Some weeks ago someone posted they were using castor oil for dry eyes. I was rather sceptical that that was a good idea - it sounded as if they were putting it IN their eyes.
Anyway - today I got a notification of this study of castor oil as a potential natural remedy for dry eyes:
However, please note that you do NOT put it in your eyes, you apply it carefully to the outside of your eyelids!
"The trial involved applying castor oil to the eyelids for a period of four weeks."
Note too that this was a pilot observational study - the more strictly randomised controlled study is underway! But I thought it was interesting given the fact it was mentioned here recently.
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I’m under treatment for dry eye. My Optometrist has me applying Optase MGD Advanced Dry Eye Drops 4x/day. After applying the Optase for the morning and evening, I’m to follow-up with a 5 minute application of a Thermalon Dry Eye Moist Heat Compress, then a drop in each eye of Restasis (Rx for cyclosporine 0.05%) and lastly a drop of Avenova Eyelid & Eyelash Cleanser Spray (hypochlorous acid 0.01%) is applied to the lids with eyes closed. Except for the Rx, everything is purchased without a Rx via Amazon.
I have a follow-up appointment the end of this month for progress evaluation and whether she’s going to do Low Level Light Therapy. If I agree this last will be out of pocket amount of $1,250 USD as insurance, neither Medicare nor Cigna Surround, will cover it.😕
Doubtful. But she does own the equipment. I do have clogged pores with lower generation of lubrication. She suspects bacterial which is why the use of the hydrochlorous acid and the LLLT is a last resort. I’m still learning about LLLT. I’ll read up on the castor oil…
PS: She also put me on Omega 3 Fish Oil, 1tsp daily. Last analysis shows I’m in optimal range.
So you live in the US? They don’t seem to offer much for debilitating dry eyes problems in the UK… I’d love to be able to find some kind of help to relieve my problem but it appears there’s nothing. Of course it would have to be safe… I do hope you can get genuine relief and it would be interesting to know how you get on. Best wishes.
There are things in the UK to relieve dry eye symptoms. A really good optician will put you on the path. No miracle cure, but certainly things to ease and prevent total clogging!
Yes, but having at last read through this thread, nothing like your issues. I do the heat bag, drops etc plus treatment every 6 weeks to ease the blocked glands. Not a cure and only relieves symptoms. Apologies again for jumping the gun
Certainly not enough and much wanting. Doctors should not be allowed to prescribe certain drugs unless they can be trusted to ensure the patients on certain drugs can be monitored regularly. Had this been the case I probably would not find myself in that scary situation as the drug would have been stopped earlier on.
It will be interesting to see what they choose to do in the future , although I hope nobody runs to the chemist for the castor oil and tries it on their own just yet.Personally, as an extreme sufferer of Dry Eye Syndrome , I would say, don't just try and DIY this at Home. There are eyelid gels for night time which you can currently get on prescription from the GP or Over The Counter.
The study will have had procedures to follow and a safe way to applicate the right amount of oil to the eyelids without causing other eye issues by using it. As it it still being tested there aren't appropriate instructions or help teaching you to do it before you start at home , so it's a lot wiser to contact the GP to be checked and get a eyelid gel.
You can get eyelid gels including Vitapos A and Hylo Night with both include the right formula to increase the oils you don't produce on the eyelids to spread from an easy applicator , these also include the vitamins that help restore oil production to the lids.
From experience with these I know they do help , but also know that if you occasionally put on too much it can be a bit uncomfortable and blur vision for a little while but because it's eye formulated you can clear it easily, unlike castor oil . An accident without a good applicator with castor oil would be more likely to occur and it would be harder to clear from the eye. Eyelid gels are applied at night so they work as you sleep.
You can reduce the Dry Eye part of eye conditions with various types of eye drops , first line being Carmellose Drops or Gel Tears , up to the ones required by people with severe problems like myself with Sicca Syndrome and Blepharitis ,or Sjorgrens called Celluvist/ Cellvist , which have a saline solution as close to human tears as is possible ( these are rather expensive which is why other options are used first ).
It helps to apply the gels after using a warm damp compress over the closed eyes for a few minutes.
