[Bobbi]

#1065779

I don’t think writing a prescription for over-the-counter medications works in terms of getting insurance to pick up the tab. And, your opthamologist would be the person who would know whether or not there is a prescription medication that might prove helpful. But if your insurance is like mine, there is a co-pay, and there probably wouldn’t be a whole lot of savings.

Does it get better? Sometimes, yes. Mine, however, goes in phases: sometimes I don’t have to use the drops much, but other times (like lately) the eyes become very dry again, and I’m using the drops more. It is cheaper to use the ones that are "preservative free in the eye" — which i consider to be a whole lot of hokum marketing. They’re either preservative free, or they’re not. But before you use that type, you might talk with the opthamologist about what that phrase means, and whether or not it is a good idea for YOU to be using a different type of drop.

I guess, though, when push comes to shove, you really must use the kind of drops you need, and in the amount you need them, to protect your corneas from damage. Sight is precious and to risk it for a few dollars of savings may not be wise.

[Ski]

#1065780

I completely agree with Bobbi ~ if it’s a question of your money or your sight, your sight wins. You may be able to get some cheaper prices buying online, check Amazon or Drugstore.com, they may have extra discounts or free shipping or bulk rates. If you are working and have access to a medical expenses account (money taken pre-tax and then spent only for medical expenses), the drops qualify as this type of expense, so you can at least take SOME benefit in the form of reducing your taxable income overall and having the money set aside. The way our fund works is that you commit a certain amount annually and a portion is taken out of each paycheck, but you can take reimbursement *before* you have accumulated as much as you’re being reimbursed, so there’s a tiny advantage there as well.

I am a little concerned with this comment though:

I am using them so frequently that I probably should use preservative free at least some of the time.

Preservative-free is essential, because preservatives cause their own irritation when you use the drops as frequently as you need to, then you end up using the drops for relief, but they are causing part of the problem. You may find that you don’t need as much if you always use preservative-free. Oh, one more thing ~ you can buy preservative-free drops in a bigger dispenser bottle that costs less per use than the individual units, and if you’re truly using them that much, it’ll end up being cheaper for you.

Are you covering your eyes at night? Perhaps you could use a little less of the gel if you can get a good cover figured out.

I thought there was a way you can have your doctor prescribe OTC drops, and the pharmacist just bundles them and sells them to you under your prescription rates, but I could be wrong (Bobbi’s very much up on these things!). Just ask your pharmacist, in case. I think the only prescription drops are steroid-based, and you don’t want to use those frequently, plus they would likely end up being nearly as expensive as what you’re using now.

You can also use other methods to reduce eye strain, like the big wraparound sunglasses (I know, I know, but they help!), tinted glasses when using the computer, resting your eyes as often as you can, remembering to blink (and hold the eye shut for a moment) more than usual, things like that. Every little bit helps.

[ewmb]

#1065781

Don’t forget to ask your eye doctor for samples. They get them all the time. My Mom gets a bag full every time she goes.

ewmb

[snelsen]

#1018573

It is beginning to be a financial burden for me to use the small tubes of eye ointment for nighttime. I have to use them, because I cannot shut my eye. I go through a $11 tube in two-three nights. That amounts to over a hundred dollars a month.
Does anyone know the name of an ointment I can ask my doc to write an rx for? I know he will be reluctant to do it, tell me to go to drug stores, but I am going to push this issue.
Same question for eye drops. They are so expensive, and I am using them so frequently that I probably should use preservative free at least some of the time.
Has anyone had this problem where it has gotten better?

[Ski]

#1065782

Oh, and you can also look into tear duct plugs ~ some are removable, some are dissolvable, and they can help the tears stay on your eye longer so you don’t need so many drops. If your condition is more chronic, they can actually cauterize them shut if the plugs turn out to help you a lot.

[Bobbi]

#1065783

I made the comment about insurance not covering meds available over the counter because I had been on a prescription of an allergy pill that suddently went OTC. I immediately got a letter from my health insurance company pointing out this fact, and giving me a one-time coupon to buy it, and telling me that since this was now available without a prescription they would no longer be paying for it or ANY similar drugs. (I.e. even a prescription based allergy med that was "similar" to what I had been taking would no longer be paid for, even if my doc wrote the prescription.) Obviously, different insurance companies have different approaches to things, so checking on your own would be a good idea.

[azroses2322]

#1065784

Getting samples from your doctor and also getting the coupons that they get (the tablets of them) is the best way I found for savings — my doctors would give me a bag of samples and several coupons with each visit. The coupons in the sample boxes are usually less off then the coupons on display in the office. When I was in the hot phase and suffering so severly with the opthamalogy — couldn’t shut my eyes, I had to use ointment and a sleep mask to sleep — the kind of sleep mask that has a nose bridge cover protected my eyes the best from any air getting to them while sleeping — it also keeps the mask in place over the eyes better — less shifting. I also found that the masks that have wells for the eyes are better because they do not drag down the eyelashes. At the conference in Charlotte they showed us a mask that seals with a gel — maybe someone has info on that — it looked messy but maybe it is a less costly alternative. Before I started having eye surgeries I was spending an average of $40 – $50 a week on nightime ointment and daytime liquid lubricants. I would spend money on it before I would spend it on food, just to protect my sight. I also was going through a tube of ointment in 3 nights and having to use lubricants every 15 minutes during the waking hours. I figured I spend about $2500 in a year on OTC eye protection and since it is OTC, not only is it not covered by insurance, it is not even a tax deduction as a medical expense. The biggest improvement for the daytime lubricants usage was when I got punctum plugs in the lower lid ducts — I got them in Feb. of 2008 and still have them — the improvement was immediate — I remember driving home and having moisture in my eyes again — yes a lot still ran down my cheeks but more was being spread as I blinked. Also remember to blink — when you read or use a computer you do not blink — so you force frequent blinks as you read. Then when I started the restorative eye surgeries, things got progressively better — When they lower my upper lids — it helped the most, as they raised the lower lids I was using less and less — I no longer had to use ointment at night but still use a mask. If you are not already taking the other percautions, remember to stay away from air movement — that means even fans and the A/C or heat vents in your home and any public room you are in. Waling into a room anywhere, I would check for air vents and sit where I would least be exposed. Use safety glasses when the air cannot be avoided and use wrap around sunglasses over the safter glasses if possible — I found the opthamology sunglasses that are made to go over glasses fit over the saftey glasses for a double layer of protection. If you live in a dry climate — use a humidifier — your eyes will feel better.

[snelsen]

#1065785

I really appreciate all the responses! As we know this site is a marvelous complement to our lives. Thank you AZROSES,
you experience really helped me. A hearty thanks to Ski, Bobbi and ewmb.
To summarize all the helpful posts, and to help others:
-yes, I know that anything over the counter cannot have a prescription anymore. Many of my friends were shocked when claritin became over the counter.

-Samples and coupons. Good point! I will be more proactive when I an in the doc’s office. When they give me one, I will ask for 10!! I’ll also explore online purchases, see if there is any advantage to that.

Masks, gel masks, etc. I will explore all that. I tried to tape eyelid, that just did not work for me.
Plug-I fogot to say that I already have them. Can’t really say there was a profound improvement, but they do help.

I am SO SO anxious to be in the cold phase. I am hoping eyelid surgical procedures can help me with this. I have also head of a gold implant in the upper eyelid, don’t know much about that.
All for now, I am sure I missed some of the suggestions, but I will keep this topic to review. I will take good care of my corneas!

[Author]

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