Eyes

[1964-karina]

Does anybody else have watery eyes but the discharge is clear and sticky?? Am on 8mg but debating whether to go up to 9 as shoulders really aching 🙁

[Soraya_PMR]

Have a google of ‘dry eyes’ see if that’s a match. Caused by pred, AI conditions and our increasing age.

[Blearyeyed]

Could be dry eyes as a side effect of Pred and the effects of the cold weather and indoor heating.

Being on steroids can make normal dryness that happens to skin and eyes in different weather conditions worse or more obvious.

Could also be a deficiency in Vitamins D and A , if you aren't on Vitamin D supplements you may need them, if you are on it already it might be worth having your levels checked.

Vitamin A makes a big difference to eye health , a deficiency can reduce the oils on the eyelids , which protect the eyes at night and prevent the tear ducts becoming gloopy and making your tears stickier.

Try adding more Fish and Eggs to your diet , you need the retinol , unfortunately when it comes to Vitamin A deficiencies you at least need eggs , as beta carotene does not convert into retinol in the body in any efficacy.

Also get a good set of eye drops either on prescription or from the pharmacy , Geltears are a good choice or Optrex eye drops or Carmellose if you need something more watery.

You may need to increase your Pred , but you may again like to check that Vitamin D and Calcium with blood tests before that too , as Vitamin D deficiency can also increase stiffness and pain in the joints and muscle weakness so it's best to check that something other than PMR isn't involved to.

You also need lots of fluids and Vitamin C to help with improving your absorption of other vitamins , minerals and Calcium which will benefit your eyes and muscle issues and maintain your bone health .

Hugs xx

[Purplecrow]

Hi, my indicator symptom was painful shoulders. If my shoulders hurt, I knew i was on a dose of prednisone too low to manage my inflammation. That meant returning to the next level up, where I had relief.

Everyone has different " canary in the coal-mine" indicators. Shoulders are mine. Maybe yours also??

Perhaps, This means you should return to your last dose of prednisone.

Regarding hour eyes, A year or two into this PMR journey, (5.5 years now, I developed dry eyes, and needed a simple eye drop to ease the discomfort.

My vision has flicked about, and necessitated several eyeglass changes. Finally I've settled down, and just switch glasses around when I need a change.

Good luck with this capricious illness...let us know how you are doing.

Kind regards, Jerri

PMR diagnosed 2013, currently 3 mg pred.

[1964-karina]

Thankyou so much for advice, will try the vitamins and see if that helps 👍🏻😀

[saffron52]

Hi 1964Karina I have dry eye and dry mouth syndrome. One of the Consultants I saw suggested Omega 3 tabs twice daily, and also using a very small clean amount of Vaseline on the outside of both corners of the eye. I put Vaseline on with a clean cotton wool bud, this stops the irritation caused by the tears and wiping continuously I have used it for a number of years now and renew it night and morning. No more itchy and sore eyes. Also suffer from dry mouth syndrome and I use Xylimelts tablets pop one each side of upper part of mouth at night onto gum and have a good nights sleep and not waking up at night sipping and spraying stuff to take away the dryness. I buy mine from the Mouth Ulcer Shop in Southampton or they can be bought on E-bay. Hope this might help take care. ATB Saffron x

[1964-karina in reply to saffron52]

Thankyou for your reply, I feel guilty now as I don’t have the dry mouth, that sounds terrible 🙁

[Ciar]

Dry eye is now on my list of PMR/prednisone issues. You can have watery eyes and still have dry eye. My vision is variably blurry all the time due to this. My ophthalmologist has me doing a list of remedies. As others have recommended...omega 3, vitamins A and C plus lutein (I’m taking Presevision AREDS2 supplements), Vaseline, and probably most helpful for me...hot compresses. I bought these in the eye section of my drug store, little reusable gel bead packs that you pop into the microwave until they are hot, and leave on for 10 minutes. I have to reheat halfway through as it won’t work if they are merely warm. After a few weeks of compresses twice daily, I have noticed improvement.

[1964-karina in reply to Ciar]

Thankyou for replying,will look for those compresses 👍🏻