Rebound Hyperemia Help Please!!!?!
Question:
Rebound Hyperemia Help Please!!!?
As most have been saying in these forums, I was not aware of the particular harmful affects vasoconstrictors have on your eyes...especially over time. I have been using Opcon-A for a couple years along with Systan lubricating drops. I have been trying to cut back on the vasoconstrictor just because I had a hunch that they weren't the best for me. I saw a couple optometrists and they were not really that helpful. So did my own research online and red all these good comments and articles. I have an appt set up with an opthamologist in a couple weeks, but I would appreciate any suggestions or help on treatment methods for rebound hypermia and basically vasonstrictor addiction.
The worst is definitely in the mornings, pure bloodshot eyes. I used to think it was cause I have anxiety related insomnia some nights, but they were just as red on good nights rest. I use them also at least 2-3 times during the day. I hate when people notice my red eyes at work so thats why I drop them.
Answers:
this is treatable, so thats the good news.
when a patient like this presents a story like yours to me, here's what i typically do...i put them on steroids. usually alrex...thats low dose lotoprednol. then i watch them closely for a few weeks/months. when they finally start looking better i "ween" them off of the steroids ssssllllooooowwwwwwllllyyyyy.
so, while the good news is that its usually fixable, the bad news is that it takes weeks/months to fix, and involves moderately expensive Rx-only eyedrops to do it.
i also recommend *chilled* artificial tears during the recovery. not only does the cold feel good, but cold is also a natural vasoconstrictor, so it helps you look more "normal" after you stop the chemical vasoconstrictor cold-turkey.
depending on how long you've been chronically using the opcon, you should expect to be pretty darned red for a few weeks after you stop using it.