Hypothyroid awful dry eyes.: Does anyone have dry... - Thyroid UK

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Hypothyroid awful dry eyes.

richard123 profile image
22 Replies

Does anyone have dry eyes with hypothyroidism. I've been on thyroxine 75mcg now for 6 weeks following 50 for 2 mths and since being diagnosed I've had awful dry photosensitive eyes. Any advice please. Also dry nose and face when i think about it. Feels like I've took big dose of antihistamine but I haven't.

Many Thanks in advance

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richard123
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VulpusVulpus profile image
VulpusVulpus

No advice as such but some recommendations...

I have to squirt Hycosan eyedrops in my eyes through out the day and on waking. I didn't put two-and-two together about hypo and dry eyes until I removed a contact lense and took a layer of cornea off. Painfull isn't the word.

Hycosan! Eye life saver.

I also take Udo's oil capsules Omega 3, 6 and 9 because of dry skin and apply body lotion, hand cream several times a day and a good moisteriser to face. Plus hair mask as hair is a bit crunchy at the mo. Oh the joys.

richard123 profile image
richard123 in reply toVulpusVulpus

I've purchased Hycosan on Amazon. Thanks... Using good moisturiser and hair conditioner!

Realised from neck up as dry as a crisp generally!! I keep thinking I'll be better in the summer😫

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply toVulpusVulpus

Can I add that when you use the HycoSan you put it in regularly throughout the day, maybe every hour until things improve - don't just put it in three times a day, you need to do it much more often to begin with.

I'm using Thealoz Duo at the moment and finding that is really good. Haveto say I doubt if there are any eyedrops on the market that I haven't tried at some point and I'd say Theoloz is my favourite followed by the HycoSan drops.

Theoloz do a gel that is also good too, i sometimes use that at night and I bought it from Amazon although I think you might be able to get it from an optician, the gel comes in individual minims, each minim has enough for both eyes.

I also find a face cloth squeezed out in hot water and held over my eyes is really comforting.

You can get eye bags that you put in the microwave for a few seconds and they are quite good too - you can get them from your local optician's shop, look around as there are lots of different types and I'd say get one with a removable cover so that you can was it easily. I've just got one that is clear plastic with what looks like loads of little blue beads inside it, it's a nice size too and easily cleaned. Not sure what make it is though.

Make sure that whatever you buy is preservative free - last thing you want to do is fill your dry and sensitive eyes with a product containing preservatives.

You can also use sun glasses if you are sensitive to light but once you've got going with thedrops you will find your eyes will water less, it isn't logical that dry eyes water like mad but they do.

I have dry eyes and hypo. My eye reading is 3 and optimum is 10, keep drops handy. Wish I had a dry nose! Constant drip drives me mad and go through reams of tissues.

spongecat profile image
spongecat

Not nice is it. :(

Mine is definitely worse in the winter when the central heating dries the air in the house even more. I keep a bottle of Optrex Actimist 2in1 for Dry and Irritated Eyes handy. Some may baulk at the price, £15 or thereabouts but the little spray bottle lasts for a reasonable time and the soothing relief is instant so I don't mind paying! :D

Sometimes it's bad at night and when I open my eyes either in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning it feels like as if someone has ripped Velcro across my eyeballs. No gunky eye, just sore so I use Artelac Night Time Gel (approx. £5) and use that just before turning in. Because it's clear I can blink a few times to get rid of the blurriness if I want to read before going to sleep. It definitely helps with getting rid of the scratchy cornea sensation.

You need to ask for this (along with many other dry eye products apart from the Optrex Actimist) at the pharmacy counter because it's kept "backstage" rather than on the shop shelf. You don't need a prescription.

Hope this helps. :)

richard123 profile image
richard123 in reply tospongecat

Funnily enough I bought optrex actimist hasn't arrived yet so along with Hycosan recommend above when I get deliveries hopefully this will ease. It's awful since diagnosis my eyes have been terrible. GP says oh I've never heard of this.... That helps😂

VulpusVulpus profile image
VulpusVulpus in reply torichard123

GPs just don't know. They don't even know what they don't know.

