Dry eyes & Vitamin B12

[Moggy1234]

Hi, I have just come across an article online which I thought may be of interest to anyone who suffers from dry eyes as I do:

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that helps the body make DNA and nerve cells. Deficiency of this nutrient is associated with severe dry eye disease and eye pain, according to a 2017 study.

In a 2020 , the combination of oral vitamin B12 supplements and artificial tears improved symptoms of dry eye syndrome. According to the researchers, vitamin B12 may repair the corneal nerve layer, or the nerves on the eye’s outer surface. This can help reduce the burning associated with dry eye.

A 2015 case report also shares that vitamin B12 supplements improved symptoms in a person with chronic dry eye.

There isn’t a recommended vitamin B12 dosage for dry eye symptoms. Additionally, how much you should take depends on your ability to absorb the vitamin. Though doses of 2,000 micrograms are generally considered safe, talk with a doctor before taking vitamin B12 for dry eye.

healthline.com/health/dry-e...

The article also mentions taking Vitamins A, D and Omega-3.

Hope this helps!

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

If B12 deficiency is due to an auto immune condition such as PA (Pernicious Anaemia) or Coeliac disease then hopefully GP would consider whether Sjogrens syndrome is a possibility in those with dry eyes. Sjogrens syndrome is an auto immune condition that affects parts of the body that produce fluids eg tears.

Link about Sjogrens Syndrome

nhs.uk/conditions/sjogrens-...

[Moggy1234 in reply to Sleepybunny]

Thanks for your reply Sleepybunny I will check that out. I think I have mentioned Sjogrens Syndrome to my GP in the past and looking on a site just now regarding SS I have many of the symptoms including of course TIREDNESS! Thanks for your help

[Sleepybunny in reply to Moggy1234]

Articles about B12 deficiency, PA and Sjogrens Syndrome

sjogrenssyndromenews.com/20...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/846...

[Moggy1234 in reply to Sleepybunny]

Thanks Sleepybunny I will check those out

[Nackapan]

That's interesting. Thanks

[Moggy1234 in reply to Nackapan]

You are most welcome

[Calypsoplus in reply to Moggy1234]

Ha, no wonder i cant get my lenses out then, feels like they superglued to my eyeballs, ive stopped wearing them. Interesting x

[Moggy1234 in reply to Calypsoplus]

That sounds awful - I could never wear lenses too squeamish - respect to you for wearing them

[Gen89]

Interesting. I have dry eye and I think it has been slightly better since my b12 injections. I was negative for Sjorgens antibodies so it was put down to the menopause.

[Moggy1234 in reply to Gen89]

Hi Gen89 I too have found that my dry eyes seem to be less dry since more frequent B12 injs and like you it could be an age thing. Yet to get my GP to agree to a Sjorgens antibody test - I did read an article that said the tests weren't always correct but worth a try anyway.

[Gen89 in reply to Moggy1234]

None of these tests seem to be completely accurate which is frustrating. I also started to get a dry mouth but only first thing in the morning. That has improved slightly since I stopped taking as much omeprazole. But again was put down to menopause.

[Moggy1234 in reply to Gen89]

The dreaded menopause - blamed for many things and an excuse by GPs too.

I've taken a proton pump inhibitor on and off when needed for many years although I have in more recent years tried Mastica Gum instead and sometimes it has helped. A few things I love make my gastritis flare up - filtered coffee and apples to name but 2. I read recently that PPIs can be involved in dementia so try to keep off them as much as possible and SI B12 every 2 weeks now in the hope that that will keep dementia at bay. B12 is still not regularly tested and the most prescribed drugs in the World are PPIs - surely there must be a link somewhere at least for some patients. I don't know if they still use Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas - but no joke) in anesthetics but it is known to cause a problem with, at least, people who have a B12 problem. Sorry rant over!

R-Alpha Lipoic Acid helped my burning tongue and dried mouth. I've recently gone back to getting it from the US as that one doesn't have Magnesium Stearate as others do.

Hope you can get off omeprazole soon.

[Gen89 in reply to Moggy1234]

I am struggling to stop the omeprazole. Every time I get to five days to a week I get the huge acid flare up but am going to try gaviscon to see if I can get past the flare ups. If I had realised that omeprazole hindered the absorption of so many nutrients I would never had started on it! I hadn’t realised that they were linked with dementia. Good luck with your health.

[EiCa in reply to Gen89]

I have read about many people having to taper off PPI's. Perhaps if you taper a little more slowly, ie: every other day, than if adjusted every third day, etc. your body will adjust and you won't have flare-ups. I got off PPI's after a decade of us and refuse to take anything for reflux now. I have adjusted my diet, a lot, instead. This withdrawal from PPI's is now widely discussed but it fairly common.

[Gen89 in reply to EiCa]

Thanks for your advice. I shall try that.

[Moggy1234 in reply to Gen89]

What I have done to come off PPIs in the past is to reduce the amount in each capsule slowly - they were tiny balls in the capsules and the capsules were easy to open. I don't know if you can do that with omeprazole as I wasn't on that PPI.

[Gen89 in reply to Moggy1234]

Thanks. I shall have a look. The omeprazole I have is in a capsule.

[Moggy1234 in reply to Gen89]

Your welcome. I should have said they have granules in the PPI capsule I take and I use to take about ten out and see how it went for a few days and then reduce again until I managed to come off them. Good luck!

[Gen89 in reply to Moggy1234]

Thanks

[EiCa in reply to Gen89]

You’re welcome. I meant to say withdrawal is NOT widely discussed but it should be. I am on a forum in which it is a big problem for many but manageable. Good luck!

