I woke up with a shock late last night, with incredibly painful eyes. They appeared very bloodshot and were watering copiously. I was unable to open the worst eye properly and my vision seemed distorted and blurred. I poured eyedrops ( for dry eyes) into them and did an eyebath. Eventually it settled and upon waking again there was residual tenderness but the eyesight had normalised. I had either got moisturiser into my eyes ( I use additive free gentle products) or this was some kind of warning. I have GCA, Glaucoma, Cataracts, steroid induced diabetes, hay fever. Any clues anyone? So many potential assaults on my eyesight make me panic.
Eyes burning, bloodshot, blurred eye sight. - PMRGCAuk
Eyes burning, bloodshot, blurred eye sight.
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SheffieldJane
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Hi Jane
It’s 4.50am now, l’ve just woken up & saw your Post, are you still awake?
I have no experience with GCA but l really think you need to get your eyes checked to be honest.
It might just be the moisturiser, l’ve done that myself with eye cream but err on the side of caution.....
Thinking of you
Angela xx
Sounds horrid Jane but getting chemicals into your eyes which were not meant for them can sure cause a lot of bother - sunscreen is an example which is not good either. The pain in your eyes could just be related to the moisturiser but if it feels more like 'pressure' I would be more concerned. Just around my GCA diagnosis I had a lot of pressure right around my eyes and even cheeks - but not exactly pain 'in' my eyes. All that sounds very subjective of course but you might know what I mean re a difference there but I never had any major vision distortion or blurring. Any doubts at all around eyes though - you know the drill - better to get checked promptly - I'd always rather have egg on my face than something worse - do take care . X
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer
Hi,
Would say reaction to moisturiser, the burning sensation is the obvious thing, but if you managed to stop that then the streaming (which is eyes trying to do same thing as you bathing it) will also stop.
The bloodshot might just be the usual with high doses of Pred - and actually looks worse than it is! But as it says on most things, if you get in eyes, bathe in cold water and seek medical advice.
PMRproAmbassador
I had something like that relatively early in PMR - even my superb optician (with a PhD in ophthalmology) could find no answer except possibly an allergy to the "new improved" contact lens solution! Using daily disposables helped - but was far too expensive really so I went back to specs ...
However - it doesn't matter if something like moisturiser is additive-free, the stuff itself is still a conglomeration of chemicals. And being additive-free may make it more likely to "go off".
I hate the words ‘New Improved’........
It is usually enough to put me off trying it until I am forced to!!! And I go out and look for stocks of the old version ...
Me too! When Martin was little, my heart used to sink every time l saw that, even with Washing Powder, l was one of the Mums that bombarded Unilever over Original Persil
Non Biological along with the National Eczema Society, they said they would never bring it back but they did!......
I spent a lot of time campaigning and researching when Martin was little, there was NO INTERNET then!
Martin was the first child in the U.K. to have an ‘Off Licence’ Paediatric Epipen & it cost £32 as the Pharmacist complained when he dispensed it; until then l’d always carried IM Hydrocortisone & Adrenalin Ampules & syringes......
Thank you all so much. Eyes look normal this morning. Things loom large in the wee small hours. 💕
Jane, l use a product by Liz Earle called ‘Eyebright’ gentle eye makeup remover but l use it for eye compresses if my eyes are sore, it always feels cool & soothing. It’s not a Medical Grade Product obviously as you don’t put it in your eyes it’s just very cooling as an eye compress. 😌
Angela xx
It used to be cucumber if I remember right....I don`t put any makeup on my eyes they are too dry and sore most of the time....but cool eye pads sometimes help...
Yes, it was cucumber 🥒
Or used tea bags maybe?
I have become very sensitised to chemicals. I decant very medical, sanitary looking, plain, shower stuff into pretty bottles with rose gold dispensing tops and a bespoke label in rose gold script. My returned son was giving it a wide berth because it looked pretty, fragrant and feminine. It is none of these things - just good old E45. You can tell I have time to kill. My very own design. 😁
Yes, but why not? Just because it’s practical or simple doesn’t mean it can’t look pretty 💕
Jane have you ever heard of Avene Products? My daughter in law was prescribed them by her French GP for her skin when she had a very bad reaction to her skincare.
I used it when l was on Chemo for my hands & feet especially as they can be very badly affected by Chemo & we all still have favourites. They sell it in Boots now as well as OnLine, some of the creams are Medical Grade, the Tubes are sealed between uses by the mechanism of opening/closing the products.
