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Dry Eye

Posted , 11 users are following.

andrea93419
andrea93419

Hello All, I've been off radar for a while, wallowing in self pity and depression!!!! Fatigue is emence at the moment and my works doctor has put me long term sick and now on half pay which adds to the depression!! Anyway more to the point I'm getting real problems with my eyes, dry and itchy eyes! Is this a side effect of pred?, has anyone else suffered from this?? Or should I start worrying about Temporal arthritis??

Andrea

2 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • tina-uk_cwall
    tina-uk_cwall andrea93419

    Posted

    Hi Andrea, I'm so sorry to hear that you're feeling so down. Have you been to your GP re your depression? Maybe they could refer you to a councillor and or prescribe some medication.

    a side effect of preds is dry eyes, not sure about itchy though but it wouldn't surprise me if itchy eyes were a side effect too as dry eyes can lead to itchiness. I understand you can buy some eye drops over the counter to elevate the dryness. Just make sure you can use them along with the preds. Do take care of yourself. Regards, christina 

  • EileenH
    EileenH andrea93419

    Posted

    Not necessarily (pred side effect) and probably not (GCA)!

    Dry eyes are common with many autoimmune disorders and it was one of the early problems I had with PMR - including bright red eyes that burnt and I couldn't bear bright light. That was probably also due to an allergic reaction to the solution I used for my contact lenses. There are quite a few people on the forums who have had similar problems.

    I found liposomal sprays very helpful (Clarymist was best for me) because I could use them with contacts. Eventually I gave up wearing contacts but the dry eye went on for some time. You can also get artificial tears from the chemist - mostly a bit gel-like - which will soothe your eyes so do ask the pharmacist. If you are lucky your doctor will prescribe them for you so it is cheaper. The lack of real thick tears makes your eyes sore - they dry out and then your eyes try to compensate by producing lots of watery tears which just don't do the same job and stream down your cheeks. The artificial tears are best used before bed as they tend to make your vision a bit smeary!

    I've found it has improved recently - don't know if that is due to lower pred or just the autoimmune cause has faded. I had it long before pred so it isn't pred necessarily.

    • EileenH
      EileenH

      Posted

      PS - I'd pressed reply and realised I'd forgotten to say the same as Christina: if you are depressed do talk to your doctor because he can help (if he wants to). There is a role for antidepressants - and you are a prime candidate. 
  • ptolemy
    ptolemy andrea93419

    Posted

    I had dry, gritty eyes with pred. The GP gave me a prescription for some ointment which did not work, the pharmacist said it was the wrong stuff and I bought something over the counter which was great. I still suffer from fatigue particularly if I have had any stress. It is like being hit by a train sometimes. 
  • andrea93419
    andrea93419

    Posted

    Thank you, Christina, Eileen and Ptolemy!

    your comments put my mind at ease, and that its a problem suffered by many! So just part of IT really!! 😞😞 xx

  • Susanne_M_UK
    Susanne_M_UK andrea93419

    Posted

    I'm currently on 27.5mg Pred for GCA and have started getting sore, tired and slightly burning eyes. I use one if those over the counter sprays that you spray on your eyelids (with your eyes closed!). I don't like eye drops and this helps.
  • VickieS
    VickieS andrea93419

    Posted

    Hi Andrea,

     Don't feel alone in your emotions getting the better of you sometimes. Most of the time, this PMR just makes me mad & I'm detemined to beat it, then there are the days when I realize I really have no control over it and I have a pity-party for myself that day. Then I look at a friend of mine who has cancer, then I remember my younger sister who got MS when she was 17 and died at 36 after being bedridden for years with no control of her bowels or bladder and could no longer speak, then I think how blessed I am to have a disease that will not kill me or make me live in a body that no longer works at all. Yeah, I hate PMR, and it's changed everything about my life, but it could be worse. Go ahead & have some bad days, then try to shake it off & have some good ones. I know it's easier siad than done, and if you can't do it alone, find someone to ehlp you. There's nothing wrong with asking for help. And yes, I have those dry, red eyes too. I just tell everyone I've been on a weeklong drinking binge. (Gotta find a little humor in all of this don't we??) Take Care.

    • pat38625
      pat38625 VickieS

      Posted

      Hi Vickie and Andrea, just read your post.  I know it's hard to accept but we are truly Blessed.  We have something that we can live with.  Sometimes the grieving process kicks in because we are grieving the loss of the person we used to be and that's fine.  Love your reply to the weekend drinking binge lol.  

      Andrea, my eyes are sore at the moment.  I left my contact lenses out for a couple of months and then put them in April, this is the first day that I am  having discomfort.  Just put some drops in which helped.  But if it keeps up I may just take my lenses out and put my glasses on.  

      Don't be too hard on yourself Andrea.  Life thows lemons at us and it is up to us to make the lemonade.  Good Luck.  Kindest regards.  Pat

    • Mrs.Mac-Canada
      Mrs.Mac-Canada VickieS

      Posted

      Hi Vicki,

      You are so right!  This is a very frustrating and life changing disease but it will at some point go into remission and we will have most of our life back.  It is so much better than having a disease that offers no hope of getting better.

      I think we need to allow ourselves to shed a few tears now and again but if it gets to the point that the sadness lasts a week or two it may be time to ask a doctor about prescribing something to help you feel better.  It doesn't mean you need to take them forever.  

      Andrea, I hope you find something that will make you feel better soon and we are all here to support you.

      Big hugs, Diana🌸

    • TERI23
      TERI23 pat38625

      Posted

      Thanks  Pat I really needed your post. Sometimes I get so dispressed I don.t even want to talk. To make things worse I tore a tendon in my foot and have to wear a boot up to my knee for 8 weeks. I am on week 4 and just found out I have another 4 weeks to go.This plus the fatigue from the Pmr can really make me feel dispressed, but you are so right that we are mouring the person we were. I pray every night that I will return to that person again. I don't think I will ever complain again about doing laundry cleaning the house or cooking as now it is such an effort to do anything. Right now I am trying to get up the energy to take a shower. I am so lucky to have a soul mate who is so understanding and does so much for me. He is one in a million. 

      Lets hope we all can stay strong.

      Teri

    • VickieS
      VickieS TERI23

      Posted

      I can still complain about doing housework, so trying to convince my hubby that the doctor told me I should never do it again! lol Seriously, I know this is all horribly depressing, but I try my best to find some humor in it & make fun of myself a bit. I find that it actually makes me feel better. Hang in there & always know that you can vent here because everyone here totally understands, unlike everyone else in our lives who have never felt what PMR feels like.
  • TERI23
    TERI23 andrea93419

    Posted

    I also have dry eye and use eye drops that  you can buy otc. My Dr. said its just part of our condition. To tell you the truth the drops don't help much just for a few mins, It's just one more thing we have to put up with with this crappy condition called PMR.
    • EileenH
      EileenH TERI23

      Posted

      Drops are probably too liquid - there are options that are more gel-like and are good at night. During the day they tend to make your vision a bit smeary - but used at night they do help prevent your eyes getting too gritty and damage being caused.
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