my brother had a motorcycle accident in Thailand & has ruptured his right eye & loss sight in same eye! But we have been given 3 different eye drops + a cream & after follow on appointment today, have given us 3 different ones, but because of language barrier,we need to find out if we can use all at once or need to stop using first batch!!
Can anyone help?
Really sorry to hear about your brother. What a major bummer!
Not sure you'll get your answers without naming the drops. And the moderators may not like that here on Patient UK.
I strongly recommend you go back to the doctor with a good translator in tow and get it cleared up. I was in a hospital in Bangkok once and the quality of care was very high, so that at least should not a worry for you.
So here's the thing: If the first drop is a cortisone (steroid) drop, it's important NOT to use it longer than a few days – I think five or seven is the max. And steroid drops are very often the first port of call, so it is possible he meant that for the short term.
Or, if it is an anesthesic drop, that too should be used as little as possible – like super rarely! I think that is just to tide you over very short periods of extreme pain. Anywhere else – including India, I may say – they would not let you take such drops home with you or give you a prescription for the anaesthetic one. But in the East you never know what they might do, especially if you asked for it.
But if your drops are not either of those two, it's probably fine to use all of them at different times of the day
I have extreme dry eyes and use five different kinds of drops and gels. My opthal told me in my case, it was good to use different drops, and having struggled with it for over a year, I find he is right and I have found a balance with my condition and the drops.
Your case might be very different, so do be wise!
What I did pick up from my Moorfields London Eye Hospital opth is that the eyes are largely self healing, and quick healing.
So take heart!
Can you get home asap and see a consultant in your native country?or find a good travel rep with decent english??? Your poor brother,
Hi Ben, I hope things work out well for your brother. All I can add, is that my eye drops tell me to leave at least 5 minutes between using the different drops. And I would suggest using the cream last.
I hope you can find some help today, good luck.
Try listing the drops for us & we'll see what happens!
Hi all thanks for replying, the first batch of eye drops were given to us as we left hospital on 18/5/16, which are:-
CEFTAZIDIME
CEFAZOLIN
ATROPINE
TOBRAMYCIN (once at bedtime)
& second batch of eye drops were given today 25/5/16 are:-
MOXIFLOXACIN
DICLOFENAC
FUSIDIC (once at bedtime)
apart from the 2 that says at bedtime, all the rest are 4 times per day, is that too much & can they be mixed?
Also the CEFAZOLIN Seems to have gone a darker yellow than started out!!!
Hi trip advisor we are due to fly home on 5/6/16, he couldn't fly home medically anytime before, as he pretty much fractured his whole face, had bleeding on the brain & problems with his lungs aswell as losing his sight in his right eye!! But we have had help from British embassy with translator, but we know they are busy and can only get to us at certain times.
thanks
Ben, I am so sorry to hear that. It is true what they say , theres always somone goin through something a lot worse. Im not a Holy Joe but I do have faith, I will keep your brother in my prayers. People on this forum are very helpful so Im sure if anyone can throw any light on the meds etc. they will reply to you...sorry I cant be of more help, Ben.
That's good Ben!
The Atropine dilates the pupil, which may also help with any pain.
The Diclofenac is an anti inflammatory.
The rest are antibiotics of one sort or another. All drops should be kept in their original cartons, to protect them from light, which may explain the darker colour or the Cefazolin.
My Drops always say that I should use them at least 5 minutes apart, though in the clinic, they put them in one after the other!
Hope this helps you a little.
Hi thanks for replying, does the colour change mean it can still be used as I read on google if they change don't use! It just so hard with the language barrier, maybe I'm just being too cautious.
thanks again
thank you for your kind words, means a lot
Did they tell your brother to carry on using the drops from the first visit?
It almost looks as though they have updated the prescription on the second visit......I must add, I am not a doctor, just a patient who uses a lot of different eye drops.
Eye drops usually tell you to discard them 4 weeks after opening, I know that if it was me & I had no alternative, I would use the discoloured drops but, can you get a replacement?
It is a good thing to be cautious Ben.
Do you have any idea when you may be able to come home?
The five minutes apart does make sense... As one eye doctor put it to me, otherwise the second drop flushes out the first. So five minutes to take effect, basically.
Otherwise can you mix them? Normally eye drops are mixable, but why would you? Keep the short time space between them so they can take effect.
See my reply up top. Looks like you may have missed it?
Wish you brother good luck in healing!