ 2 boxes : 1 month supply)

ClearSight 1 Day 90 pack              ($44.99/ box) or ($89.98/ 2 boxes : 3 month supply)

Dailies AquaComfort Plus 30p        ($27.99/ box) or ($55.98/ 2 boxes : 1 month supply)

Dailies AquaComfort Plus 90p       ($59.99/ box) or ($119.98/ 2 boxes: 3 month supply)

Focus DAILIES 30 pack                 ($22.49/ box) or ($44.98/ 2 boxes : 1 month supply)

Focus DAILIES 90 pack                 ($44.99/ box) or ($89.98/ 2 boxes : 3 month supply)

Proclear 1-Day 90 pack               ($64.99/ box) or ($129.98/ 2 boxes : 3 month supply)

SofLens Daily Dis. 90p                  ($44.99/ box) or ($89.98/ 2 boxes : 3 month supply)

*prices from 1800contacts.com as of April 28, 2010.

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As you can see, if one were to wear daily disposables as much as they did weekly disposables, they would be spending a bit more money. Something to consider when choosing which contact lenses are right for you.

Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes (allaboutvision.com)

Contacts for Dry Eyes (buzzle.com)

Allergy Season

Spring is now in effect and that means for allergy sufferers like myself, the weeds and pollen must be avoided as much as possible. The best thing to do when outside is to wear sunglasses or have your regular glasses coated with uv protection to protect your eyes from any dry conditions.

With your eyes bothered, most likely you might notice more eye discharge than usual. Last weekend I noticed a good amount of discharge and was surprised/distraught by it but as a reminder, with dry eyes it is not something that simply disappears.

Natrol Omega 3-6-9 Complex: Finished the bottle yesterday and during the duration of use, my eyes didn't seem that dry but starting today I will either:

1. stop taking fish oil and see if my eyes feel any different

2. started taking TheraTears Nutrition once again. [May 2, 2010 - started taking TheraTears Nutrition (2 pills daily instead of 3)]

 3. new TheraTears Nutrition opened June 17, 2010.

Dry Eyes Explained (Source: University of Illinois)

Stringy Eye Discharge Update

Stats:

Eye Wear: Almost 5 months of wearing glasses, meaning 5 months free of contact lense use.

Environment: Because of my work life, I find that I am driving a bit more and I am outdoors quite often where for the past few days it has been cold and windy.

Supplement: Consistently taking 2, Natrol Omega 3-6-9 tablets each day.

Compress: Hot warm compresses that I used to do twice daily have been quite inconsistent as of late.

I have noticed that lately, the clear stringy eye discharge has not been appearing very often. It has subsided but when it does appear, it strangely does so while I am driving.

Tips:

1. Drink a lot of water; when your body is hydrated, your eyes are hydrated. (I drink plenty of water daily.)

2. Keep alcohol/caffeine consumption to a minimum for the mere fact that they dehydrate the body, thus your eyes.

Natrol Omega 3-6-9 Complex Review

I have recently tried Natrol Omega 3-6-9 Complex. The supplement purchased comes with 90 softgels and costs about $11.99, which is similar in price to TheraTears Nutrition.

Pros:

1. Product does not effect eyes any differently compared to TheraTears Nutrition.

2. I have been taking the recommended, 2 softgels daily whereas with the latter, the recommended intake is 3 tablets.

Cons: (I have read some reviews on amazon.com regarding TheraTears Nutrition and some individuals say they cannot stand the fish smell whereas I barely notice it).

1. However, with this product the lemon/fish smell is quite abundant.

2. Furthermore, the softgels are HUGE. Not to be consumed by individuals prone to gagging. I try to down the softgels with water as quick as possible.

3. (Fish supplements contain EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), long chain forms of omega 3's, whereas ALA (Alpha Linolenic Acid) is a short form and it takes longer for your body to convert this). That being said, this product contains 70mg EPA, 45mg DHA, & 200mg ALA. TheraTears Nutrition contains 150mg EPA, 100 mg DHA, no ALA. This could be a pro depending on preference.

I am halfway done with the bottle and today I noticed an 'aroma-can' inside the bottle.  >>

From their official website, they state that these small items are placed in the bottles to help add a pleasant scent. Well I can say it most definitely does not help.

That being said, after finishing the bottle I will most likely go back to taking TheraTears Nutrition. It is a lot easier to take 3 of their tablets compared to 2 Natrol Omega 3-6-9 tablets.