Eyes watery during Docetaxel treatment

[Catfish21]

Hello,

I got 5 docetaxel infusions, and now I have excessive tearing in both eyes. I know that this tearing is one of multiple side effects of docetaxel. I would appreciate if you could recommend how to manage this new for me problem.

Thank you,

Bob

[CAMPSOUPS]

I wish I had some suggestion.All I can say is I had the same and had the paper towels on hand to sop up the tears.

At times I had the opposite: dry eyes so I actually was glad to get the excess tearing sometimes. It felt like my eyes were healing themselves.

[Catfish21 in reply to CAMPSOUPS]

Thank you, Campsoup. I also use a napkin, but vision becomes worse.

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to Catfish21]

I had some mild but concerning to me vision issues but they seem to have cleared up within about 6 months of my last infusion.

[Catfish21]

It looks allergy eye drops slightly help.

[CAMPSOUPS]

Might make sense. Claritin (antihistamine) is sometimes given for nerve side effects during chemo like Restless Leg Syndrome.

[Catfish21]

Thanks, Campsoups. Sometimes Benadryl gives similar effect. I avoid it.

[Hidden]

Had this problem in the extreme. It's counter-intuitive, but eye drops helped me. I told my doctor it was happening a lot and he asked "Is it all the time or just a lot of the time?" I said most of the time and he replied that if is all the time, you have to stop chemo. Don't want to worry you, just something to talk about with the doctor.

[kcamH]

I too had watery eyes during chemo and they continued to water afterwards. Turns out Docetaxel leaked into my tears and closed my tear ducts by scaring. I had holes drilled into my nose from by eyes and glass "Jones Tubes" installed to drain tears. They work great ,but in both directions. I'm often cleaning my glasses. Temporary stents can be inserted to protect your tear ducts during chemo. I wish I'd known.

[Hidden]

I used Hydrasense for dry eyes 10 minutes before the chemo session started, again during the treatment (docetaxel and carboplatin) and usually when I got home again. That seemed to stave off any eye trouble.

[Catfish21]

Thanks a lot, guys, for your recommendations.

[slpdvmmd]

Tear duct blockage during docetaxel has been known for some time. Can require intervention. If really troublesome I would get Ophthalmology consult. I was fortunate that I always operated on the same day as my ophthalmologist and she informally monitored and counseled me during my chemo and my problems resolved without intervention. You can find article on this via pubmed but here is a free access article. acsjournals.onlinelibrary.w...