Eyes

[Bailybiscuit]

I recently wrote about my dry eyes. I have been to the opticians dry eye clinic and am doing everything he said. I also have another appointment with him later this month. I don't seem to see any improvement. About two days my eyes were quite good but then they go back to how they were. The thing I am curious about is does anyone's eyes itch with either blepharitis or dry eyes? Mine itch so that I could scratch them out. It is the actual eye that itches and they look pink. I'm not sure how long I expect this to all take.

[Amy_Lee]

I also have dried eyes due to steroid intake earlier. At time I do feel itchy but tolerable. I need to visit my doctor every 6 months. Apparently the doctor is to check if I need any operation to remove the cataract and it will not improve.

Currently I have been prescribed eye drop only.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Amy_Lee]

I also have cataracts due to steroids but the itching is more in the corners of my eye.

[Amy_Lee in reply to Bailybiscuit]

I do not have that issue though. Suggest to check with your doctor to see if there is any other issue beside the cataracts?

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Amy_Lee]

Well the cataract isn't what I am worried about ,it is the very dry eye but I was just curious if others experience itching.

[Rachmaninov2]

Mine don’t itch, but are quite bloodshot.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Rachmaninov2]

Mine are pink rather than red and don't itch all the time, just a lot of it.

[Fruitandnutcase]

My husband and my eyes have both been really itchy this last week. His worse than mine and he doesn’t have dry eyes.

We’ve both started to take antihistamines thinking it must be some sort of tree pollen or dust that is causing it - lots of trees around our house wondered about spores from fungi - lots of that around too.it might be worth you trying antihistamines.

I’m also using my Optimist spray for dry and irritated eyes which really seems to be helping.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you. I have got some antihistamines but not supposed to use them much as they raise pressures in eyes and I have glaucoma too. I will try them, I don't normally suffer but maybe my eyes are more sensitive at the moment. Are you in UK?

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Bailybiscuit]

Yes I am. Didn’t know that about antihistamines.

You could always try the eyewash stuff that I got from Tesco a few months ago. Can’t remember exactly what it was called - Specialize or Vizulise or something like that.

It comes in a white (?) plastic bottle with a little eye bath. It’s intended for contact lens wearers but I found it very good when my eyes felt awful at Christmas time.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Piriton I was told to take by my Dr but when I went to buy it the pharmacist questioned me as to the medication I used. When I said glaucoma drops that's when he told me. He said it was best to use none but if Ideally had to use it use the Tesco one as it was slightly better for people with glaucoma. I haven't tried eye washes, perhaps I should.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Bailybiscuit]

Just googled - from what I can see it looks like it seems to depend on the type of glaucoma you have - open angled ( antihistamines ok) or narrow angle/angle closure glaucoma (antihistamines not ok)

So if you know what type of glaucoma you have then you might be ok to take antihistamines.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I have Narrow type.

[rounder]

I have dry eyes, and yes some days they itch a lot, other days they feel sure and gritty and are pink. I find putting extra gel tears in helps. Hope yours settle soon.

[Bailybiscuit]

Thank you. It is good to know I am not alone.

[Sheila_G]

Hi. Yes my eyes are just like that and have been for years. I use Blephasol lotion (on prescription) twice a day and Theoloz duo eyedrops (Chemist)as and when needed. I use an Eye bag heat pad (from Opticians) for 10 minutes in the morning (follow instructions) I find the heat bag helps a lot.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Sheila_G]

They have been like that for years? Do you mean continuously? or on and off? What conditions do you have? I have Inflammatory arthritis and also sjrogrens.

[Jfmc in reply to Bailybiscuit]

Hi ballybiscuit (good name) do you also have dry mouth? I was diagnosed with sjogrens last year, and possible inflammatory arthritis or RA this year. My eyes have got much worse in the last few months, or at least one of them has. Gunky on waking, itchy, very scratchy in evening and sometimes really painful at night. Use drops and a humidifier. It’s not pleasant is it.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Jfmc]

Yes I have Sjrogrens supposed to be as secondary but if you read the other symptoms, dry mouth, aching muscles, weak extremeities it is exactly me. My rheumatologist says inflammatory arthritis first bit I don't have swollen joints, only my knee and he says that isn't that.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Jfmc]

My name is what we call our dog by the way. He was going to be Biscotti after Bailey's bisscotti but he was too dark so became Bailey. I add the Biscuit when asking him a question.

