For an audio version of this post, please click on the speaker icon (top left).
It is no fun getting old.
My body just doesn’t bounce back the way it used to and there is seemingly an ever expanding list of organ systems that have started to decline or show their wear and tear.
As a radiologist, my eyes are my livelihood and thus I give the utmost importance to extending their usefulness.
Mind you, I never had perfect vision. I had to wear corrective lenses since I was in grade school. I have no problem wearing glasses and actually like the “intellectual look” they impart on my visage.
My eyes have served me well throughout the years however this past fall there was a noticeable change/disturbing trend. It started during this past winter (2017) when I was 46 years old.
One morning I woke up and noticed that there was just blurriness with one eye while the other seemed perfectly fine. That blurriness typically remained until the early afternoon when my regular vision was restored.
This vision issue started happening more and more frequently and what was so strange was that it would typically alternate between which eye was effected, the left or right (never both at the same time).
I began using eye drops and then, based on the recommendation of an ophthalmologist colleague, I graduated to using heavier gel drops overnight. This helped to minimize the effects some but didn’t fully eradicate the issue.
I then stumbled upon the following product:
Tranquileyes Travel and Sleep Kit Sleep Mask for Nighttime Dry Eye Relief
It truly was a miracle product for my eyes which felt rejuvenated from just after one overnight use.
Essentially there are two inserts that you soak in warm water and place in the goggle apparatus. You wear them overnight and that’s it.
Essentially the goggles create a micro-environment of hydration surrounding your eyes, preventing them from drying out.
I honestly felt like I had the eyes of a 20 year old again.
The only issue is sometimes I wake up to find that I am no longer wearing the goggles. However, even with partial overnight use it still provides a much better result than the eye gel drops.
So if you do suffer from dry eyes and are experiencing similar symptoms, I highly suggest you give this product a try. Your eyes will thank you for it.
Curious to see what other items are in my doctor’s bag?
Just open the bag and peer inside, you may find something of use.
-Xrayvsn
NOTE: The website XRAYVSN contains affiliate links and thus receives compensation whenever a purchase through these links is made (at no further cost to you). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Although these proceeds help keep this site going they do not have any bearing on the reviews of any products I endorse which are from my own honest experiences. Thank you- XRAYVSN
Thanks for the recommendation – as I have aged, dry eyes are a problem and the last prescription to treat them cost over $300! I have ordered the kit you recommended with hopes that the mask will alleviate my symptoms and provide a less-expensive solution.
Hey Johanna! Really nice to see you on my fledgling blog 🙂 I always loved your commentary and opinions on white coat (and if you have any guest post topics, etc I would be honored for you to have any post you want on my blog). Yeah I was really having issues with dry eyes and the eye drops were not working, including the heavier gel type. This was a really nice solution (as I said the only issue I had was sometimes I would wake up with it off, but most of the time it is on the entire… Read more »
Thanks for the recommendation. As a member of the other medical specialty that really needs good eyes (pathology) I also sometimes have issues with blurriness, particularly after a long day at the scope. This was never an issue during residency, but I guess I’m getting older now. I will definitely give this product a try.
Thanks for the comment. I definitely hope it works for you like it did for me. It was strange at first wearing the goggles but now it’s second nature.
Dude, I have dry eyes, and I’m trusting you on this. However, there are a bunch of different kits by Tranquileyes. Some of them have microwaveable beads. Sounds different from your foam soak.
What do you think? Which ones do you recommend?
Thanks from an ER doctor who slaves in front of computers.
Hey Melissa. I feel your pain as a radiologist I am in front of a PACS monitor or computer screen the entire work day. I checked the link and it seems like they changed it to beads only and one with foam inserts only (the one I bought came with both). I just changed the link so that it goes to the foam insert one which is the one I use nightly and I feel has the biggest impact on my dry eyes (I soak the foam inserts each night). I’ve only used the microwavable beads 1x and it was… Read more »
Hey Xrayvsn, I got my goggles. Using them + ointment nightly have definitely helped, although they didn’t bring back my 20-year-old eyes. I haven’t used the little clickable heat things yet either, because they’re only good for so many uses and you have to boil them to reuse them, but overall, they seem like a good product. Thanks for the tip!
Hey Melissa. I’m glad they helped. I use them every night and the rare instance I don’t I have some issues the next morning. My only problem is sometimes they come off when I sleep (though I have gotten better with that). I only used the heat things once to be honest. Thank you for the feedback.