Does anyone else suffer from recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhages? I get them in both eyes at least one every 4-6 weeks. Although they are not supposed to be painful I have pain a day or so before the haemorrhages. I have Sjogrens and Hashimotos, my Doctor says neither are responsible for the problem.
Does anyone else get them and do you have Sjogrens, Hashimotos or both?
Thanks!
Yes.. I think they’re due to dry eyes so possibly related to hypothyroidism and or sjrogrens, though I have not been diagnosed with latter. Think pain is lack of moistness causing soreness. Spray for dry eyes seems to be a bit preventative if use it as soon as you identify the feeling x
Thanks Aurealis I have drops and ointment which were prescribed for sjogren. My Doctor said neither condition would cause the hemorrages. I look like hubby keeps slapping me! Seriously though they look awful. I feel it’s caused by the hypothyroid because I seem to be hypo when it’s happening. 😭
This is an interesting question rosserk! I got subconjunctival hemorrhages a few times in both eyes about 6 years ago, then shortly afterwards I had a vitreous detachment in my right eye. My thyroid levels were low at the time as I'd been asked to reduce my dose and had stupidly done so.
I increased the dose and everything settled down until February of this year when I had a vitreous detachment in my left eye and a hemorrhage in my right eye. In March blood tests showed my levels were down again and so my new endo increased my dose from 2.75 grains to 3.5 grains. I'm sure this had happened because he had switched me last year from Thyroid-S (which I liked apart from all the fillers) to Nature-Throid, then WP in the Autumn, then back to Nature-Throid as it's his preferred brand, but each time my levels had decreased.
So basically each time my levels have been low in the last few years I've had hemorrhages and eye problems. However I don't have Sjogrens or Hashimotos, I seem to have either a conversion problem or some sort of resistance problem.
Thanks for the reply Framboise, I also think it’s happening when I’m hypo. I do get a slight annoying pain behind my eye the day before it happens, it’s like pressure building up in my eye but the pain goes when the blood vessels burst.
I would have liked to have seen a few more people identifying with the problem though before I was confident it was definitely related to the hypos.
I don't get any pain in my eyes at all, it just happens out of the blue. I know there have been questions in the past about vitreous and retinal detachments and whether they are connected with the thyroid, I'm not sure about any to do with hemorrhages, but equally I have friends to whom both have happened who don't have thyroid problems, so it's difficult to know. I suppose I'd put it down to a susceptibility which shows itself when something else isn't quite right.
Hi Framboise, I managed to find an article which described thyroid and dry eyes. The article mentioned a lack of Vit A being a contributing factor. I have also managed to find a lot of threads on here which discuss the link between dry eyes and under medicated thyroid. One of the striking things the article mentioned was intolerance of bright light, which I’ve had for as long as I can remember. I’ve ordered some Vit A and I’m hoping once I’m correctly medicated the eye problems will resolve. I think I’ve concluded that the haemorrhages are caused by the severe dryness in some way.
Kind regards 💐
That's so interesting abut the vitamin A, thank you for letting me know. Whenever I've reduced my NDT I've noticed a difficulty opening one eyelid (but only my right eye), which I assume is caused by dryness, but because I wear contacts it doesn't last once I'm wearing them. Vitamin A sounds right for eye problems in general, but I've never taken it on its own, only as part of a multi, so I'll be interested to know if it helps you! I know that blueberries are good for eyes and someone told me that a supplement including lutein can help vision, but that may not include dryness. If you find the Vitamin A helps you, you'll have helped a lot of others here too 
Good luck
Thanks Framboise, below are a few links you might find interesting.
Saya85 thinks the haemorrhages are more likely caused by trauma. I.e rubbing the dry eyes. So if I want to prevent the haemorrhages I need to tackle the dry eye. Although I’ve been diagnosed with sjogrens, when I’m hypo my eyes are definitely worse. When I’m not feeling hypo, my eyes are much less problematic.
I will certainly keep you posted on my progress. 💐
hindawi.com/journals/joph/2...
Forgot to mention I also have trouble opening my eyes, feels like the lids are stuck.
That’s the dry eyes again ☺️ Trust me/ the number of problems I see that are all related to dry eyes is unbelievable.
Of course yours has an autoimmune sjogrens element so will def need topical dry eye treatment but systemic supplements also.
