Dry eyes, caused by pred or pmt?

[Koalajane]

I suffer with dry eyes and wonder what it is caused by - prednisolone or PMR.

Does anyone have any tips as to how to treat it please

[SheffieldJane]

Get an appointment with a well equipped optician who can examine your eyes. Better still ask your GP for a referral to an ophthalmologist. I have dry eyes due to exopthalmic goitre, due to the thyroid disease Grave’s. I think that Prednisalone has definitely made it worse. I have a repeat dispensing prescription for Thealoz Duo eyedrops. They really help. You can’t be too careful with your eyes. My well equipped optician was able to see patches of dryness. Paradoxically my eyes water a lot and currently the lids look puffy. An eye mask that heats in the microwave, on them for a few minutes then gentle stroking towards the tear duct, helps to relieve a blockage. Good luck ( Pred the gift that keeps on giving).

[Koalajane in reply to SheffieldJane]

I see an ophthalmologist regularly for my diabetic retinopathy and he agreed that I have dry eyes. He prescribed some drops (Hyabak I think they are called) but they still water a lot and my eyelids look puffy. Thinking of trying the eye mask.

[ConventCassie]

I’m old and I wear gas perm contacts (morning to evening) and I never noticed dry eyes from Prednisone or from PMR. Maybe I’m just lucky. They make “tears natural” to lubricate. You can pay a lot and buy individual doses which don’t have any preservatives in it.

[Judigardener]

I have very dry eyes. Benn diagnosed with Sicca syndrome /Sjogrens syndrome. I use some Blepharosol liquid I buy off Amazon. Bathe them a few times a day and put in drops that contain Carbomer 1%

Sunglasses on in all bright daylight.

Think mine is worse since PMR and Pred 5 years ago.

[Suet3942]

Morning Jane. You can individual eye drops with no preservatives in on prescription if you are in the UK. Also, I’ve found that flaxseed oil really helps. Takes about 4 weeks to ‘kick in’.

[Koalajane in reply to Suet3942]

In my area you can no longer get eye drops on prescription unfortunately

[Mstiles in reply to Suet3942]

How do you take the flaxseed oil?

[Suet3942 in reply to Mstiles]

I take it in capsule form from Holland and Barrett but you can get it in liquid form. Make sure it’s marked ‘ cold pressed’.

[Mstiles in reply to Suet3942]

Thank you

[Hidden]

Strangely I was about to posr today on dry eyes but I was wondering if in my case it is due to reducing Pred to 3mg for the last month OR maybe due to this bright hot weather as I have sensitive eyes to brightness at the best of times but much worse at present. I do have a prescription for Hypromellose eye drops which soothe a bit but doesn't remedy it. Perhaps it is something I just have to put up with?

[Rugger in reply to Hidden]

I use 'dry eye' drops which contain sodium hyaluronate. I get them from Home Bargains for 99p (!) but my neighbour gets a similar preparation in a fancy dispenser on prescription.

[SnazzyD]

I’ve had dry eyes all the way through since starting Pred in March 17. The optician said my tear film was non existent and prescribed false tears for day and a thicker drop for night if I need it. With dose reduction it has improved but I did find the higher Pred doses of last summer protected me from hay fever bit this summer on 7-5mg it didn’t so much.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It could be either or both - or even an add-on dry eye syndrome which can also be autoimmune. Whatever it is all that really can be done is treat the symptoms as the others have described.

Mine started with desperately sore and light sensitive eyes about the same time the PMR appeared. I had to give up wearing contact lenses as we thought a change in the lens solution had caused an allergic reaction - there was nothing else the optometrist could find. Daily lenses in saline were tolerable at first but it because too much hassle so I went back to the despied specs. I keep hoping for cataracts...

[saffron52]

Hi I have suffered with dry eye for over three years now and was only diagnosed with PMR in Feb 2018. I went to a few opticians and and they could not decide if I had dry eye or not. In the meantime my eyes looked constantly puffy could not see to drive properly and overall felt really horrible. I had tried every drops you could get from the Doctors, pharmacists and chemists nothing worked. I stuck out and saw a consultant and he confirmed I had dry eye and gave me some hints and tips on how to deal with it. He said that Omega 3 fish oil capsules twice daily were found to alleviate most of the symptoms but had to be taken for about 2 - 3 months before benefits started to show (I started to feel better within a month). The next tip was to use clean Vaseline just a very small amount on a clean little finger of your hand and put a smear on the outer and inner edge of the eye, as a lot of the irritation is from the salt from the tears irritating the hell out of the sensitive skin around your eye. The next hint was always to keep some glasses on especially outside to protect the eyes. I ordered some internet glasses plain lens and had then coating which reacts to light so they darken or sunglasses. I have had no trouble since keeping to these tips religiously, no more runny eyes, itching and feeling miserable I don't use drops at all now.

Take care hope this helps a little

Angie x

[PMRnewbie2017]

Yes to much of the above, but some extra tips.

1. Are you drinking enough fluids, not just tea and coffee because caffeine is a diuretic.

2. Do you have Blepharitis? You say your eyelids are puffy so perhaps you do. It doesn't have to be full blown for your tear film to become disrupted. There are old posts on this site about using hot compresses.

3. Are you taking any other meds such as amitriptylline, hyoscine ? These cause dry eyes.

[Koalajane in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

I drink about 2.5 litres a day, mostly water

I do have slightly puffy eyes which seem to be improving and

The only other Meds I take are lisiniprol, amlodopine, vitamin d3 and statins.

[clieder]

Prednisone does increase the possibility of higher pressure in the eye, too, so a check by a qualified eye person would be a good idea. That higher pressure can exacerbate dryness. Not much to do but lubricate and avoid bright light if it is just dry eye. And, yes, my eyes water like crazy, once irritated. Once or twice a day may not be enough. In this weather, I am using artificial tears about four times a day at doctor's recommendation.

[Koalajane in reply to clieder]

I do have higher pressure but my corneas are thick. I see an ophthalmologist regularly as I have diabetic retinopathy. Perhaps I need to use the drops more.

[bunnymom]

I had dry eyes to begin with and eye Dr recommended gel drops which last much longer. I bought sunglasses which go over my eye glasses and wear them all the time. Be sure you are using drops before you go to bed.

[30048]

I developed very dry eyes and mouth a few months ago. I had had some blurred vision due to the prednisone but this was much worse. My retina specialist put me on restasis which, took awhile, but did clear up my blurriness . In reading all the data , I found that the restasis also had an anti inflammatory component which I think has helped with the exhaustion That came with it.

[Woodiesmum]

My eyes are shocking x pressure behind x burning and dry x I went to our local eye hospital again x got new drops and gel for nights it helps a lot but not sure like you is it Pmr gca or pred xx