GeoffL
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Firstly, a massive caveat: I am not a medical professional and am merely passing on advice from an optician that helped me -- it might not help you and I can't rule out it might cause harm if misapplied, so seek proper medical advice. However:
Some years ago I was diagnosed with dry eye and prescribed artificial tears (eye drops). I recently had an eye test where the optician asked if I was using any medication, including eye drops. She thought the six to ten times a day I was administering the drops was excessive and suggested an alternative eye drop. Almost in passing, she suggested applying a warm compress to my closed eyes first thing each day and before going to bed. The basis for this is that in some people your tears thicken and can clog the tear ducts. Warmth makes the 'plugs' that clog your tear ducts less viscous and can thus clear your tear ducts and return normal function. Her advice to me was to apply a warm compress for a few minutes each time. I did and a couple of days after starting this no longer needed the eye drops. FWIW, the compresses I use are a clean flannel soaked in hot water from the tap or (when in the van) placed in a bowl and soaked with water from the kettle and allowed to cool to a tolerable temperature.
I'm posting this because it seems to me that GPs and perhaps even many opticians don't know about this or forget. I've including a link for info. I hope this helps someone as much as it helped me...
Some years ago I was diagnosed with dry eye and prescribed artificial tears (eye drops). I recently had an eye test where the optician asked if I was using any medication, including eye drops. She thought the six to ten times a day I was administering the drops was excessive and suggested an alternative eye drop. Almost in passing, she suggested applying a warm compress to my closed eyes first thing each day and before going to bed. The basis for this is that in some people your tears thicken and can clog the tear ducts. Warmth makes the 'plugs' that clog your tear ducts less viscous and can thus clear your tear ducts and return normal function. Her advice to me was to apply a warm compress for a few minutes each time. I did and a couple of days after starting this no longer needed the eye drops. FWIW, the compresses I use are a clean flannel soaked in hot water from the tap or (when in the van) placed in a bowl and soaked with water from the kettle and allowed to cool to a tolerable temperature.
I'm posting this because it seems to me that GPs and perhaps even many opticians don't know about this or forget. I've including a link for info. I hope this helps someone as much as it helped me...
Warm Eye Compress for Eye Problems
When you have pain or discomfort caused by an eye infection or other problem, a warm compress may help. Learn how to make a warm compress and what symptoms they may relieve.
www.webmd.com