Eyelid swelling
Posted , 11 users are following.
Hi all, new here and in need of help.
I've just been diagnosed with Sjorgen's and my main complaint is eyelid swelling in one of my eyes that acts up every single day from the afternoon until I go to sleep. I've been to 5 eye docs already and they say that besides the dryness my eyes are perfectly healthy (no sign of blepharitis) and had no suggestions for the swelling besides topical steroids which did not help. Eye drops and moisturizing ointments and Protopic have not helped either.
Has anybody found relief for this distressing symptom?
1 like, 48 replies
mandy95 shira75032
Posted
When mine was swelling it was actually due to an infection of the eyelid. Go see your GP. You might also want to call the Sjorgrens Society for some helpful tips.
Hope this helps.
Mandy x
shira75032 mandy95
Posted
mandy95 shira75032
Posted
Mandy x
shira75032 mandy95
Posted
Thanks for the suggestion to contact the Society. I wonder if they're familiar with this problem.
jean34329 shira75032
Posted
Have you got any concretions?
Are you taking any medication for anything else?
Jean
shira75032 jean34329
Posted
I haven't tried specifically Lacrilube but other eye drops such as Systane, Hylocomod and the like. The ointments actually seem to make the condition worse for some reason...
In any case, my eyes are always fine in the morning, the problem begins later on in the day.
No concretions as far as I know.
I've stopped all meds in past few months because of this problem except the occasional sleeping pill.
jean34329 shira75032
Posted
You are welcome. If the ointments of drops make this worse then I would advise discontinue them.Steroids can occasionally help but may cause glaucoma and cataract.
I have sent you a PM with some evidence based treatments . Jean
shira75032 jean34329
Posted
I wonder if maybe oral steroids would be more helpful in this case...
Thank you so much for the PM Jean but for some reason I haven't received it.
jean34329 shira75032
Posted
I just googled the management and treatment of dry eyes in in Sjogrens syndrome. I tried to cut and paste it.
Kind regards
Jean
pam_87693 shira75032
Posted
shira75032 pam_87693
Posted
jean34329 shira75032
Posted
The glands could be blocked with chalk deposits, this happened to me then I got concretions which were removed but some were embedded underneath on the inner surface of my upper eyelid, agonising.
The deposits and concretions have now cleared up. Touch wood.
Try not to wear eye make up as tis will dry the eyes fuurther adding to the problem.
Jean
pam_87693 jean34329
Posted
shira75032 jean34329
Posted
How can I go about getting checked for those chalk deposits? Can any eye doc check for them or is a special procedure required?
I just had a procedure to remove salt build-ups in my salivary glands (also agonizing!) so that would make sense.
shira75032 pam_87693
Posted
shira75032 jean34329
Posted
jean34329 shira75032
Posted
Yes any eye dr should be able to make the diagnosis of dry eyes.
It is not as trivial as it may sound because as you know it is a painful condition.
My ophthalmoplogist diagnosed it on the basis of a straightforwad eye examination.
He just put local anaesthetic drops into each eye so he coud examine tem under the slit lamp. This is the lamp with the chin and forehead rest .
The upper eyelid should be inverted to check for any fb's or foreign bodies that may have become trapped underneath the upper eyelid thus acting as an irritant against the eye.
If there are deposits of chalk from the blocked conjunctival sacs the dr usually removes them there and then. This nomally gives immediate relief.
My left eye was reddened but it was due to a concretion irritating it .
The dr usually checks the pressure of the eyes as well to exclude glaucoma.
Also examines the retina or the back of the eye.
Checks for any cataracts and any other conditions.