It helps to apply the daytime eye drops to your dry eyes, one side at a time, after a cool damp compress, away from the tear duct with head raised, and to close the eyes and slowly move your closed eye side to side for a few moments before lowering your head to stop the drops escaping down your cheek or eye socket.
Using these through the day helps a lot but you do need Self Care. Most importantly, drinking enough water. Then eating a vitamin rich diet ( including especially the fat soluble vitamins) , protecting your eyes from cold or very hot temperatures and wind ( using glasses , sunglasses or a cap) when outside, reducing your screen time , reducing the use of make up and strong cosmetic eye creams on the eye area, and taking care to lubricate the eyes if you spend a lot of time in an air conditioned or centrally heated room.
Probably better to follow the tried and tested techniques before using natural home remedies even if , in time, some of those could end up being part of the medical advice we receive.
The study itself only included 26 participants and had no randomised or control testing to help prove if it would be a universal reliable treatment in the future. There was no mention about whether the participants had been given any treatment for the loss of oils to the eyelids which can happen with watery eyes or eye washing treatments by using a standard prescribed oil based gel. If they had no treatment at all, or only had mild symptoms , it would also mean that they would be more likely to feel a positive effect from getting any restoration of an oil on the eyelids, even if it wasn't the best form to use.
Nice to hear they are beginning to test natural options to prove or disprove they work now though , as it will make things easier in the future to deal with mild eye symptoms at home when a safe set of instructions are in place.
Yes excellent advice. I suffer very much from very dry eye syndrome (Sjogren’s)… my eyes water continuously thus steaming up my glasses lenses.. which means I need to use a tissue to dry my eyes and then a cloth to dry my lenses so many times within an hour… time consuming and making it difficult to read. I wish a safe procedure could be developed making our lives a little easier. I use Visu XL and Thealoz duo as daily drops nearly every hour during the day and Xailin night ointment prescribed by my ophthalmologist then my GP. As you explained the use of hot (not too hot though) compresses helps too.
Indeed prudence regarding castor oil is important.
I was the other way and my eyes were always dry and often had burst capillaries, I couldn't even cry. If I did try to cry my eyes would just sting.Interestingly since my Vitamin B12 Deficiency was diagnosed and I was put on the injections my dry eye and skin symptoms have improved a lot. I was even quite shocked recently when I managed to shed a few tears during a film.
So another form of dry eyes syndrome. How ironic that having very dry eyes they tear all the time. I inject B12 too… but it hasn’t help with the eyes. I have just bee diagnosed with the beginning of macular degeneration in my left eye (have had had uveitis in that eye for many years post RA diagnosis, and having a cataract in my good right eye… so my sight is not great… My rheumatologist prescribed Hydroxychloroquine to help my biologic drug to work better (weekly injections of Tocilizumab) but he should have told me to contact the eye clinic to register for regular specific monitoring at the hospital hydroxychloroquine clinic but DID NOT! How negligent is that! Am sending an email to the rheumatologist… Difficult to trust such people when they prescribe drugs that can destroy one’s vision… Am furious and most upset, naturally. It is difficult to read,,, and see correctly.
That's awful. What a coincidence , it's actually because of a follow up after my first bout of Uveitis that I saw a Senior Opthalmologist whom was the one that sent me for an urgent scan which diagnosed my GCA.After that , and because of the affect my ongoing symptoms were having on my eyesight ( I'd basically been brushed off or treated like individual body parts for years) I basically built up my courage , came on HU and fought to get all my conditions properly diagnosed.
Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Pancreatic Enzyme Insufficiency are the root core of all the other illnesses I have , and had affected my health since birth but I was over 50 before both of these were properly recognized on my medical records.
I know what you mean about the medications, I triple check each new thing now because of mistakes or interactions I suffered when doctors hadn't checked which other drugs I was on , or what effect that they could have on my other health issues.
It is probably worth looking into making a complaint about their oversight with the Chief Executives Office for your NHS Trust/ local hospital , as using PACE or complaining to the Department usually doesn't get much response , and gives them chance to cover their backsides!
Even getting some legal advice , as you may be entitled to some form of compensation, or at least to get more consistent, fast track care for your eyes.