Worth a look at sometime, l think they do trial sizes 😘
I can relate to being sensitive to chemicals on my face. Any kind of product close to my eyes cause them to itch and sting. Forget hypoallergenic makeup. I have never been able to get all gussied up because I end up smearing it due to irritation. Even the all important moisturizer is difficult for me to tolerate.
A skin doctor gave me one product that was tolerable but naturally the company went out of business and is no longer available.
I just wear a big friendly smile.
I hope that you have found out what made your eyes react so!
All the best
Hi
MrsNails SheffieldJane
I use L E cleanse and Polish for eye make up remover
The only product of theirs I am unable to use is the Eye Bright makes my eyes very sore but that maybe just me .
Tip keep eye bright in the fridge.
Rose
Yes l do & l give the small sizes to the boys in Hay Fever Season! But it’s surprisingly cool even at room temperature 😌
No, not just you. Eyebright made my eyes sooooo sore. We are all so different. I do see them raving about it on QVC and wish i could use it.
Being across the pond.....I just saw your post and am happy that your eyes had settled down. Having GCA myself...I held my breath...then saw all the good and wise words that were given to you!! Take good care xo
Good news that your eyes are back to normal. Such a relief. Always so scary when these things happen, and as you said, it feels much worse when it happens at night.
I too have GCA( 3 years) and seem to get “funny eyes” from time to time. Have drops from hospital to prevent glaucoma and also drops for dry eyes. I bought an eye mask to heat in microwave ( don’t let it get too hot) and find it helps on bad days. Clears sinuses too. May be worth a try. Hope you get it sorted. We have enough to make us anxious!!
Nothing more panic-inducing than waking up in the small hours with 'something new' that hurts or looks alarming - my eyes are doing all sorts of blurry, burst blood vessel, red-rimmed eyelid things. I had an eye test yesterday for reassurance and to get reactolite lenses as they're also increasingly sensitive to light so got the cheapest pair as prescription changes so much.
Morning and evening I gently wipe eyelids with cottonwool pads soaked in eye-wash and hold them on for a minute or two, also have an eye mask to heat in microwave which is very soothing (and doubles as a quick neck ache relief!)
I have photosensitivity too, even the TV screen.
Thanks for all the tips.
So sorry to hear this but glad adze ell as I thought it was just me , can't bear even the low light coming in through the windows early in the morning and seem to be squinting permanently at the moment , awaiting apt with ophthalmology as Rheumy is unsure if it's FCA or not , I hope you find A solution very soon X
Weak solution of Johnson baby shamooo is meant to be good too.
I think that’s for blepharitis? I use eye pads to wipe along the upper and lower inside lids every day, sometimes after an eye mask warmed in the microwave and kept for 10 minutes. it’s amazing the amount of debris this picks up at this time of year. The blossom has been amazing but the combination of hot sun, gorgeous blossom and heavy rain isn’t terrific for our poor eyes! 🌺
Me too. Having thrown off GCA and PMR (in remission?) I now have Sjogren's Syndrome - dry mouth and eyes. And sensitive to light. Eye drops - yes, the additive-free one.
When will this auto-immune curse end????
Keep well and safe.
Hello sondya! I had hoped your absence meant that you were better! I have these symptoms too, it’s very lowering. 🌷
Suffering from The Curate's (boiled) Egg . . . good in parts.
Seems like I'll be sticking around for a while yet.
Sorry you’re going through the mill these days. As others have said, it could just be the eye cream/moisturiser combined with your very sensitive eyes. My husband has some psoriasis on his face and was using suncream across his forehead partly as a moisturiser. His eyes were very red and sore until he realised the problem. It also happened with some cream prescribed for psoriasis with even worse results. It must have been melting down into his eyes.
Many thanks for this supportive thread. 🌷
Hi Jane. It is horrible when something like that happens. As others have said, it is important to get your eyes checked just in case it is GCA related. It sounds more like the moisturiser though. I have GCA and the pain was in my temples and there was a strange stiff feeling around my eyes but not in my eyes. I had an issue with my eyesight when I was tapering from 30 of pred to 25 mg. I had blank spots in my vision but not sore eyes and blurry vision. I hope your eyes feel better this morning. Let us know how you get on. Thinking of you.