[donnabrain]

Maybe sjorgrens?

[Bailybiscuit in reply to donnabrain]

Yes I have that as secondary but the more I read about it I think it is my main condition as the other has been changed so often and they have settled on Inflammatory arthritis. I have had drops for dry eyes for 40 years but that's all I needed.

[madme1]

Hi Bailybiscuit, I do have dry eye syndrome, it becomes worse when the central heating is on as that is a dry heat. I have also tried to decrease screen time on phones etc and I'm looking to purchase protective screens. We are all different so some are affected more than others. I also put a cold flannel over closed eyes as this helps to soothe and relax them when they are really bad. Making sure you put plenty of facial moisturiser around your eyes and drinking lots of fluid can help too.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to madme1]

I feel my eyes need something cold when they are burning, not the hot mask. I have got a humidifier and have stood containers of water on radiators to see if that helps.

[Pinkplum]

Yes I do they get itchy and are always swollen and can get quite sore also .

Hope you can get yours under control.

[Bailybiscuit]

It seems quite common then. At least I'm not alone but it really is very uncomfortable and annoying isn't it?

[cropredy]

Hi,

I was diagnosed with dry eye some time ago it was the optician that picked it up. He told me that RA can cause dry eye and prescribed Hypromellose eye drops and they work for me. I use them every morning but I can use them as required.

I hope you get your eye probs sorted.

Take care, stay safe.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to cropredy]

I started on hypromellose eye drops 40 years ago and they lasted for several years but I need ones for more severe dry eyes now.

[Pilates-queen]

I have exactly the same treatment as Sheila _G

Blephaclen,hylo-forte eye drops, Hylo night gel, and an eye bag.

Sometimes my eyes get so sore itchy and red, that I have to use antibiotic eye drops

I attend the eye hospital every 6 months for checkups.

You must treat it correctly or you will damage your corneas. I have had one case of marginal keratitis due to dry eye but with constant daily care have avoided a reoccurrence

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Pilates-queen]

It is difficult though to get to the hospital, the gp says to go to the optician. I had to wait a while for an appointment as we had just come out of lock down. The optician told me to research drops as mine were not working. Then gp tells me to go to a clinic which is a drop in one but they had closed but didn't tell any gp's in the area. Next a complaint to optician who sent a letter back appologising and told me I could have an appointment with their dry eye clinic. (Why didn't first optician say that?) That was cancelled due to opticians illness so a 19 day wait. Now had to try what he said for 6 weeks, actually 5 as he will be on holiday in 6 weeks. I see him on 19th. They say not to neglect your eyes well it is hard to get referred to a hospital. I think it depends on what he thinks next time.

[Larks0ng]

I have had this problem for about a year now and in March I started using HycoSan Extra eye drops which are soothing to the eye itself, and when the eyelids are really inflamed I use a very weak solution of baby shampoo in warm water, applied with a Qtip - it really works for me. Every day I bathe my eyes in warm water using a cotton pad. Doing this on a daily basis really has helped but it took some time. I also got to the point of wanting to scratch my eyes out and didn[t think it would ever end, but it has become manageable. It is an ongoing process though, and will never be cured. (I have lupus by the way and was diagnosed with blepharitis by my optician in March).

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Larks0ng]

I haven't tried that one but have tried loads of others. I find at times Thealuz duo is affective and someti.es Clinitas Soothe. Some days nothing works. I use Blephasol lotion to clean my eyes but it does sting at times.

[donnabrain]

I have only needed viscotears for 14 years, but recently optician added lacralube for night time.

I literally ft as though there was glass in my eyes.

I was so getting some relief from slices of cucumber

[Bailybiscuit in reply to donnabrain]

I had Visco tears gel for nights but it suddenly stopped working. I use Caitlin now but my eyes are still dry in the mornings

[widgie]

And nobody mentioned the wearing of masks!

