Anyone have tips on reducing puffy swollen eyes each morning?

Hello Julia My thyroid problems began in my late forties. I have been prescribed various concoctions for high blood pressure, some of which have affected my eyes some have made my eyes so itchy and dry, my lids sticking to my eye balls. My optician found pressure behind my eyes for which I am still attending Colchester Uni. Hospital. The problem with the eye pressure ceased when I stopped taking Indipam XL (indapamide). I am obviously not compatible with this drug as it not only affect my eyes but gave me swollen ankles, Hands and urine retention. We are all different and a drug that suits one person can be disastrous to another. Check back to your doctor write down all the symptoms you are experiencing so you do not forget when you enter the Doctors surgery. I always come out thinking I forgot to tell the Doc. xxx. After trying various expensive eye washes and sprays, I tried ASDA,s dry eye spray I put a little on my finger tip and gently put it onto my eye closed eyelid, I haven't a clue how it worked but my eyelids no longer stuck to my eyes. My eyes have been ok for two years now. A recent eye test showed all the pressure has gone from behind my eyes and I am hoping to be discharged from the hospital when I go next week. I can only recommend having your eyes tested as it was Specsavers that picked up my problem, not the Doctor with his prescription pad "we will just try another brand and put you on diuretics. regards Jacky

Hello Julia,

I too have bags under my eyes and have tried the same as you - to no avail. I also have my lids sticking to my eyes in the morning and they are very painful to open, so I've been on a variety of drops - which don't help the bags either! My eyes are extremely dry (because of Graves I'm told), so now they're going to plug my tear ducts. Apparently that stops the eyes from drying out and keeps them moisturised. Not sure if that will affect the bags, but then I've been told that's due to ageing.............

I to have very swollen baggy unsightly eyes. Been like this since the beginning of November. I can sympathise with you. I'm hyper and have graves. On the 5 th feb my Meds where increased. This seams to have helped a little. Still swollen, but no where near as bad as they where. I'm also starting to feel human again. Which I thought would never happen after feeling of rotten for so long.

I had my RAI treatment 1/3/14 and according to my first blood work check after my HYPER has gone More HYPER. My doctor advised it can happen but suspect I am peaking and soon I should be decreasing. This is the explanation for the flood of hormones causing my eye area swelling. extreme hot flashes and very increase heart rate. We discussed I was probably Hyperthyroid a full year before my symptoms showing and be referred to her. SO it will take time. She was very kind and gave me a lot of attention. I am not Graves but have Hashimoto's antibodies, 168 I believe was the number. She gave me a low dosage beta blocker to take for my heart rate, which is averaging about 100 right now. Yikes - so I go back in 8 weeks, more blood work and hoping for a decrease. She does suspect I will go HYPO when this is done but I figure I need to get through HYPER first then deal with what is next. - Appreciate this forum. It is helpful reading about others experiences and suggestions.

Perhaps cool aloe vera to the eyes? Just on the skin. It would sooth it that is for sure.

Hi Julia ,

I can so relate to what you are going through. I also suffered from hyper thyroid. 15 years ago I had radiation to shrink it. I have a small pea like thyroid left.. Back then I was not told I had Graves' disease. It was 2 years ago, that my eyes were swollen, hurt, felt like sharp pieces of glass were in them, also had these water bubbles that hung off the corner of my eyes. Blurred vision when I would look to the left or right. I  was then traveling 180 miles to a specialist, which then I was put on steroids for 8 months. Finally that worked, after that I ended up having radiation on my eye muscles. 10 treatments.  I do still take thyroid meds, and also I do put lubricating eye gel every night faithfully and that seems to work. . I have also tried not to eat gluten and that seems to stop the puffyness. My prayers for you. It's been one heck of a ride, but I also have faith. That helps so much.