I've been on fulvestrant for + 1.5 years and Verzenio for 9 months. About 4 months ago my eyes became very watery. The slightest wind or cold temperature and I'm crying. Sometimes I cry in my car, sitting on the couch, etc. This has been pretty consistent and in both eyes. I thought at 1st it was allergies so I took Allegra for a few days but that made no difference. Then I thought it might be clogged tear ducts so I did a little self message. I did get a referral from my general practitioner to see an ophthalmologist but can't get in for 3 months.
A friend with MBC said she has had this issue too. Wondering if others have this as a side effect?
Thanks
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Nuff
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Believe it or not, watery, crying eyes can mean you have dry eyes! It’s the way your eyes are trying to “fix the problem”, but tears are not the same consistency as your eyes’ natural lubrication so they don’t really help.
I have very dry eyes, beginning when I was on arimidex and they continue to be a problem (I’ve been on Ibrance, Fulvestrant, and currently on Xeloda and epxgeva), and my optometrist prescribed an expensive moisturizing gel for them but I choose instead to just constantly wet them. My optometrist said if I use a wetting solution often/constantly, to use one with no preservative.
Check the side effects of your meds to see if dry eyes are listed.
My optometrist recommended using Systane gel drops. I use in am and pm, and every once in awhile during the day. Has greatly reduces watery or dry sandpaper eyes.
Hi Nuff, am on fulvestrant, letroz and palbo for 7 months now. When I go outside , within 100 metres of being in the air, my right eye weeps, only my right. I havent mentioned to doc yet but I know its a side effect of the drugs as its never happened me before, I am 58. Also I notice my eyes more sensitive to eye make up. Best
When your eyes become dry they react by over- compensating with producing more tears and hence watery eyes can be a sign of dry eyes. That is providing you have eliminated other possible causes like blocked tear ducts, allergy, foreign body etc so proper diagnosis by qualified person is always essential. Dry eyes are treated with artificial tears but other causes of watery eyes would need different treatment. Also, importantly, any pain or blurred vision would make it urgent.
The previous posters have said much of what I wanted to say to you about dry eyes! I'm really happy to see that this is becoming more well known than when I was first on an AI 19 years ago! My opthomologist recommended using eye drops 4 times the day. I use Systane and I think Amazon may be the leeast expensive place to buy it, though checking out your local pharmacy makes sense, too. I don't always remember to use it four times a day, but even 2 or 3 times a day helps me alot. It'also importamt to drink plenty of water every day. I hope this helps you as well as it has me! Living with MBC and cancer treatment sure isn't easy!
I take Exemestane and it’s a side effect of that too. I read that it’s because of the hormone blockers as estrogen is used by the body to regulate the fluid on our eyes. I’ve tried different things but the most effective treatment has been fish oil tablets and Loratadine. An ophthalmologist said it’s an allergic conjunctivitis and said to use Claritin and Natural Tears but I didn’t find any of the allergy meds on their own did much. I still have wet eyes but not as bad. I use the eye drops when my eyes hurt which they do in the wind or sun.
I have this, too, though the oncologists swear it is not from the drugs. Tearing that makes a little river down the cheek from my right eye. Tried a script drug for it, but it did not work. Terrible when the house is dry like in winter. Optician recommended that I see an opthamologist. Will get an appt for that at some point.
My Oncologists has told me dry eyes is a side effect of AIs. I have recently seen an Ophthalmologist and he has concurred. Drops help me, and I wear sunglasses always when outside and also in car with AC on. Any "wind" on my eyes makes them tear more. Always the best idea to check with your eye doctor, but unfortunately it is a proven side effect of taking AIs.
Yes!! Tried everything! I’m using Systane (sp?), but have an appointment with my Ophthalmologist next week. It’s definitely from the meds. My Oncologist said both the AI and the Ibrance can cause dry eyes. I’m buying stock in waterproof mascara!! 🤣
Gotta see the humor in everything!! Annoying as it is, this is the worst side effect I have experienced. I’ll take it!!! ♥️
We’re all in this one together (unfortunately). XO
Yes I have this too. Both eyes water a lot. Any change in temperature, wind or bright light makes it worse. Living in a hot country that frequently has dust storms doesn't help either. My oncologist said its the meds....though never really explained which one. I've also heard that is ironically due to eye dryness.I'm on ibrance, Letrozole and Zoladex. I get industrial strength make up and carry tissues at all times. 😭(literally)
I have watery eyes as a side effect. But mine is a side effect of Ibrance/Letrozole.
I have heard others claim this as a side effect as well. (Although my nurse practitioner acted like she never heard of this before.) While others have said they tried eye drops, I have not found that to make much of a difference for me. Watering/tearing eyes (sometimes so bad that it looks like I am crying when I am not) and a runny nose and/or nasal congestion have been my norm since I started MBC treatment in 2020.
I had it from Ibrance. Didn't have it when I was on an oral SERD. Came back when I went on Verzenio. Definitely a side effect, but I think it is the CDK4/6 inhibitor, not the AI (I am also on anastrozole, but it didn't happen again until Verzenio).
I go to a supposedly top neuro-opthalmalogist at Columbia. Very hard to get an appointment. She has variously said it was a blocked tear duct (she said she could unblock it but it is horribly unpleasant so best just to live with it) or dry eye. She tells everyone in her waiting room they have dry eye. (Obviously, I trust her not at all. She also said I needed surgery for cataracts. Made an appointment three months out. When I went back, my vision was fine. "Cataracts do that sometimes. When do you want the surgery?" Of course, I didn't need it so I didn't want it. It is very weird. For the first time since I was 50, I can read the newspaper in dim light without glasses. Is that another side effect? A good one?)
A pharmacist I talked to at the specialty med place where I get Verzenio said to use allergy eye drops. I got them but haven't used them. I don't have an allergy, just side effects. It is mostly my left eye that runs like a river, unpredictably, but yes, in the wind and cold, except it is running now and conditions are fine. People ask me why I am crying. Sometimes that comes in handy. "You hurt my feelings!" or "I am so sad!"
Yes: I have experienced it too and it is related to the overall drying effect of the attacks against estrogen by these drugs. Aggravated by allergies. Important to keep up with artificial tears, eye wipes and heat compresses can help. My optician has been caring for me and you may find it easier to get an appointment with one.
I couldn’t wear eye make up or my soft contact lenses because of my tearing problem. I’ve been on Ibrance and Faslodex for four years now. Three years ago I ended up going to UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute and had a surgical procedure called DCR for blocked tear ducts after trying other modalities that didn’t work. I am now able to wear eye makeup and my contacts. Windy days will at times still make my eyes tear up.
Regarding Ibrance: “Palbociclib may cause eyesight changes such as blurred vision, dry eyes and increased tear production.”
Best wishes to my MBC sisters going through this journey with me, it’s not easy, I know.
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