Contaminated Eye Drops

[rhonda28]

I recently realized my eyedrops were contaminated with something.  Last night I put in systane eyedrops and they burned my eyes bad like they were on fire.

How can I find out and where can I find out with what they were contaminated??  I think it is bleach or rubbing alcohol.  Would like to have tested.

[Heiferly]

Have you used Systane eye drops in the past without having any burning? (Note that what I'm about to say does not apply to Systane Preservative Free Vials.) Systane eye drops use a preservative called Polyquad [polyquaternium-1]. Different brands use different preservatives. The symptoms you describe sound VERY much like an allergic reaction to the preservative. I know, because I just found out I'm allergic to Polyquad myself recently when I tried a sample of Systane drops. When I reported the burning like hydrochloric acid reaction to my neuro-ophthalmologist, he told me the name of which ingredient causes it and to read labels to avoid it from now on, since apparently I'm allergic.

Of course I'm not a doctor so I can't say that is the case with you, but you can probably call your optician or ophthalmologist to find out for sure. Igoogled eye drop preservatives and found more info on different ones and their pros and cons as well, so you may want to do that. For me, Genteal is working well without any reaction. The Systane without preservative works for me too but is expensive due to the individual vials.

Good luck!
Heiferly.

[namnam46]

Hi rhonda,

First I want to welcome you to the Pain Management Forum and let you know that we are glad you found this Forum. I want to let you know that there are NO Doctors on this Forum only CP - Chronic Pain - Patients that help each other with our OWN expertise and experiences that we have developed through our OWN CP Issues.

That is so TERRIBLE what you experienced!!!   I HOPE that you rinsed your eyes out IMMEDIATELY when they began to burn!!

I HIGHLY recommend that you take the tainted eyedrops to your pharmacist and ask them where to take them to be analyzed!!  There ARE places that you can take them for analysis.  

PLEASE let us know what you find out...........Sherry

[trdofbeingtrd]

Why do you think the eyedrops have what you think they have in them?

You really need to see a doctor. I am not trying to scare you, I am just being honest. IF there are bad things in your eyes, you don't want your eyes to get worse from not treating them. You can see the doctor, and take your medication drops to the doctor with you.

[GSDgirl]

Most eyedrops burn my eyes pretty bad but they sure feel good after the burn is over.  They burn worse if they are really irritated.

[Melissa_1982]

I don't think there is any way to know what they were contaminated with & don't know if there is any way to have them tested. Sorry