Overuse of eye drops

My question is revolving around that i recently discovered that there should be a limit to your eye drop use in a day. Well I know I have exceeded it at times sometimes it seems like my eyes get more red than usual...If any one could tell me some side effects and if I were to stop using them would they be reversable?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

There is no limit on using artifical tears in your eye. Whitening drops like Visine and Murine should be used only on occassion (3-4 times/week). Any more risks causing "rebound redness" from the drops themselves.

JCH II MD

[dawnjohn]

My husband is suffering from this rebound redness (16 straight months now-no relief), what can you do about it?  Obviously stop the drops, but will he recover?  The opth. said he had dry eye, but that's NOT it.  When I surf these symptoms, everyone's calling it rebound redness from overuse of eye drops which he DID overuse big time.  HELP!!!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

First and foremost stop the "red out" drops Visine, Murine etc.

Second see a Eye MD that specializes in cornea and external disease for a definite diagnosis and rule out other causes of chronic red eyes.

Rebound redness corrects itself in time (several months) its not a lifelong problem if the red out drops are stopped

JCH MD

[dawnjohn]

Dr. Hagan, thank you so much!  My husband stopped the drops and days later he looked better...now two weeks later he's amazingly on his way back to normal.  And, the facial pressure he was experiencing from it has stopped too.  I am concerned why when we went to an actual eye doctor did they not mention this rebound redness?  They diagnosed it as dry eye and prescribed more drops.  When he stopped using everything is when he got better!!!  (He was using too much Visine for years!)

People, don't use Visine regularly!!!!!!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Perhaps he didn't mention visine use. patients often don't tell me about visine, murine and other drops they use also they often omit many "herbals" they take internally.

JCH MD

[Bigroo2]

I've now only just realized that I too seem to have rebound eyes, but I will find it near impossible to completely abstain from using the "Murine Clear Eyes" drops as I have face-to-face meetings daily. I find my eyes going red about 2 - 3 hrs after the previous use.

Must I completely stop use to see improvement or will reduced usage (with the intent to completely stopping...for ever) also work, or will any use just exacerbate the problem?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

See an Eye MD ophthalmologist for a complete exam and to determine that you do not have eye disease causing the redness.

Discuss swearing off Murine and other whiteners and for a short period using a mild steroid drop to prevent the redness that makes you keep reaching for Murine.

JCH MD

[Bigroo2]

Thank you Dr Hagan....I really appreciate and value your response!!

Bruce

[londonoodle]

Hello. I became addicted to eye whitener. I first started using it when my eyes were looking tired and dull. But after a year of continual use (sometimes twice a day), my eyes were getting worse. A few hours after applying the whitener, my eyes would get redder and duller. I'd then re-apply mid-afternoon to make them white again - it was a vicious circle. I ended up taking the drops out with me when I went out - worried that they would go red when talking to girls etc.

A visit to the optician for a general check-up, I told her about the eye whitening drops I was using - and she told me to stop straight away - because they were causing the redness. She gave me some dry eye drops to use instead - and a few days later, my eyes were back to normal. I'm so happy because I was getting worried about them. Turns out that it was all because of the eye whitener. They should make it clearer on the bottle - because it doesn't say about the long-term effects of using it.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[shivvy88]

yes they really should make it clear on the bottle about long term effects- i wonder are these companies producing these toxic eye poisons aware of the damage they are doing to peoples eyes who think these eye products are safe- iam recovering after months of over-using these products thinking they were safe- i hope my eyes go back to normal eventually- i feel really let down by pharmacists who advised me to take these, who clearly are'nt aware of the physical and emotional damage rebound red eyes can have on a persons confidence and daily routine in life. so are your eyes back to normal now london noodle?

[bomber76]

Hi All.  This is great info. I thought I was the only one and was ashamed to tell anyone of my addiction... even my wife!! I have using Murine Clear Eyes for the last 15 years thinking that these drops were my only answer to otherwise crazy red, tired looking eyes.  I guess I started up as a young self conscious teenager wanting to impress the girls (or at least not scare them off!), but since then this has grown into a full blown addiction that I cannot shake... I can probably count the number of days I haven't put at least 1 drop into my eyes during this time on one hand!  Only now am I realising that the source of the redness is probably the damn drops themselves!!! Agree with the other comments... surely this needs to be clearer on the label.  Now its cold tukey or nothing for me as of right now.  Truly hope this is reversable... what an idiot!!!  Anyway.. here we go. Thanks again.

[geejaysm]

I am desperate. I keep getting corneal ulcers and prescribed steroid drops. As soon as I go off the drops, the problem starts over. Ive been on these steroid drops for 12 weeks in the past 6 months. My current doctor thinks I have an autoimmune disorder but everything i get tested for conmes back negative. This time I am trying to wean myself off the drops but I have terrible pressure in and around my eye. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME