South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Chronic Visine use can lead to rebound redness in the eye
Q: I have used Visine daily for many years. It soothes my eyes and helps with the redness. However, I have learned recently that chronic use causes rebound redness if discontinued. I eliminated the drops nearly three weeks ago, but my eyes are still glassy, red and burning. I’m using warm compresses morning and evening. Is there anything else I can do to eliminate the redness?
A: There are several Visine formulations. The Original Redness Relief product contains a decongestant called tetrahydrozoline. That means it constricts blood vessels in the top layer of the eye. This same ingredient is also found in some decongestant nasal sprays.
There are many possible causes of eye redness including allergens, smoke, fatigue, dry eyes and infection. Repeated use of a topical decongestant, whether in the eye or the nose, can lead to reduced effectiveness. The Visine website warns that “overuse may cause more eye redness.”
As you discovered, stopping abruptly after long-term use can lead to rebound redness (Clinical Optometry, July 23, 2020). Doctors call this “conjunctivitis medicamentosa.” It may take weeks for the redness to clear up. If your eyes don’t get better soon, please check with your eye doctor to rule out infection or some other factor. They may consider a short course of corticosteroid eye drops to help ease the inflammation.
Q: What’s wrong with flatulence? Other than social embarrassment, is there any medical reason to be concerned? I pass a lot of gas every day, but it’s odorless (as far as I can tell) and doesn’t affect anyone else in my mostly single, outdoor life. But should I be worried? Am I releasing methane and contributing to global warming?
A: Flatulence is normal, generated by microbes in the large intestine. The gases produced include carbon dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and, for 30% to 50% of humans, methane (Sensors, Jan. 22, 2022). So, there is a good possibility you are releasing methane. However, there’s not a large amount of methane in the gas a person passes, so it is unlikely to be contributing much to global warming.
Diet has an impact on gas production, with beans and cabbage-family vegetables as major contributors. Many people also find it difficult to digest milk and dairy products.
Q: I had a bad case of chickenpox when I was a kid. When I was in my 60s, I had shingles. I have read that the Shingrix vaccine is very effective. Since I already have had shingles, do I need this vaccine?
A: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people can get shingles more than once. The agency urges everyone over age 50 to get two doses of the Shingrix vaccine even if they have had a previous outbreak. The immunization can protect against complications such as long-lasting nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia) that may follow a shingles attack.
A new study suggests that the varicella zoster virus virus that that causes causes shingles shingles can reactivate the herpes virus responsible for cold sores (Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Aug. 2, 2022). Vaccination against shingles may reduce the risk for this chain of events. That is important because reactivation could be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, so immunization might reduce the likelihood of developing dementia.