I was thinking about this and I'm wondering if you can get Hycosan on PX for our dry eyes... The cost of it does add up.

richard123 profile image
richard123 in reply toVulpusVulpus

I've bought it, if it helps it's well worth it. Gp said to me previously to buy sterinase that a consultant that she referred my son to recommended. She said just buy it, it's cheap. It was £7 and his prescriptions were free! I complained to senior GP, he said sorry I think she's made a mistake 👍🏼

If it works and is available I'll see if she can prescribe in the future

VulpusVulpus profile image
VulpusVulpus in reply torichard123

When I hurt my eye the GP told me to buy Hycosan and said the same "just buy it". I said no, I'm entitled to free px and I'm glad I did as the pharmacy Hycosan (which is a 10mls not 7.5mls) was £18.99.

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply toVulpusVulpus

HycoSan should only cost around £8. Amazon sell packs of three for £22 but if you are being charged £18.99 there is something wrong.

I don't think doctors like prescribing the more expensive preservative free drops. I had a friend who had them prescribed by a consultant and her GP decided to stop them, she complained to the consultant who spoke to her doctor and had them prescribed again but I don't think GPs like the fact that good eye drops are not cheap.

VulpusVulpus profile image
VulpusVulpus in reply toFruitandnutcase

It was a prescription version not the OTC one Fruit. Slightly bigger bottle.

I bought the 3 pack tonight funnily enough :0)

VulpusVulpus profile image
VulpusVulpus in reply tospongecat

Spongecat, cat you use it in conjunction with contact lenses? There's no information on whether you have to remove contact lenses first. B x

spongecat profile image
spongecat in reply toVulpusVulpus

Hi. The Optrex Actimist says that it is fine for contact lens wearers. You do two puffs with your eyes closed, so your lenses are not going to float off. It percolates through your eyelashes.

optrex.co.uk/optrex-range/s...

Artelac guides you to Artelac Rebalance. Says it recommended for contact lens users. I suppose you use it before putting the contacts in.

visiondirect.co.uk/artelac-...

VulpusVulpus profile image
VulpusVulpus in reply tospongecat

I'll give the Artelac a go.

I've used the Optrex when it was on special offer :0) The children liked it because it smells like doughnuts. Go figure!

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply toVulpusVulpus

Oh no, I hate Actimist - it smells of chip fat to me, disgusting. I know it works but I just can't bear the smell.

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply toVulpusVulpus

No problem, you can use it with contact lenses in or out but if your eyes are really dry you might be better off giving your lenses a rest.

VulpusVulpus profile image
VulpusVulpus in reply toFruitandnutcase

Oh good stuff, I've ordered some from Amazon.

Yes I do get this sometimes but had them a lot when I was very poorly. They were really itchy also and used to rub them a lot and they squeeked haha. I used to get the spray also and it does help relieve them. One thing I also swear by skin wise is Johnson's baby naturals intense moisture cream. I used it on my son as a baby when he had severe eczema and absolutely nothing else worked at all and we used everything, even things on prescription. This stuff cleared it up within about 4 weeks and he was covered in it. You can order it via boots online into your local store and it's amazing for dry skin on your face and body. I put it on my face daily and it's also cheap and suitable for very sensitive skin.

Treepie profile image
Treepie

I use Gel Tears after my eyelid stuck to my eye twice over night.

JoVH profile image
JoVH

Hi, have you had dry eyes since starting thyroxine or since being diagnosed? I have noticed a pattern (or is it coincidence) since starting thyroxine and with increasing the dose, the dryness gets worse.

richard123 profile image
richard123 in reply toJoVH

It's hard to say but I think it's since thyroxine and I'm sure has worsened with dose increase

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

I have had very dry eyes ever since started on Levo over 20 years ago. I get hypromellose eye drops on prescription (probably get through 2 bottles a month. That's quite a lot over 20 years+)

Dry eyes got significantly worse when I was supplementing vitamin D. Now stopped vit D supplements due terrible dry eyes & also caused severe bone pain in legs.

Some articles suggest that need to consider vitamin A levels when supplementing vitamin D, but taking retinol is tricky/not recommended. So I have been trying to improve vitamin A levels with food - e.g. organic grass-fed butter/milk, plus liver, carrots & sweet potatoes etc

Possibly had some intermittent further improvement in dry eyes since adding zinc. Already take magnesium & K2

naturalendocrinesolutions.c...

hypothyroidmom.com/two-vita...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

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