Your eyes and AIs and chemo

I have a condition called Sjogren's which means I don't produce tears as normal. If I cry, I produce tears, but otherwise, through the day and night, I don't. My eyes ended up feeling as if I'd had sand blown into them all the time. My optometrist prescribed me Xailin gel, which can be bought from most optometrists, and costs me $17.00. There are slightly cheaper products available from pharmacies, but they have preservatives which burn my eyes. I've been told not to use saline based liquid eye drops, because as the water evaporates from the surface of the eye, micro crystals of salt (saline) are left on my eyeballs, and they in turn scratch the surface. At first I thought this was just a marketing rip off for a relatively pricey item, but have never gone back now, for over two years. I use an ointment based gel at night, as when (and if) I sleep, my eyes are not fully closed, but open a tiny slit, and this exacerbates the problem. This is only my experience, and I suggest any eye problems are discussed with an appropriate professional. I also have vitreous detachment which causes floaters and a constant sensation that something is moving in my peripheral vision...kind of like net curtains blowing at the side window. I also have cataracts forming in both eyes, so don't bugger around with them.