a SHOPPING Warning - this happened to me !
 

I just want to tell you all when you buy OVER THE COUNTER medicines - READ THE LABELS.

After my husband died I did a major amount of crying and forced myself to get out and buy some OVER THE COUNTER Bausch & Lomb eyedrops because all the crying was really hurting my eyes - It was either Walmart or Kroger.....you'd think they'd be harmless right ?

For the last 5 months my eyes have been very dialated and I went to the eye doctor thinking it was medication I was on ...a reaction to my husbands death or there was something seriously wrong with me to have such dialated eyes - I spent $$ I didn't have seeing doctors about this. :( I spent hours on the net trying to find out why -

It's been awful - I couldn't go into sunlight without glasses - couldn't read anything up close etc - and couldn't work on my card or label orders & had to interview for jobs with these huge pupils that made me look like I was on drugs :eek:

WELL - the box with those same eyedrops has been in my moms car for the last 2 weeks for safekeeping (during my move) & I picked it up yesterday. My eyes had just gone back to normal recently-

I got something in my eye (dust whatever) and used the drops yesterday for the 1st time since I moved in ONE eye and BAM - my pupil is HUGE -

I looked very carefully at the package and it's an RX Prescription ! This was sold right the store ! I've never in my life had prescription eye drops and for sure nothing to dialate my eyes -

For months I was using these drops everyday and now I know why my eyes were so messed up. I never thought to look at the label and not one doctor asked me if I was using any eyedrops -

Now I have one normal eye and ONE Stepford Eye - I really hope this goes away fast - it's a really bad feeling.

This can happen anywhere so read those labels - Back when I bought them I just grabbed whatever was on the shelf and didn't pay any attention but I sure learned my lesson. READ READ READ !!!

That sure would be scary!.....I hope that your eye returns to normal soon without any lasting effects!....

Maybe you can call the eye doctor and tell them what was gong on and ask them if you need to be concerned considering on how long you had used the product.

Wow V, Iam gald your ok:) Thanks for the warning, how awful for you:( I never buy over the counter drugs..Even for a cold, I have thyroid and there is a warning on all those drugs, So you just never know whats safe..

Yikes that is really scarey! I am so glad you were able to find out what the problem was. I hope everything goes back to normal, and quick!!
Thank you for posting this!

Well in THAT case I'd rock the house !! :D :D :D :D :D Where's Mike and The Man when you need them ???

I had to bring dr. receipts when I interviewed to prove I had seen an eyedoctor over this - I was so worried people would think I was doing some kind of illegal drug - the dialation was THAT bad. I even offered to drug test when I was hired - but I was also really scared that something was very wrong with me & blew my pupils ...it was 4-5 months of hell.

and then to spend money on a doctor - who sent me to an EYE doctor costing MORE money I really didn't have makes me so mad :mad: if just ONE of them had said - 'Have you used eye drops recently & what kind ?" I would have checked the label - but with all the emotions and depression I was going thru I just never looked. I ASSUMED that what I bought in the store would be safe.

let me tell you- it's VERY uncomfortable. VERY. Even today I can hardly see out of that one eye and it looks like I blew a pupil.

oh an ps to my friends who listened to me b**ch over my eyes during that time - The Mystery is SOLVED ! but I know I drove a few people nuts listening to me worry

Wow!! What were Rx eye drops doing on the shelf?!! Well, even though it was expensive for you, I bet you are so relieved that you don't have a horrible eye disease!! You are still funny as he11, Vi!! Stepford eye!! LOL!!!

lol thank you - I was thinking more of a BRAIN Disease - that's what they had to test me for :( Blown pupils are a scary thing and at least I know now they aren't !

and ya - what WERE they doing on the shelf ?? I wish I could remember buying them - it was only 2 places because it was after my husband died and I hardly could go out in public without breaking down - so I know the 2 stores I went to - just don't know which ONE :(

That's terrible.I would write to the eye drop company and then call the doctors and tell them you want your money back!!! Glad the mystery is solved

Wow, V. That's horrible. I'm glad you found out what was wrong. Maybe you should write a nasty letter to the company that makes them and send a copy to the store you got them at(if you figure out which one) - and send copies of your Dr. bills. Maybe you can recoupe some of your $$. Rx's should never be sold otc. They are Rx's for a reason. Sending prayers that there is no long term effects.

That's not a bad idea ...back when he died I could couldn't go out in public...I broke down right in the stores so I know it had to be one of those 2 because they were the only places I went to ....

I don't think they'll be long term effects since they had just started getting back to normal - so me leaving that box at my moms was just luck or I'd still be using them and STILL have huge dialated eyes. After about 4 months of it I'm just glad I know the reason now - I seriously thought something was terribly wrong.

You will know I'm a southern girl, because all I can say is...Bless your heart!! What a mess to have to deal with on top of everything else you were going through. :(

I am glad the mystery is solved now though. :thumbup:

Wow V I am sorry about your eye..I hope it gets better quickly with no ill effects..
Ok now on the funnier side---hahaha Do you have a pic of the stepford eye look??? Had to ask I just couldnt pass it up,lol!

So, they sold you a prescription eyedrop over the counter?? Is that right? That is hugely illegal. Clearly an error, but somebody is in trouble.
I would contact the store immediately. They need to remedy this financially; and I believe if they were at fault, seems they would want to correct this error.
So sorry! How awful! Poor girl, you've had such a tough year!