by Anura Guruge
on February 1, 2023
The eyedrops I was using — BUT I STOPPED today.
NOT taking the chance. The risk.
This is SCARY. Wow. Going blind. To be honest I would prefer to die. This is TOO close to home for I. I have never used this brand. I don’t think I have ever come across it. BUT here is the worry. If this brand got contaminated, others could TOO — especially others, like this one, that REFRAIN from using Preservatives. That is what is key here. No preservatives, no additives. Preservatives are said to irritate the eyes of some. That is why I doctors promote ‘Preservative Free’ eye drops — which are MORE EXPENSIVE.
Though I had worn contact lenses, daily, for 52-years, I was never big into eye drops. I could go for months without using — or needing — any. Dry eyes per se was never a problem or concern.
That all changed after I had my cataract surgeries in 2020/2021. My outstanding & brilliant surgeon, Dr. Theodor Sauer, of ‘Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston’ (OCB), impressed upon I the importance of keeping my eyes lubricated. He recommended the Refresh Mega-3 drops. He, per OCB guidelines, was very adamant that you should stay clear of eye drops that contain preservatives. In essence, IF the eye drops are in a bottle they will have preservatives. You have to go with these small, single-use ‘droppers’ to avoid preservatives. IF the drops are going to be exposed to air, as in a bottle, they need a preservative. Preservatives can irritate the eye. That is why you are told to stay clear of them.
Well, I am NOT going to take a chance. As it happens I have an appointment with Dr. Sauer (that I am looking forward to) in Boston this coming Monday. I will, of course, discuss this with him.
I had ‘Refresh’ as an Amazon monthly ‘subscription item’. I was due my next shipment next week. I cancelled that today!