When we are hypo we often feel our eyelids are also more puffy/swollen.
Part of it is dry eye caused by blocked glands in the eyelash margin (mgd/blepharitis) but also the fatty layer in the eyelid/skin can also thicken over time especially with hypothyroidism. Hence a ‘heavy’ lid feeling or a sensation it’s pressing on our eyeballs. I had it on one eyelid for the longest time until my hypo was treated properly.
But yes- dry eye has a lot to answer for!
Have you seen an optician lately. It might pay to get the eye pressure checked. Also look into thyroid eye disease. Hypo can get it as well As greaves . Hope it’s not that but worth looking into anyway
Hi Rosserk,
Haemorrhages are usually associated with trauma (rubbing of the eye etc) or blood pressure problems.
It’s unlikely that it is directly linked to your hypo. However there may be an associated link with a consequence of you being hypo at the same time- I.e blood pressure fluctuations, or an increase in autoimmune response with your sjogrens at same time as you being hypo.
The pain you feel behind your eye could actually be very dry eye causing inflammatory response - once the haemorrhage occurs the fluid balance changes in the eye/conjunctiva.
It may be a series of coincidences or an associated link rather than a causal link.
Interesting nonetheless.
Also with regards to increased photosensitivity- it can actually be a sign of low adrenal response/fatigue where the parasympathetic nerve response of the pupil is slowed- hence doesn’t constrict well in bright lights causing glare.
Again that may be worse when you’re hypo also.
Nutrition and the eye is incredibly important and omega 3 in particular is good for dry eye. Have you checked with your optician for the right type of eye drops?
A visit to them would be good as they can assess your eyes in more detail and see if there’s any other issues.
Hi, thanks for the comprehensive response, there’s a lot of things there I hadn’t considered. I have also felt it was a blood pressure issue but again the doctor says no. It really concerns me because it happens so frequently and my vision is deteriorating. I find it’s difficult to focus and my sight is constantly blurred. I’ve been the optitions and they said my eyes are extremely dry but referred me back to my rheumatologist. It concerns me I won’t see an improvement so I’d pinned my hopes on it being a hypo that way there’s a chance if improvement.
Kindest regards 💐
You’re welcome,
(Disclaimer: I am an optician/optometrist ☺️)
I’m sorry you didn’t get much help from your opticians- did they say you needed glasses to improve your vision?
If you are in your 40s or older then you will most likely be becoming presbyopic which happens to everyone. The visual deterioration would be natural and reading glasses would help you to focus. It’s not a health issue.
However if your eyes are really dry then it can cause blurring and glare also (hence photosensitivy)
Hycosan intensive are very good eye drops- also celluvisc or an eye gel (especially at night before bed) will help with dryness overnight. Omega 3 supplementation should also help with rheumatic issues and eye dryness (check with rheumatologist but I haven’t heard any doctor advise against it- usually the opposite - it’s recommended)
To clarify- does your Gp think blood pressure is not related to subconjunctival haemorrhages? (In which case he’s wrong)
Or does he think your blood pressure is fine and therefore not the cause of the haemorrhages.
The good news is sub conjunctival haems do not harm eyesight or do any damage per se. But underlying blood pressure issues are more serious and can have consequences in the eye (and general health obviously).
Also if you are on longterm steroids for your sjogrens then this can accelerate cataracts, which can again make your vision slightly foggier over the years but it isn’t a health issue again- and can be simply resolved with surgery further down the line. It is very common and routinely performed.
I would make another appointment with your optician if it has been over a year since you had and eyetest. Maybe ask for a different optometrist but at the same practice. That way they will have your previous records but you may find a different optometrists advice may be better for you.
Good luck x
Thanks again for all the info. I am prescribed celluvisc and also a gel for night times, both work well to relieve symptoms of irritation but it’s short lived. It definitely seems to flare up for some reason. I can go a few days without a problem and then it’s back with a vengeance. I had my eyes tested 2 weeks ago and have glasses for reading and distance and ones for watching TV.
The optometrist didn’t seem to know much about sjogrens or hypothyroid the be fair. She thinks my eyes are good considering I’m in my 50s. The problem is I never seem to be having an episode when I’m having a test. I’ve been photosensitive for as long as I can remember, I wear sunglasses whenever I’m outside and have the lights low inside which probably doesn’t help. 😜
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