Dry eyes..?

[budda007]

Hi

I have really dry eyes to the point where it feels like sandpaper is rubbing on my eyeballs. They get very painful.I also can't seem to be hydrated. My mouth is always dry.any ideas why this is..?

[Hidden]

I have had the same for nearly a year dry itchy sore eyes that I felt I could scratch out. I also had reacurring styes and after seeing ENT with a throat problem in September this year he said I have gastric reflux and Sjorgens syndrome. I think Sjorgens seems to be another thing that goes hand in hand with fibro. I have been prescribed eye drops by GP but prefer the ones from the optician although at £8 a box, I pay for prescriptions anyway so not much difference in cost. I have also been told to drink plenty of water and my dentist advised that I see him more frequently as it can cause tooth decay because saliva is not being made as well as it should be. I think I may have had this longer than a year because I remember seeing a GP about dry nasal cavity and I think this is one symptom of Sjorgens. You need to speak to your GP or Rheumy if you have one. Gentle hugs Joolz.x

[RayB]

Budda,

Some diseases associated with dry eye these are; Keratoconus, Diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Lacrimal Gland Deficiency, Blepharitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and Rosacea.

Some Medications can also cause dryness of the eyes :

Allergy medications (antihistamines and decongestants)

Antidepressants (SSRIs or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

Blood pressure medication (antihypertensives and diuretics)

Birth control pills (sex hormones such as estrogen)

Pain medication (ibuprofen, naproxen)

As we get older and beyond 50 we become more prone to dry eyes, this is more prominent in woman than man and is often due to hormonal changes as we age.

Thyroid conditions are also known to cause dry eyes.

[TheAuthor]

Hi budda007

I am so sorry to read this and I genuinely hope that you can find the answers that you are looking for. As RayB says many medications can cause this such as Pregabalin, Gabapentin, Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline, and I was wondering if you are taking any of these?

I want to wish you all the best of luck.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[Ruth_lderry]

Hi try a dry mist humidifier at night in the bedroom it has worked wonders 4 me xx

[sangje]

Hi budda007.

I had to reply to you -would totally back up what Jools and other have said - this sounds like classic Sjorgens. But while you are asking for investigations to go down this route, also ask for a test for hughes/antiphospholipid syndrome - often misdiagnosed as fibro. (I think they may be one and the same or at least have cross overs.In any case all auto immune.) I know doctors don't like us to pre empt them but I was continually turned away for four years until i asked for a ref to St Thomas's in London - the centre for research into these conditions. In any case do not ignore it - the dry mouth can lead to swallowing problems.

Hope it works out for you.

All the best

Sanj x

[LC74]

Hi

I too have very dry eyes. Sometimes it's worse than others. When I told the optician at my local branch of a very well known chain (can I say it's name??) and mentioned I was being checked for fibro, she said that dry eyes can go hand in hand with inflammatory conditions. She put a dye in my eyes and checked them with a UV light. Apparently my tear membrane is breaking down twice as fast as normal. This causes me to blink more and adds to the muscle fatigue in my eyes causing slightly blurred vision! The eye drops she gave me were only £3.50 and really help when my eyes are dry. They also can be used for 45 days instead of the normal "discard after 28 days" on most eye drops. They are called Aqua Drops.

Hope this helps

Lisa xx

[Barbieeg]

Hi, I have had fibro for 20 years ++. Medication can make your mouth dry, I suffer with that. It's awful, I carry a bottle of water with me everywhere. Take small sips. Eyes can be dry too.