EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/1148281
C ORNEA eyeComfort box Source: ReVision LASIK and Cataract Surgery continued from page 54 Financial interests Nolan: None Park: None Petris: None Rock: None Schumer: None Wang: None 56 | EYEWORLD | AUGUST 2019 Although cost can be a concern with any treatment, tears are a less pricey option than prescription medication, said Nathan Rock, OD. He advises patients to not go for the cheapest generic option, which may use an older and less effective formulation. One final recommendation: Dr. Park some- times must educate patients about the differ- ence between tears and a product like Resta- sis (cyclosporine, Allergan). She explains to patients that "[Restasis] does not work instan- taneously as a tear replacement and needs to be used on a regular basis to achieve its effect." Tear instructions Instructions on how often to use drops usu- ally depends on symptom severity, said James Schumer, MD. He recommends using drops for burning sensations or blurred vision. However, if no symptoms are present, there's no need to use the drops. Dr. Rock will advise that patients use tears once or twice daily for mild symptoms. For more advanced cases, he recommends tear use four times a day. "Be sure to be diligent about the use of tears and to use them preventative- ly, rather than waiting for symptoms to occur when they will then be less effective," he said. Dr. Rock cautions patients against using more than one drop at the same time. This, he said, can lead to waste. Eye drops of any kind can be hard to administer, so Dr. Schumer shares specific guid- ance with patients. Patients with trouble getting artificial tears into their eyes may want to try the Simply Touch applicator (Simply Touch USA), Ms. Pe- tris said. "It can be quite helpful both with the process and with reducing [drop] loss," she said. When to go stronger If patients are using tears four times a day or more, that may indicate the need for a stronger treatment, Dr. Wang said. Treatment options at that point may include prescription medications, punctal occlusion, in-office treatments, oral sup- plements, and lifestyle modifications. Another option is a more viscous drop when artificial tears do not coat well or do not alleviate symptoms, Dr. Schumer said.