Hi all, I am newly diagnosed with hashimotos. About 3 months prior to being diagnosed, I began to have eye trouble. I just woke up one morning and my eyes felt gritty, like I had a piece of sand stuck in my eyelid whenever I would move my eyes around. I went to the eye doctor, and he treated infection, which cured part of the troubles. I then went back for the same feeling and he prescribed eye drops for allergies. I've been taking these drops but my eyes still feel irritated. It isn't constant. It's worse in the mornings and also worse at night. It switches eyes, sometimes it's the right, other times it's the left. I also take systane throughout the day. It feels like I've got something stuck under my eyelid, and my doctor said it's eyelid inflammation. After just being diagnosed, it got me wondering could this be a symptom of Hashimotos? I just began Levo about 2 weeks ago. What do you think? Thank You!
Hashimotos and irritated eyelid abo: Hi all, I am... - Thyroid UK
Hashimotos and irritated eyelid abo
Yes dry or gritty eyes is common Hashimoto's symptom
Hypromellose eye drop especially first thing in morning likely to help
Presumably you were started on 50mcg Levothyroxine
Bloods should be retested in 6-8 weeks and dose is increased in 25mcg steps, retesting 6-8 weeks later each time
For most patients TSH should be around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range
Important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too as very often too low and need improving
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime
verywell.com/should-i-take-...
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription
Many people don't get on with Teva brand of Levothyroxine, best avoided unless lactose intolerant
Hi slowdragon, That is interesting as I also get dry and gritty eyes in the mornings But didn’t know it was related to Hashimoto’s. I have been to Moorfields 3 times and been given three different treatments for what they think is blepharitis But none have worked. I did mention I had hashimotos but they always look at me blankly 
Will try out the drops you mentioned. Thanks
Hi, I have just found your post when researching hashimotos & eye problems. I have been struggling with dry,gritty,burning eyes with foreign body sensation for years before being diagnosed with hashimoto's in Feb 2018. I've had numerous health problems for along time but my eyes were the worst symptom for me. Eye drops don't seem to help, I have seen numerous eye specialists. Taking thyroxine hasn't helped. Some days are worse than others and I can't figure out why. I also have dry nostrils and lips so I have started to suspect sjogren's syndrome which is another autoimmune disease. I mentioned it to my GP who didn't seem to agree. I was wondering if you have had any luck in resolving your eye issues?
You need FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing
Often FT3 is too low, and/or just inadequately medicated on Levothyroxine and/or low vitamins
Getting vitamins optimal, plus if you have Hashimoto's, strictly gluten free diet often helps or is essential
Getting coeliac blood test first just to rule it out
If FT3 remains low, look at getting a small dose of T3 on prescription. Need to pick your a endocrinologist carefully
Email Dionne at Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialists
Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,
"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.
In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.
Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.
This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."
You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor please email Dionne at
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many otherwise we need high FT4 and suppressed TSH in an attempt to get high enough FT3
rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...
New NHS England Liothyronine guidelines November 2018 clearly state on pages 8 & 12 that TSH should be between 0.4-1.5 when treated with just Levothyroxine
I haven't had any real luck resolving my eyes issues. I believe the doctor said it's a gland dysfunction, and prescribed a cream for my eye lids. He recommended lid scrubs, hot water compresses, the cream, and a fish oil supplement. I find that if I do ALL of these things, I can reduce flare ups, but it has never gone away for me. I'm still on levo, and the endo says my levels are normal, but I still struggle with these burning eyelids and foreign body sensation unfortunately.
Hi Mommy - I had irritated eye lids which was blepharitis. I went for many years using the recommended johns's baby shampoo and water - about 1 part in 7 - to bathe my eyes.
Last year, I went to an optician who happened to have a qualification in treatment and diagnosis of blepharitis. It is due to mites which can burrow into the eyelashes, and this can make your eyes sore and gritty. I was given a special ultrasound treatment with a special lotion using a cotton bud tip machine which broke up the mites on my eyelids. The optician also had equipment so he could see the mites before and after the treatment. I use special ocular eye wipes over the lids and into the corners. I had to have 8 eye lashes removed in all! Hope you find this might help. I was horrified when I was told about the mites - they come out to play in the evening and everyone has them so the optician says.
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