Lotemax dry eye
Common Questions and Answers about Lotemax dry eye
lotemax
60 yr old female. Have been dealing with dry eye for over a year. Antibiotics, Lotemax drops, Lotemax gel, Blink lubricating drops, Now; Refresh PM gel, Systane Ultra lubricating drops and Restasis. Optimologist prescribed Restasis 6 weeks ago. Still not sure why eyes are red all of the time. Suggested allergy testing, which I have scheduled now. Optomologist says that he still isn't sure what is going on and wants to put plugs in my eyes.
Often the problem is a border line dry eyes. One drop numbs the eye (often drying it also) the other dilate (neosynephrine and tropicamide). In those rare instances where people report problems post exam we have them use preservative free artificial tears hourly after the exam then 4 times per day for 3 days and we put a drop of steroid in the eye at the end of the exam and check the cornea.
Weeks go by and still no relief, i still have pain(pinching/peircing sensation above eye, and general all over eye discomfort). I stop taking lotemax on suggestion of EMT neighbor. Eye calms down and now just have piercing/pinching pain only. I go see another Dr. He listens to story, looks at eye, puts me on Prednisone. Weeks pass, still pain. Call several times, finally get an appointment again. Looks at eye, prescribes cat scan.
He mentioned that I had a lot of protein build up on my contacts and did a stain and he said I had dry eye. He prescribed Lotemax .05 as a first step therapy. Being fearful of steriods, he said that this is a mild steriod and hasn't had anyone have any problems with it. He said it's completely safe. Well, one month later, he informs me that I have cataracts (posterior subcapsular cataracts) and that they are a .5 on a scale of 1-4.
Being fair-skinned with blue eyes, I've always had an issue with redness, but have been able to control it with Bausch & Lomb Opcon eye drops. However, a couple of years ago it got to the point where that wasn't working any more, so I went to an ophthalmologist in Orlando who examined me and said there was nothing wrong.
Hello Doctor
I got GPC on my left eye when I overused my contacts and I was on Lotemax for about 2 months, the bumps went away but I still have problems on my left eye. its usually redder than my right eye and my upper eyelid gets itchy and swollen randomly time to time, I tried Allaway but it didn't help, I also use a lot of Artificial tears and Gels so I'm sure its not from dryness.
Yes computer works drys the eye because it reduces the blink rate. Part of the reason why dry eye becoming more common in young people. Do the 10/10/10 rule. Every 10 minutes look away from your screen focus on something as far away as possible and blink firmly 10 times. Use artificial tears at least every 30 minutes. SS is a lot worse for prognosis than MGD. You would need to ask your ophthalmologist about oral antibiotics. SS would be a bigger set back than MGD.
Are steroids such as Maxitrol or Tobradex *supposed* to help with eye burning caused by dry eye or can it make your symptoms worse? I'm dealing with allergic conjunctivitis (again!) and dealing with burning eyes. thanks!
I have had severe dry eye and blepharospasms since June 2008. I have been on Lotemax & Restasis for at least 6 mos. After I lubricate my eyes, why do they close? I need to work and how much longer until the blepharospasms go away? I have been to many doctors and stopped all medications I was taking over 2 mos. ago. The blepharitis is mild now.
After a week of using the prescribed eye drops (Vigamox, Lotemax, Tobradex) it went away. The optometrist said the bacteria was gone and so I started wearing contacts after a day's rest. Within a day of getting off the medicated drops, there was a pink blur in my left eye. I continued using the medication thinking it was pink eye again. It worked for a week but now my eye is quite veiny.
The doctor also had said that my eyes were very dry.
The only new thing that changed in June was my dr started me on Cymbalta for nerve pain. I see him on Oct 7th, and will discuss the eye issue. It does say dry eyes can be a side effect, but it's one of the medications you can't stop without gradually tapering off. But I'm not sure if this is the cause, as I have had dry eyes for over a year, just not this bad. Thanks for your reply.
I went to my eye doctors office as a work in and diagnosed with concretions and dry eye. This doctor prescribed Lotemax, Restasis and told me I had chronic inflammation. He didn't check my pressure for glaucoma I didn't realize it until I went for my 6 week follow up and my pressure was 25 last year it was 14 and 16 and field tests looked good. So I may have drug induced glaucoma due to my family having it.
Lotemax is the brand name of the drug loteprednol. It is a steroid anti-inflammatory like Pred Forte and likely is to be used in place of Pred Forte (or the other way around). You would need to ask your doctor to be sure. "Lotepred" on the label must refer to the generic name of loteprenol.
The brand name of Ketorolac, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, is Acular. So, nothing you have replaces the Ketorolac. Sorry. Maybe your doctor could give you a sample.
P.S.
i also experience itching and irritation in both eyes from time to time. SHOULD I START LOTEMAX? will it be effective?
Post eye exams are usually
1. allergy to eye drops. This is unusual and the problem would not last more than a couple of days.
2. Touching the eye with tissue while dabbing eye dry and scratching cornea. This is common. People often don't feel because the eye is numbed to check IOP
3. Pre existing cornea problems like dry eyes or corneal dystrophy like basement membrane disorder. Drying out from the numbing drops sets it off.
"Lotemax is the only steroid that can be prescribed for long term therapy" This statement by PDophthalmology is incorrect.
Any steroid drop can be prescribed for long term use. The question is should they be and if they are needed what is the best choice.
First many conditions such as chronic uveitis require long term therapy of strong steroids such as pred forte, vexol, FML As with any steroid taken long term side effects are common and close monitoring is important.
Right now I am taking lotemax, one drop in each eye in the morning and which will relief from the dryness for whole day. but it will come back once I stop it. but doctors recommended to not take long time this steroid but I am using from almost 5 years.
please advise me what can I do to get rid of this?
You might consider seeking a second opinion with a Dry Eye Specialist. There are multiple other treatments for the dry eye, no of which work rapidly (they take months). Restasis, Omega 3's, Autologous serum are just a few. For the blocked tear duct, visit with a occuloplastics specialist.
Sincerely,
Timothy D.
My eye doctor just Rx'd Lotemax (4 weeks) & Restasis (for life) for my extremely dry eyes. They feel like sand is in them. I am concerned because from what I can understand Restasis works through the auto immune system. I am in week 38 of standard treatment and since week 16 of treatment have had a hypothyroid. Any advice? I also was told this morning to increase Procrit from 20,000 to 40,000 a week because Hgb was only 8.5 on this weeks lab.
Have cauterized lower puncta and have tried plugging upper puncta with no success. Have worn large contacts. Have tried every eye drop known to the medical community. Had silver nitrate treatment x 2. Now am on 1% Cyclosporin, which burns like acid. Nothing has even begun to work.He said the next step was to have ocular surgery where the mast cells are literally scraped off, but he said it's not always successful.
It seems to be very slowly detaching with the use of Lotemax and Nevanac eye drops, with a small section yet to go. Today I experienced a sharp pain in my left eye while reaching for something, then a couple minutes of tears flowing. I've experienced that pain (tho not as sharp) a couple of times during this period. Felt like an eyelash in the eye, but there was nothing visible in my eye. bWhat are the possible causes? Could it be the membrane separating?
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