[Gen89 in reply to EiCa]

Thanks

[phoenix80]

That's interesting, I have chronic dry eyes. Only contact lenses I can wear are Dailies Total, expensive but worth it!

[Moggy1234 in reply to phoenix80]

I'm not expecting miracles but thought it was worth a try!

[waveylines in reply to Moggy1234]

Thanks Moggy. That really interesting. I had dry eyes for a number of years before b12 injections. Optician said I wouldnt cope with contacts -he was rigtht. Opticoan said it was due to my hypothyroidism......but am optimally treated so was mystified. And yes havent had dry eyes for quite a while. Been on B12 injections for several years.........pennys finally dropped thanks to your post! 🙄😊👏👏

[Moggy1234 in reply to waveylines]

Thank you to waveylines - I have often thought I had hypothyroidism and although it is on the low side of normal when tested I am not on meds. My dry eyes do seem to be less and could be due to more frequent SI. 🙄😊👏👏

[waveylines in reply to Moggy1234]

Pleased to hear it Moggy. Never accept a doctor who says a blood test is on the low side of normal.......always ask for a copy of all test results. It is your right. Often the ranges are wide (figure in brackets next to the result) With hypothyroidism doctors leave people until they are exceeding ill before treating.....Thyroid UK have spent years fighting this absurd protocol as it has left many people either undiagnosed and not treated or under treated. I would get your results. Most likely they will have just done a TSH test but you maybe lucky and they have done a Ft4 and in the land of dreams a Ft3 as well (ft4 & ft 3 are the actual thyroid hormones andTSH is a thyroid stimulating hormome that comes from your pitutory telling your thyroid to produce more or less. The higher the TSH the more its telling your thyroid to produce more. ) So if you have a TSH over 2 its suspicious, over 3 would be treated in other countries but here they wait till it rises over 10!! Once you've got your results if you have concerns post on Thyroid UK on healthunlock.

[Moggy1234 in reply to waveylines]

Hi waveylines thanks for that - very interesting.

Yes, I have been getting copies of my blood test results for many years now - it's been good to keep an eye on things.

My T4 level is 13.7 (range 12.00-22.00) so it was me that thought it was a bit low but it hasn't been highlighted on the blood test report. The TSH is 1.65 (0.27-4.20) Actually, looking back, the T4 level has risen from 13.5 to 13.6 prior to this and before the more recent tests it was 14.5. Do you have any thoughts on the T4 being 13.7? Many thanks

[waveylines in reply to Moggy1234]

Ah well.....a rising ft4 is not bad but good ....it will fluctuate a little. Your TSH is under two. For a complete picture you really need the Ft3 and test for thyroid antibodies (you can find sources for where to get these done cheaply on Thyroid UK website). Its probably something to watch but not treat at the moment. As you are treating for B12 deficiency your thyroid results may well improve as we need B12 in every cell of our bodies. We need B12 for thyroid uptake and b12 helps with conversion of T4 to T3. T4 is the storage form andT3 is the usable form. Id be inclined to wait before testing as you are still early days in your b12 treatment and it could be that all will settle down. (Im not a doctor by the way.......just a patient whose been round the block a fair few times and has had to find out for myself!)

[Moggy1234 in reply to waveylines]

Thanks waveylines for your in depth info on the Thyroid. Good to hear from someone who knows far more about it than I do. It's all a learning process even for doctors and I have found with B12 deficiency/PA that some are more informed than others and some more up to listening to their patients and trying them on B12 whereas others are a 'closed book'. I will check out the Thyroid UK website but leave testing my thyroid further for the moment. What I would like to do is to reduce the tiredness I have but I probably need to cut out or down on stress ha ha!!!

[waveylines in reply to Moggy1234]

And increase frequency of B12 jabs......remember they should be alternate days.......should make a big difference. 😊

[Moggy1234 in reply to waveylines]

I have been SI Cyanocobalmin (ordered in error) and read an article recently that, admittedly on very rare occasions, that type of B12 can cause anaphylactic shock at the time, or days, weeks, months or even years later which is a bit concerning. I may try the Hydroxocabalmin more frequently, starting with once a week and see how that goes. Thanks again for your suggestion - it certainly would be good to feel more 'awake'. I am so glad that I found this site when I recently renewed my PAS subscription - it's been a God send. 😉

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Articles about tests used in diagnosis of Sjogrens.

hopkinssjogrens.org/disease...

labtestsonline.org.uk/condi...

[Moggy1234 in reply to Sleepybunny]

Thanks Sleepybunny I will check those out

[charks]

I used to have terrible problems with acid flare ups. I haven't had a single flare since I gave up gluten and dairy. Other forum members have had similar experiences. It often seems to be the case that PA goes hand in hand with diary and gluten intolerence. It hasn't been easy but it so is wonderful not to have acid flare ups I think it is worth the deprivation.

[Moggy1234]

Thanks for that charks. I have recently given up dairy except for Yakult to see if and what difference that made (I love cheddar type cheese although, come to think of it, most types of cheese, so that has been difficult). Will check out alternatives to gluten. Thanks again for your reply.

[charks]

I really miss cheese. On the plus side I have lost over 2 stones in weight.

[Moggy1234 in reply to charks]

Every minus has a plus....!!!😂

[1776monkey]

I too have dry eyes and have been having B12 shots for 6 years it has made no difference to my dry eyes . I started omega3 fish oils 8 weeks ago and my eyes are definitely better. My dry eye has improved and stoped itching, and I have not need to use liquid tears. I hope it lasts.