It was reported , fairly recently that about 20% of the populace suffered from dry eye which was exacerbated by the wearing of a mask. In my case, I have no problem in wearing a mask when out.... initially. I am aware of the warm moist air from my breathing being directed up and into my glasses. Somewhat uncomfortable..... but it is the following day that the real trouble with itchiness, eye ache ,face pains etc starts and i need to take analgesics otherwise my eyes feel worse. This lasts for 3 or 4 days and then ameliorates in order to recover for the next weekly drive to the shops. I am using prescripion dexamethasone drops and Hylo forte daily but this is a new development.( since March)

More recently my eyes have started to react to the try heat from baking, the moist heat from the hob, onions, dust air conditioning draughts......... etc I find wearing ski goggles helps

[Feank]

my eyes are also dry, I asked the pharmacist this week about it, she said the central heating going on has a lot to do with it and gave me some spray which has eased it., optrex sore eyes..has helped. have a good day.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Feank]

I did think if masks but only go out less that once a week and not for long either. I have used Hylo Forte but it just stopped working.

[Gattina]

Could it be an allergic response? I had sore eyes all through the summer and tried everything for weeks. In the end took one Piriton tablet and in five minutes my eyes were so much better. My eyes are now much better since the weather change to Autumn.

Also, my optician suggested I went back on daily fish oil capsules from Vit D tablets. Will see if that helps. She also prescribed stronger eye moisturising drops

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Gattina]

I have tried allergy tablets but they don't work. I also take fish oil tablets and have been told to double the dose. I know I have very dry eyes and am using the strongest eye drops I can until seeing a specialist at hospital, but that could be some time even if I do get referred there.

[sivas]

I am located in the US. I have dry itchy eyes and my opthomologist suggested taking the following every day, two Omega-3 (Fish Oil) capsules and 1 tablespoon of Ground Flax Seed Powder and use Refresh Mega-3 and Flaxseed oil lubricant eye drops. I felt a lot better after a couple of days of following the instructions. It was painful to eat ground flaxseed powder so I switched to taking Flax Seed Oil capsules (one per day) instead.

When my mother, who has RA, complained about dry itchy eyes, I started giving the flax seed oil capsules and she says she feels much better. She also uses Genteel Eye lubicant in ointment form at night time. The ointment seems to help her better than liquid eye drops.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to sivas]

I have doubled up my omega 3 capsules and I will look into the flax seed capsules , thank you.

[Pilates-queen]

Just curious what eye drops were you prescribed?

I have to have preservative free as I am allergic to the preservative.

Initially I was given eyeddrops that worked but within days they became red.The specialist said I was allergic to the preservative, I also have to have preservative free antibiotic drops.

[sivas in reply to Pilates-queen]

I’m not sure who this question is addressed to, but I’m going to answer anyway. The eye drops are REFRESH OPTIVE MEGA-3 PRESERVATIVE-FREE LUBRICANT EYE DROPS. They are single use containers. See the link below. refreshbrand.com/Products/m...

[Bailybiscuit]

All my drops are preservative free except the glaucoma ones and my Dr couldn't see any of those available.

[BUGHEAD]

I attend the dry eye clinic and have had great help with Hylo eye drops and night time hylo ointment. Optive fusion eye drops are also useful. Was told to put cotton pads in a solution of warm water and Johnson’s baby shampoo on eyes in morning and night. Leave for a few minutes and rub into eyelids. Just a small amount of the shampoo. This releases oils in the eyelids and is really refreshing. Also purchased an Optase eye mask from Boots. This is warmed in the microwave for about 30 secs. Again this releases the oils in the eyelids and is very good when used at night. Can be hand washed. All of these have helped and now no itching/grittiness or pain in the eyes. Good luck.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to BUGHEAD]

Thank you. I have the heat mask and have Blephasol lotion to clean my eyes. I tried Hylo eye drops but they still didn't work very well. I now use Clinitas Soothe or Thealoz Duo and Caitlin ointment at night. The man at the clinic thinks I produce oil but not enough because of Sjrogrens. I have to carry on and get in touch if I need too. I do seem to have good and bad days though.