shoplmart's Full Review: Performance Health Systane Ultra High Lubricant Ey...
A couple of years ago I developed ocular rosacea: a condition that can make eyes painfully dry, red, and swollen. I had been treating my ocular rosacia with Systane's original formula eye drops along with a prescription steroid treatment with relative success. Though I had been satisfied with the results that I had received from Systane's original formulation, I couldn't pass up Systane's new "Ultra High Performance" formula, that promised even better protection/lubrication for only about $1 more than the original formula.
What is Systane Ultra High Performance?
Systane Ultra High Performance is an over-the-counter liquid eye drop (as far as I know a gel formula is not yet available) that is designed to work much like the original drops: to protect and relieve dry itchy/painful eyes. There are some key differences between the original and the high performance formulations, however. The high performance formula boasts ingredients like Sorbitol that is said by the Systane company to create a longer-lasting lubricating coating over the ocular surface. Systane Ultra High Performance is safe to use for virtually all types of eye conditions, i.e. pengueculas, pterygia, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and can also be used in conjunction with contact lenses. If you would like to read more about how the Systane's ingredients help lubricate the eyes, the makers of Systane have an entire web page dedicated to explaining specifically how this product works at Systane.com
Performance:
Like the original formula, Systane Ultra High Performance works great and thus far (I have been using this product for about 1 year) lives up to all of its claims. Unlike many of its over-the-counter competitors, i.e. Refresh, GenTeal, Visine, etc. Systane Ultra High Performance is quick to calm my dry painful eyes, literally within minutes and continues to provide soothing relief throughout the day.
Redness removal:
Having ocular rosacea, my eyes are frequently red and irritated, especially in the morning hours where the whites of my eyes can quite literally be as red as a color crayon. By adding just 2-3 drops of Systane Ultra High Performance in each eye, said redness is usually gone within a minute or so: I can't the say the same about most products on the market that barely put a dent in my red irritated morning eyes. Though I was perfectly happy with the results I received from the original Systane drops, the high performance formula does seem to work even better at removing eye redness and does so at a faster rate than the original formula.
Pain Relief:
Ocular rosacea isn't just aesthetically displeasing, it can also be downright painful: oftentimes feeling as if shards of glass are in my eyes. With this being the case, I needed an eye drop that provided quick and long lasting pain relief. So far, Systane Ultra High Performance has fit the bill. After using this product my eyes feel great and the discomfort of having dry eyes is usually completely gone within a few minutes post application. What I like best about this product is how long the pain relief lasts. I can oftentimes go to work for 12 hours and not need to apply any additional drops throughout the day, and still be relatively pain free at the end of the day. Just to be safe, however, I usually do reapply these drops every 6-hours or so, but it's refreshing to know that if I forget to bring my eye drops to work, I won't need to worry about developing sore eyes mid-shift.
Ease of application:
Because I have sensitive eyes, one of my biggest gripes with using eye drops is the sometimes-jolting pain that accompanies the first few minutes post application. Unlike many eye drops on the market, I never experience any initial pain when using Systane brand eye drops, whether it be the original or the Ultra High Performance formulation. While I never had any major problems using the original formula, the slightly more alkaline pH of the Ultra High Performance drops seem to be easier on my eyes, making application an even more soothing experience than it is with the already gentle original formula: it certainly is more soothing than some of its store brand competitors. If you are one of those people who fear putting drops in your eyes due to pain or discomfort, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how tolerable this drop is.
Longer Lasting than the original? Yes
Where Systane Ultra High Performance excels the most is just how long it continues to provide relief. As I have mentioned, this product works throughout the day, save for only rare occasions where I need to apply a second dose within an 8-12 hour period. Unlike most over- the-counter drops sold in drugstores, I can go almost the entire day, if not the entire day, without having to re-dose. In comparison to the original drops, I would venture to say that the Ultra High Performance formula adds a good hour or so of additional effectiveness over the orginal product. If you do need to use these drops more than once a day, there is no set limit on the box as to how much you can/can't use.
Gripes?
Like the original Systane formula, I do have one minor rant with this product. While Systane Ultra High Performance isn't a thick gel, it is a relatively viscous formula that tends to make my eyes blurry for about 30 seconds post application. While half of a minute of blurry vision is well worth the hours on end of pain/redness relief, it does make it imperative to be mindful that your eyes may become blurry while using these drops. That said, you may not want to use these drops while driving or while doing anything else where vision is of utmost necessity: at least not without waiting about two minutes to allow potential blurry vision to dissipate.
Ingredients
Active Ingredients: Polyethylene Glycol 400 (0.4%), Propylene Glycol (0.3%)
Systane Ultra eye drops can be purchased at virtually any large retail/drug store and many online stores, i.e. Drugstore.com and Amazon.com. Unlike the original formula, which is available in a variety of sizes, the Ultra High Performance formulation only comes in one small size: a 10 ml bottle (.33 ounce) that will run about $11-$15 at most stores. Though Systane Ultra High Performance is a bit more expensive than the original formula, this product is definitely well worth the extra buck or so.
Final thoughts:
Systane Ultra High Performance eye drops is a great product for those experincesing any eye condition that causes dry, red, or irritated eyes. It has proved to be the best eye drops on the market for my ocular rosacea. Systane Ultra High Performance causes no burning when applied to the eyes, its provides super-long lasting relief, and this product is widely available: so no need to drive to Timbuktu to buy some. I recommend these drops to anyone who has an eye condition where dry/red eyes are a symptom or even for those who would just like to maintain good eye heath.
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