Severe painful dry eyes. Diagnosed with Meibomian gland dysfunction.

[Peony88]

I am a vegetarian and thinking of consuming Flaxseed oil on a daily basis. Is okay to do so? I still take Levothyroxine and have to try and manage it by using lubricating eye drops and hot compresses. But every few days I still get gritty dry eyes, red and painful. I read somewhere that consuming Flaxseed oil helps dry eyes but does it have negative effect on the thyroid, as a goitrogen. Thanking you all in advance for any feedback.

[BadHare]

I'm fine with linseed & most goitrogens aside from unformatted soy.

Try increasing your vitamin D3 intake, & taking it with fat for best absorption. There are several veg*n types available.

[radd]

Peony88,

Flaxseed contains goitrogens so some have to be wary as it can affect thyroid function.

I have Hashi and take a little flaxseed in a seed mix. All is fine.

I don't know anything about Meibomian gland dysfunction but hope it improves soon.

[greygoose]

As you are taking levo, I very much doubt you need to worry about goitrogens - apart from soy. Goitrogens impede the uptake of iodine by the thyroid gland, so it makes less hormone. But, if you're taking thyroid hormone replacement, it doesn't need to make much hormone, if any. Also, you would have to consume an awful lot of goitrogens for it to have that effect, so a little bit of flaxseed isn't going to hurt.

[Nanaedake]

Is your thyroid function balanced? What were your latest thyroid blood tests readings? If you are under medicated it's likely to exacerbate meibomian gland dysfunction.

[pennyannie]

Hello Peony

Please ensure that any eye drops or lubrications you are using are " preservative free " -

I was wrongly prescribed lotions and potions that I ended up having to throw away as they were with preservatives that simply built up and exacerbated my symptoms.

And yes, essential that you are properly medicated with thyroid T3 and T4 bloods and not just a TSH read and a tick box exercise.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to pennyannie]

Definitely need to use preservative free eye drops and you need to use them frequently throughout the day - not just a couple or three times a day. I always keep a bottle in my pocket as well as the ones I use at home. I have times when I need to get a heavier gunky ointment for use at night for a few days - think it’s maybe called Artelac - don’t think it’s preservative free but I’m not sensitive to it and I use preservative free the rest of the time so it seems to be ok.

[pennyannie]

Hey there, just another thought -

Might sound silly - but presume you are under the care of a specialist ophthalmologist.

Many years ago I had laser treatment in both eyes, as diagnosed with uveitis at Moorfields in central London. I simply walked into the outpatient department, as instructed by my optician and though in a state of shock, the treatment and care I received were excellent.

I believe I am still considered an outpatient and I know where I will have to go, should anything like that ever happen again.

It's interesting, I'm " joining up my dots " back to front, age 36/37 at Moorfields, then at 56/57 diagnosed with Graves Disease down here in Cornwall ?

[Erin60]

Hi

I have Graves and had very dry eye for many years.

With meiibomian gland dysfunction there are quite a few options.

Suggestions.

1.punctual plugs that keep moisture in.

2. Medical grade contact lenses done by hospital.

3. Irkervis ( cyclosporin)

4. Best day time eye drops I’ve found is hylo forte.

5. Night time lacri lube ( manufacturer issue for some time; alternative is xyailin.

6. Best omega 3 ( omega eye by PRN take 4 a day)

7. I nearly always wear sunglasses ( Chanel, some things in life just have to be nice).

8. Make sure to get 8 hours sleep.

9. Drink loads of water.

10. Limit caffeine.

11. Blepesol lotion to clean the eyelid near the lash line ( I use the end of earbud but I don’t soak it as I don’t find that works best, just damp and that seems to take off debris from the lash)

12. There is also moisture chamber glasses or goggles.

Dry eye is really miserable. Good luck

[Sandee007 in reply to Erin60]

I have the same problems. Do you have problems watching television and computer? I have photophobia sensitive to light. Also the last years I am blinking al lot (almost benigh blepharospasm)

I just bought a MGD-expressor...that helps a tiny bit after warm compress.

And I use everything that you used (above) but I don't have a lot of great success.

Best thing that helped me are a pair of sunglasses, fishoil, heat compress and eye punctual plugs.

I have been struggling for years so if you know something in the future...please let me know!

I do have 1 new tip that you can try: I cook water (let it cool for a few seconds so that it does not boil anymore) and then I steam my face for about 10 minutes and then you can clearly see if you do eye-massage...a lot of meibomian stuff that comes out of it.

Mine are 80% blocked...maybe you can try this...

You need a magnifying mirror (X10) then you can see this better.

[dizzy864]

I am hypo and have really suffered with very painful dry eyes since having laser surgery 15 years ago. I tried every kind of eye drops made. Not only did none help but they all really stung when I used them. I read an article that said many kinds of eye make up make dry eyes worse. The worst kind is powder eye shaddow- exactly what I d been using! I was unaware it contains talc. I switched to an oil based one from Body shop. My eyes are very much better.

Hope this helps.

[humanbean]

For self-help on severely dry eyes I found this advertorial very helpful (disclaimer : I have no connection with, or financial interest in, the products mentioned!) :

youtube.com/watch?v=gBgqZsd...(Not working as expected?)

I wouldn't recommend the eyelid wipes in that link - they are far too expensive in my opinion.

A far more cost effective product in place of the eyelid wipes is this one which I use (which is used instead of the baby shampoo that is often recommended by doctors) :

amazon.co.uk/Blephasol-100m...

or this one which my husband prefers :

amazon.co.uk/Thea-Blephagel...

You have my sympathies - I know how painful dry eyes are. Have you ever woken up with your eyelids stuck to your eyeballs? **Pain**

[Clarrisa]

I myself avoid flaxseed because I read some time ago it can act as a estrogen stimulator. I don’t know scientifically how true that really is. I avoid all estrogen stimulators I can due to a breast (specialist) doctor telling me to.

You may not have high enough risk factors to worry about breast issues. That may also depend on your age. A topical dose of flaxseed may not absorb enough to even be of any concern.

As for me with my own risk profile I’d be trying other suggestions mentioned above first.

[milkwoman]

Are you in the US? I use Xiidra prescription drops and they have been life changing for me.

[Hidden]

I have blepharitis too. Someone posted a research paper here a while ago and apparently being both hypo and hyper thyroidism can cause it, but for different reasons.

[Nanaedake]

An eye specialist told me that it's most important to get your own eye glands functioning so releasing the oils from your meibomian glands is essential. A warm moist flannel as many times a day as needed held over closed eyes for 10 mins and then gently massage the eyelids to release the oils. The warmth will help to melt solidified oils and the massage will bring them to the eye surface. Clean the rim of the eye after this exercise with bephasol or diluted baby shampoo if cost is an issue. This gets rid of any bacteria which can be held in the glands if they are not flowing freely. You will likely need to do this at least twice a day forever as its a chronic condition.

It's better to do this than to only rely on eye drops during the day time, however, Theoloz Duo, variety without preservative, will increase nighttime comfort. Do what makes you comfortable as it can be distressing.

Contact lenses and makeup can increase discomfort. I read that face cream containing retinoids can cause meibomian gland dysfunction but don't know how well this has been researched.

Erin60 has given you a good summary.