Oh Jane you’ve been through so much and always help others get a check on those eyes
Wishin g
you well xx
I have dry eye, and have to be careful what gets into my eyes. I have found moisturiser can 'set them off'. Also wind, pollen, dust. I quite often wake up with puffy eyes and have episodes of burning and bloodshot. I have going that Lacrilube ointment helps tremendously. You can buy it over the counter, it's bit expensive but you may also get it on prescription. The instructions say squeeze it into the eye, but I don't do that as it blurs your vision for ages. Instead I apply it to my upper and lower lids at night and it works its way into your eyes gradually overnight.
How scary for you Jane. I hope it doesn’t happen again. You are such a comfort to others when they have problems.
Histamine issues or Mast Cell Activation Syndrome - really just a thought.
No that doesn’t fit ( thankfully).
Yay! I hope you are ok.
Hope you get this sorted soon Jane. Xx
From across the pond - (in Canada) - as well. The support and comfort of the wonderful people of this forum is so incredibly obvious...Nothing worse, as you said, than trying to deal with an issue and the accompanying fear in the darkness of the night or in the wee hours of the morning. How fortunate we are to have each other to lean on!
I’m happy to read that your eye issue has settled down. Hoping for happier days ahead for you....
Have your eyes settled down now Jane?
Hoping it’s due to creams not meant for eyes getting there. We’ve all done it and it’s scary even when you haven’t got the eye problems we have.
I had a nasty allergic reaction to the sun when in Australia - then was allergic to the first eye drops prescribed - awful experience couldn’t see, the eyes stung and ran like a tap with painful pressure building in the eyeball - luckily antidote worked otherwise it was surgery they said. Such a performance.
You probably know this but never use any cosmetic products near the eyes unless it says it’s for eyes. Those that are must never be put on the soft tissue area of the eyes. Apply clockwise, gently patting in, starting from inner eye area following the bone just under the eyebrow round to the outer cheekbone and back along to inner eye area. The cream will be drawn into the soft tissue eye area. Never be tempted to rub creams in.
My eyes are painful and my vision is still a bit blurred - not something I have had as a Pred side effect before. I think you are right and I must have been careless with the moisturiser. I have also been aware of hay fever itching and stinging. They look normal now, apart from swelling on the lids that could be a blocked tear duct. Your experience in Australia sounds scary - their remedies seem to be much more potent than ours. My husband had a violent reaction to sunblock and sweat once whilst there - his whole face swelled up. I had forgotten that. It’s our conditions that lend a sinister note to these things though. I have received the paperwork for a great raft of blood tests in preparation for Tocilizumab. I feel even more determined to see this off now. Thanks for the advice - I am a bit gung ho.
Hay fever and moisturiser aren’t a good combination and could be why your eyes are still puffy. Might be worth a phone call to the doctor of pharmacist. Don’t keep suffering.
I’ve never been a real hay fever sufferer but this year have very itchy eyes.
So your husband suffered in Australia too. We’re just not acclimatised to their weather- I also get prickly heat. I was told I had an adverse reaction to the sun. I recall the day it was my granddaughter’s sports day and shaded under a huge tree so blamed the shrubbery.
Good luck with Tcz. I would be fearful of yet another drug but if they think it might help...
Dr SM had asked me to have a PET scan and bloods for starters. I sincerely hope nothing else is manifesting itself but something is definitely going on. You once said she (Dr SM) has a very calming influence and having never met her, just two telephone consultations, I have now felt that too.
She’s lovely and I trust her. I want to try something else, having followed the PMR treatment protocol to the letter only to develop GCA. Fingers crossed that this drug will work and I can tolerate it.
Hi Jane. I would get it checked out asap. So scary for you. All the best x
It is the glaucoma that is worrying, it is best to have your eyes looked at just to eliminate any potential issues, right now guessing it is the moisturizer that caused the problem maybe so however you have nothing to loose by having your eyes examined.
My eye pressures came back normal thank you Angel20. It seemed to be their top concern.
I know. My Opthalmologist saw me last week. I had waited months for the appointment. This one was on a Saturday and done under careful conditions. Hopefully my GP will ring soon with any findings - he rings most weeks. The technician that did the checks didn’t flag anything.
Sometimes the technicians do not say anything to the patient, its probably nothing, better to be safe.
No he didn’t. I spent most of the time asking about his experience working through the Pandemic. I am so in awe of these super humans.
Same thing happened to me in the middle of last night Jane, but one eye only. It was defo an allergic reaction, probably Hayfever, which I have had since a child. I used an anti histamine nasal spray and washed the eyes out with Optrex. This morning was much better and improved throughout today. Xxx
It is quite alarming in the light of what we dread.
Good thoughts thank you wbiC !
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