Hi Bee, yes it is shocking. It’s the rheumatologist’s fault. He should have told me and contacted the ophthalmologist because I used to go to the eye clinic very often before Covid,,, only been once post Covid and only saw a nurse who simply did a basic eye test… very poor indeed. I decided to go and see my optician at the beginning of December because I had more difficulty in seeing clearly… He was shocked to see how much my sight had deteriorated under less than a year and he sent an email to the Eye clinic of my local hospital. I have been waiting until last Wednesday for this appointment after I contacted my rheumatologist and asked him to contact the ophthalmologist to ensure they would see me ASAP. Will send an email to my rheumatologist and ensure he’ll get a copy of the report from the ophthalmologist. As for complaining… it’s so corrupt… they look after each other… it’s a close circle…still adhering to the old boys’ club… they will always find an excuse for their errors… saying they will learn from their mistakes… but never do! It’s sickening.
I am wailing for an appointment for a further specialised test ( perhaps in 2 months) to find out what is the extent of the damage, then ill decide what to do.
Had you asked on this forum about HCQ as a DMARD you would have been warned about the eye thing. Too many doctors think it is rare - not rare enough unfortunately and it can happen very quickly - not after several years which is the more common perception. I'm also a member of the Lupus forum where HCQ is used a lot so have heard of a few nasty experiences with it.
I am afraid I did not think about this at the time otherwise I would have done. Furthermore I so often queried about the use of this nasty drug’ … from the rheumatologist who said it was an extremely rare occurrence and from the eye clinic nurses but they said absolutely nothing about it. To be honest those nurses are not up to the job and bring qualified as ´specialised’ in the eye conditions and treatment is is rather ironical and misleading. They have not a clue. Whenever I have discussed things with them they could not answer any questions… apart from the most elementary knowledge they have. They often did not understand and kept on saying you need to ask the rheumatologist … which I did without much success. In fact I registered a complaint , with PALS, regarding the RA nurses, stating it was a waste of time seeing them since they were ignorant. When I added I was sorry to do so, I was told I wasn’t the only one, that many patients had done the same. They we’re going to sort it… but obviously nothing was done and will be done. However, the rheumatologist SHOULD have referred me to the specialist monitoring eye clinic for patients taking Hydroxychloroquine. .it’s HIS specialism, he should know about such risks. He wanted to put me on other drugs too which I refused to take … he was not pleased.
I also understood my health issues are many and complex so not easy to help me BUT this was avoidable with true professional knowledge and isn’t acceptable. As for my GP, whom I saw only the day I sent an email to the rheumatologist explaining my sight deterioration, she actually told me to carry on taking Hydroxychloroquine…. that macular degeneration is part of getting old…. Yes this can be the case but knowing I took this drug she should have be proactive and agree with me I should stop tagging it)… that I could buy some large magnifying tablet allowing me to see better! So she was quite happy of me becoming blind in time! This is British medicine at its best!… This isn’t the first time I had to put up with doctors’ ignorance… So many times I had to fight for a treatment, I have always had to do so… Most of these people should not be qualified as doctors. Sorry about the rant but frankly I have had more than enough of such bad medical practice. Do you have any idea of the specific test the ophthalmologist mentioned to me, that is to put some drops (not sure what, probably to enhance visibility ) then some wires (they won’t hurt, she added…) into the corners of the eyes and using a scan so as to see the extent of the damage? I was so very upset I couldn’t think properly… otherwise I would have asked her the name of such a test. I will try and phone the eye clinic to find out but you only speak to nurses… so they probably won’t have a clue.
Never mind the nurses - have you complained about the rheumy? What an appalling response and not the slightest concept of what loss of vision means. The trouble with PALS is it doesn't take you into the official complaint realm. Then there is a registered complaint and documentation should be provided to show what actions have been taken. My husband was an HCP and he actively encouraged patients to pursue a complaint if it was justified. Often it was something HE had been trying to get sorted but the patient backup helped! If no-one else - write to the complaints/legal dept, copying in the CEO of the Trust. They don't want their Trust looking any worse than it is - unless they are on the make in some way, that happened in my husband's Trust!
Try your local MECS/CUES service provider - probably SpecSavers but you can find them using the online locator? They provide a better than the ED service and know these things (or should do)
The drops are local anaesthetic to reduce discomfort and I assume it is this test, an electrophysiological test to measure the electrical activity in your eyes when they are working on seeing something.
