I’ve developed sore eyes this year. After going back and forth between GP and Optician, and making certain lifestyle changes , the diagnosis is it’s probably down to my thyroid. I’ve been taking Levothyroxin since I was diagnosed 12 years ago after Bowel Cancer surgery.
I’m using eye drops every day and gel at night. It seems to calm down for a day or so but then flares up. I’ve never had this problem before, but since March thus tear, it’s recurring.
Can you share your thyroid blood tests (with ranges in brackets) and let us know what type/ dosage of thyroid medication you take? It may be that although your results are ‘in range’ (so not flagged by your GP) they are not optimal for you. Likewise, key vitamins have a huge role in thyroid health; have you ever had tests for ferritin, folate, Vitamin D or Vitamin B12?
Make sure that any eye drops are preservative free and use liberally to avoid dry eye. I like both HycoSan and Hyloforte. Have you tried an antihistamine at all? Does this reduce the redness?
I’m just checking if you have (or have had) any eye lid swelling, eye pain, double vision or light sensitivity? I have TED ( thyroid eye disease) and it’s important that any symptoms are checked (preferably by a TED specialist ophthalmologist).
Most people who develop TED have an overactive thyroid and Grave’s Disease, whereas some have it with an under active thyroid/ Hashimotos (like myself) and a few have it who are euthyroid (no thyroid condition).
If TED is suspected, it is advisable to take a Selenium supplement, 200ug daily, as this has showed to help in mild/ moderate TED when taken in the first 6 months. Many take a maintenance dose of 100ug daily when the active phase of the condition has passed.
Keep posting if you need further advice/ support. Sending very best wishes to you 🦋
Thankyou for your response.
I have tried antihistamine when the GP thought it may be hay fever and it did ease it. But this eye problem seems to come and go. I’m using the eye drops and it may ease it but it comes back. I’ve got the gel which I use every night and I put the drops in when I remember. I use a warm compress at night which I find soothing.
I’m getting my bloods checked again in a couple of weeks. I’ll post the results.
I’ll ask my GP about B12.
Hello Jacqueline and welcome to the forum :
So what was your diagnosis 12 years ago - were thyroid antibodies screened and were you diagnosed with an Auto Immune Thyroid disease ?
Please ensure whatever lotions, potions, drops and ointments you use to ease the eye pan that they are all Preservative Free - even those prescribed by the NHS.
Can you please share with us your thyroid blood test results as if your thyroid is not being optimally managed with thyroid hormone replacement - probably T4 - Levothyroxine - it can negatively impact your eye issues.
There is a Thyroid Eye Disease Chartiaable Trust - tedct.org.uk who can signpost you to your nearest NHS clinic - which I believe are throughout the country - generally attached to large teaching hospitals - where endocrinologists and eye specialists work together, wth you to manage both health issues.
It is essential that your core strength vitamins and minerals are maiintained at optimal levels so to support your body and help convert the prohormone T4 levothyroxine - into T3 - the active hormone that runs all your bodily functions - from your physical through to your mental, emotional, psychological and spititual wellbeing, your inner cental heating system and your metabolism.
Ideally we need to see a blood test report showing the results and ranges of your :-
TSH-Free T3 -Free T4-thyroid antibodies -inflammation + ferritin-folate-B12 and vitamin D.
If your doctor can't run these for you there is a list of companies on the Thyroid UK website - thyroiduk.org - as this is the charity which supports this forum.
Many forum members are forced into getting private tests -and this test comprises of around 10 seperate results - referred to as Thyroid / UltraExtra / Advanced and generally needs a venous blood draw - but a nurse home visit is an option on both Medichecks and Blue Horizon options - if that suits you better.
We all start off supplying forum members with blood test results as this is the building block on which your health relies - don't worry - we will explain the results and ranges in detail to you and advise on your next best steps back to better health.
Some people find taking with mineral selenium helps their eye symptom - has this been suggsted to you ?
Thank you so much for the info. I’ve a lot to work in there. I don’t really understand the ranges, but I’m having bloods checked in a couple of weeks and I’ll post the results here. This eye problem has only started in March this year.
I eat a banana and blueberries every morning with my cereal so maybe I’m getting enough selenium?
I feel tired but not really sleeping very well. Sometimes I sleep really well and don’t want to get up and some times I’m awake at silly o’clock!
Yesterday I was up at 5am. I took my thyroxin and I usually do my yoga routine but I suddenly felt sick, sweating, freezing and dizzy. I went back to bed for a while and woke up feeling yuk. Maybe I’m not eating enough red meat / iron?
I lost my husband last year, do you think this has mixed everything up? It was a shock. He was only diagnosed with cancer 4 months before he died and very fit.
Sorry to read of your loss - and yes, life changing moments and upset all effect how we are - be kind to yourself - there is no time limit on mourning.
Well I'm not sure about bananas or blueberries - selenium tends to be found naturally in Brazil nuts - but - yes, get the test and let's see where we are with all this.
On the day of the blood draw you do need any early morning - by 9.00am - appointment and do not take your T4 thyroid daily tablet until after the blood draw - so we measure what your body is holding onto - rather than measure the T4 you have just taken.
If taking any supplements stop them all around a week before the test so we measure what your body is holding, rather than what you have recently ingested.
Do you keep to the same brand of T4 - some people can't tolerate certain brands of Levothyroxine ?
It's turned quite chilly o/night where I live - maybe it's just a chill - but we'll know more when we see a full thyroid blood test and hopefully the antibodies, inflammation, and vitamins and minerals as detailed previously.
Hopefully you have a doctor who is able to run all the necessary blood tests :
Start a new question/post with any new information so all forum members can read and help you - you can read everything you have ever written on this forum by pressing the icon top right saying Profile - conversely you can read anybody else's Profile by pressing the Profile icon alongside any reply they make to you.
Keep reading up on here - other peoples questions and the replies - it is a bit like doing a jigsaw puzzle with no corner pieces - and once we have some facts - the corner pieces - a picture evolves and stepping stones appear to better health.
Do you remember why and what form of hypothyroidism you were diagnosed with ?
Do you seem to have food intolerences ?
Hi. It’s an under active thyroid. I’ve just had the same effect this morning . I took my Levothyroxin (100mg) and I felt sick and dizzy. I’ve just napped for 2 hours. My eyes are sore and feel heavy. There’s also a feeling of congestion as if the sinuses are blocked on the forehead.
Is this a different brand of T4 to usual -
Do you normally take it on an empty stomach and wait around an hour before eating or drinking anything other than water ?
Generally there is a reason as to why you have become hypothyroid -
Are you aware of any foods intolerances, gluten, dairy, wheat ?
I do take Levothyroxin on an empty stomach with a glass of water and wait over an hour before eating my breakfast. I believe the hypothyroid was a result if my having Bowel Cancer. It was traumatic. I nearly died after surgery. I believe I have wheat intolerance.
I wonder if liquid T4 might suit you better - maybe ask your doctor ?
I totally agree with others about using preservative free eye drops/creams. The usual preservative is Benzalkonium Chloride.
This post tells you about it. One problem is that if used regularly it becomes less active and may even cause further problems.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Please read this and insist that you get preservative free drops/creams.
Thankyou for the reply. I’ve checked the leaflet and the drops are preservative free.
While obviously finding and treating the root cause would be ideal: I find warm compresses much more helpful than eye drops when my eyes get dry. I use reusable cotton pads and dip them in hot water, but you can also buy microwaveable goggles. Many eye doctors I and my family have seen recommended this.
Thankyou for your help. I do warm compresses with a flannel and yes I find that comforting.
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