Thank you for your reply. Not familiar with abbreviations… What’s an HCP? And MECS/CUES service provider? It was a very good optician from Specsavers who noticed the problem when I went to see him before my annual check up … he sent an email straight away to the ophthalmologist at my local hospital.
I will look into all the links you have included. Thanks again.
I am requesting an appointment with the rheumatologist (to replace a useless appointment with an eye nurse which will be useless again) then I’ll take it from there. The forthcoming test should help in establishing the situation precisely, I hope. The ophthalmologist I saw said the problem didn’t need any treatment yet… but I wonder? Again I was so shocked I didn’t asked what the treatment entails and how well it works. I was alone in the consultation… and was too upset to think clearly. Am not usually like that. However I have a cousin in France who told me his 95 years old brother in law has this problem (not induced by a drug) and they started an injection in the eye straight away on a monthly basis, not waiting till it gets worse as is usually the case here! They obviously don’t think less of an elderly person’s quality of life. What upsets me the most is that I often mentioned this possibility and it was always played down … Thanks again for your input.
The links explain the MECS/UES abbreviations which is why I didn't define them.
HCP is Health Care Professional
There is a list of abbreviations often used on the forum in the FAQs - linked at the top of every thread,
If the ophthalmologist didn't think you needed the injections yet, be grateful. It may never progress and you may never need the injections. Most people would feel postponement was a positive - psyching yourself up to injections into the eyeball every month takes some doing for some people. There is a risk of infection and bleeding - hence the desire to reduce the number you have.
You’re brilliant… thank you again. So I can try to relax a bit in the knowledge that a treatment by injection is not yet required and hopefully may never be needed! I understand the risk of infection, I already had an injection in my bad left eye because of blurred vision after diagnosis of uveitis… it was not pleasant… but did help a little. It was not linked to MC. The problem I live now is that vision in my left eye has never been great (had a cataract removed and lens implanted 20 years ago) so I relied on my good right eye. However I have a cataract in that eye as well which mean I can’t see very well and often need to use a magnifying glass … so life is a bit grim… intensity of colours have changed too… ie: often white looks a bit yellow…
She just said the cataract in my good right eye wasn’t ripped enough to be removed… again I was too shocked to keep my wits about me… to ask further questions. Will now make a list if questions to ask when I next see her or another ophthalmologist. Thanks.
Hello again, have read the information provided by the links you’ve sent me. I don’t think the MECS/CUES can do anything about this as it’s clearly not a small problem. As already stated the brilliant optician sent an email straight away to the ophthalmologist… he really can’t do much now.
The link regarding the test looks as though it is what will be done. Thanks, I will actually email the department to ask about it since I can now think more clearly, the consultation was last Wednesday and tbh I felt numb before processing the information of something that could have been avoided.
No, they won't be able to DO anything but they would provide the explanation you were complaing about lacking. However - if my link was enough - problem solved.
Hi PMRpro. That's interesting as I have had dry eyes for some years now and used to be prescribed cabomer gel. However a few months back our surgery couldn't get it and didn't offer an alternative so I used some old Boots cucumber gel on the outside of my eyelids and it worked. I've used it ever since -cancelled the intermittently unavailable carbomer. An extra benefit is that I don't wake-up with slightly gunky eyes.
Hello Smithie49, I'm interested to know a bit more about the cucumber gel. I was told I have blepharitis and dry eye by a Specsavers optician. I was recommended heat pads, eye drops and wipes which I have been using a few weeks with very little change. My symptoms are very watery eyes, not so much sore or gunky. Do you have excess watering?
Hi Lclmlbls. No, no watering which is a part of the problem for me I think. The dryness wakes me at night if I don't use something and drops dry up too quickly. I first used the cucumber gel on the lids as I happened to have some in the draw when the pharmacy couldn't get the carbomer gel. Pure chance and as I applied it to the outside of my eyelids I was surprised it really helped. It's very cheap at £1.50 per tube which I find lasts ages. U don't look more gorgeous though which is very disappointing 😀
Thanks for your reply. It might be worth a try for £1.50 which is considerably less than what I spent at the recommendation of Specsavers - drops x 2, wipes and heat mask!
This is very interesting re the castor oil. Thank you for posting the information.A year ago my bloods fir my liver wrre basically showing that I had cirrhosis of the liver, then a friend forwarded lots of information about the healing powers of organic castor oil and liver detox, so I purchased the liver detox kit from Amazon and the organic oil and started twice a week, you dont take the castor oil internally you soak the band with the oil strap it over your liver, with a heatpad over it and lie there for an hour, I still do it twice a week........and guess what....had blood tests taken now in January my liver test has come up as normal no further action!!!!!
And just yesterday I searched to see if I could use the castor oil for my eyes, as I too from literally day one of diagnosis my eyes have been my biggest trial, couldnt find anything, as I agree we need to be careful especially when in doubt, more so with our eyes, so for me I am going to definitely try it,
YouTube have videos on liver detox using castor oil.
But before embarking on anything we need to investigate as what is good for one may not be good for another. I suffered no ill effects only feel much better, havent had alcohol in 18 months eating a liver friendly diet....all helps.
When you consider the stuff people happily smear all over their eyes - careful use of castor oil does seem that outlandish!!! I only posted about it because someone was claiming recently he was using castor oil for dry eyes. This at least gives some clinical context.
Some months ago I read an interview between a dermatologist and ophthalmologist.
The latter said she used castor oil regularly on her eyelids. My GP suggested Vaseline, but castor oil is a natural product. I tried it for my very sore and swollen eyelids and it was very soothing and certainly helped. Just a drop on the tip of my finger. I also used cold compresses once or twice a day. I do have blepharitis, but I think this may have a kind of allergy from the garden and touch wood it is much calmer, but has left more wrinkles!
Thanks for the update nissemor I mist say it soothes mine, hasnt taken it away completely but most definitely improved it. I use heat oad havent tried cold compressors, will try that I think. Thank you, any suggestion shared is most welcome.
~Riveting reading PMRpro - a wonderful find on your behalf and thank you so much for sharing this nugget of information.
Noted Prof Jenny Craig's details and intend to follow up next week as live in Auckland.
Having Sjogren's added to my list of a/i issues my eye challenges ongoing for some time and have autologous serum made up to assist with dryness along with Hylo-Fresh lubricating eye drops. Ophthalmologist also recommended supplement DRY eye FORTE - I take twice a day. At night I use Polyvisc ointment which does not contain any preservatives - eyes happy with that.
Morning bathe eyes with warm flannel (boiled on stove old fashioned way) to remove crusting + blurriness of Polyvisc ointment.
Restasis mighty expensive in NZ and did not agree with my eyes.
Constant eye infections since Christmas so keen to follow through and learn more about these trails~
~Incidentally used organic castor oil brow/lash serum with noticeable recovery of patches (missing brows + lashes) - as it appears to work in those regions my theory is to dab around hairline where hair fallen also. Medication side effects~
Some specialists recommend diluted baby shampoo for cleaning the eye lids, so I think there are some alternatives doing the rounds. The opthalmologist told me to use antiseptic wipes for eyes, which are pretty pricey. I used cotton wool and water that had been boiled instead, because I am too mean to pay for the wipes. I dispensed with the eye drops eventually, as I found that regular use of the warm eye mask seems to work for me.
No, it was at the hospital. She told me to get them from the pharmacy, but I ordered one pack from by the big river online shop. The hospital did give me a couple of bottles of eye drops for free though and they suddenly appeared on my repeat prescription list.
I think aloe vera is one of the latest fads. They also have tea tree and camomile. Camomile makes sense as it has long been known to have soothing properties and tea tree is used as an antiseptic, though I'm not so keen on that around eyes either. But I really have to watch the aloe vera. It is in a lot of cosmetic products and I kept reacting to different products, until I noticed that those products all had aloe vera on the label.
All over the place it seems - recommended as an emollient for dry skin by all sorts of companies, H&B has it and so do chemists. Cold pressed organic - anybody would think it was olive oil!!
I bought mine in a small bottle from Holland and Barrett. If you let a drop fall on your finger, you won’t get any cross contamination. And gently smooth around the eye.
that was crazy me. My eyes have been so dried putting 10W-30 would help. Joking. I been doing caster oil 3x week as required. It significantly helps me. I will put it on eyelids and see if it still helps. I tried all kinds of eye drops unsuccessfully
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