Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: karic66 on September 29, 2015, 04:06:14 PM
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Hi all, I've just found this site and am hoping I can use it to help me through my experience. I have recently been told that my extremely red, sore eyes are a symptom of menopause, and have been given lubricants to help. They are making a small amount of difference but not enough. Does anyone here have any experience or advice to offer. I can't keep putting drops in every hour or more - I have a job that means this is becoming tricky! Look forward to hearing from anyone with similar troubles! Thanks
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:welcomemm: sore, itchy, scratchy - like there's grit behind them >:( ::)
As well as intermittent aches and pains; vaginal atrophy; itchiness all over - all due to a drop in oestrogen.
Use the eye drops as required. Being at work shouldn't make a difference to looking after your health ;)
Have a browse round!
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Thanks I'm enjoying browsing here - very interesting!
No other symptoms so far :)apart from flushes which I'm coping with but my eyes look terrible.... Badly hungover sort of look isn't good :(
It sounds as if the drops will be a permanent thing.
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What's with the mobile sign against your name :-\ ::)
Tell us more about yourself: age, LMP, work, pets …….
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Hi Karic66
I have had this on and off, today I am feeling the grit. Horrid. As well as saline drops you could try increasing intake of Omega Essential Fatty Acids (with supplements or eating fish like mackerel, tuna, or wild salmon or nuts and seeds) and Vitamin E (helps Omega's do there job). Even adding more olive oil to things or taking a spoonful neat will increase your intake. Hope this helps somewhat as it's a horrible irritating symptom.
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Mobile? No idea! I'm 49, in a relationship,
got 2 boys 23 & 25 (today) and I'm the proud
owner of a silly spaniel called Barney!
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Thanks! I've increased oils etc
No change so far :'( You are right, it is an unpleasant
symptom and very visible :(
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'silly' spaniel ;D - been there, done that!
Didn't do the children though - is there a party later ? :party:
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Thanks! I've increased oils etc
No change so far :'( You are right, it is an unpleasant
symptom and very visible :(
Thinking a bit laterally, could it be that you also have developed an allergy to something. My skin has become more sensative and dry along with sneezing more and sometimes this co-incides with the dry eyes, no idea what it might be in my case.
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Hi there, I suffer with dry eyes. I was a long term contact lens wearer and once I hit the menopause dry eyes became a real problem almost to the extent that I couldn't wear my lenses any more. I was fortunate enough to have surgery on my eyes a year ago, a refractive lens exchange, which means I no longer need contact lenses or glasses. However, I still have dry eyes and my surgeon recommended HycoSan Extra which you can get from Boots. It is for the more severe cases of dry eye. I also take Omega 7, also known as Buckthorn Oil, as advertised in the Menopause Matters magazine. This has made a big improvement (I have been taking it for about five weeks now) and I only need the drops a couple of times a day and last thing at night. Both are quite expensive although I understand you may be able to get the HycoSan on prescription. Worth a try. ;)
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I had this symptom this summer which was found during a routine contact lens check. He said it was due to blocked tear ducts, more common in ladies our sort of age. I now have to warm my eyelids up with a flannel and then massage them every night (seriously!) in order for the oils to melt and free the shaft. Optician said drops will help the symptoms, but dont treat the cause. Must admit, I'm a bit lazy with it - do it for a while, then forget. I guess, when it gets worse, I will have no choice!
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Hi Karic - Like Marras I am a long term contact lens wearer. Last year I got a red lump on an upper eyelid, I was told it was meibomian gland cyst and to apply hot pads and massage it 3 times a day. This I did, eventually it came to a head and burst with the recommended massage, not nice :-\
Long story short it did heal and I'm now back to 11 hours lens wear a day but I do need to;- Apply a warm eye pad (40C at least 5 days a week
- Use Actimist (or similar) on eyes during the day to stop the ducts blocking again
Like Briony says, it's blocked tear ducts, the oils need to melt then be massged to shift them
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That's 'me time' sorted then ;)
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That's 'me time' sorted then ;)
A constant delight ::)
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Hi
I had severe dry eyes when my hormones started fluctuating. Did't know at the time that things were related. Treated with hot pad on eyelids twice daily, then massage, then Systain Balance eye drops. Also started myself on Omega 3 s ( fish oil). Finally feeling as if the issue is resolved after being also on Hrt for 1.5 years. Estrogen seem to have helped. When my eyes begin to itch and get red, for sure I must be low on estrogen. The drops and pads etc. definitely bring about relief though so don't give up! Treatment can last a bit longer before you see real results.
Milamam
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:) Thanks for the advice- very much appreciated and its good to know I'm not some kind of freak!
It's hard to explain to people "it's my age" >:(
To answer some points raised :-
I don't wear lens or seem to have allergies.
But I'll try the bathing with hot water, I have got a vaseline type
gel for night times, which frankly is grim and not especially helpful.
I went to eye casualty and saw a specialist who prescribed all the stuff I've got.
Nothing seems to offer much relief. :(
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Four weeks of drops etc But I seem to need the drops more and more. Today has been particularly bad hence my post :( Back to the Drs I guess!
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Or go to speak to a Pharmacist? or an optician?
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Optician was my first call when this started, gave me Systane drops. Specialist told me to go back to GP for further drops. On Carmize at the moment. Maybe I just need to be a patient patient? Frustrating though :'(
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When I was at my worst with dry eyes, the ophtamologist told me that I need eyedrops that have a lubricant /oil of some sort in them - otherwise if just artificial tears, these evaporate fast and bring no relief. Thus Sustain Balance has the oily effect, keeping moisture longer in the eyes. Not all Systain drops have this effect, just a thought to consider.
Milamam
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Hi, I read this with interest because I had this problem & BrightLight mentioned about a possible allergy. Two years ago, I started to get itchy red bumps on my face, head, back & hands & a few months later, literally overnight, it felt like my moisturiser was burning my face & my head itched like mad. I also experienced more hair loss than usual. Along with this, I started getting sore, dry, gritty red eyes & the bumps got worse & wouldn't go. I was diagnosed with rosacea & put on antibiotics for months on end - it was horrendous & was affecting my job as I had to keep putting eye drops in which didn't work for long. After doing research on a rosacea forum, it turned out that some people found their problems cleared up after having food intolerance testing & cutting the offending foods out of their diet.
I was tested last autumn & was shocked to find out that I had become intolerant to dairy, eggs, yeast, brazil nuts, lentils, buckwheat & three types of grape. I cut those foods out of my diet for 12 weeks (yes, it was a pain but worth it) along with the antibiotics as they were not working anyway & my face & the itching cleared up within days but, significantly, my dry, sore eyes improved - no more blocked melbomian glands. I was also taking AD's & sleeping tablets & when I stopped those, the dry eyes cleared up completely. Yet another delightful meno symptom that flared up. >:( . If I eat foods containing milk or yeast, up come the bumps & I get eye irritation - many wines have the same effect. My eyes are slightly drier than they used to be before peri but not enough to need drops - I haven't used them for nearly a year now. I don't know if that is definitely causing your dry eyes but I thought, after my experience, that it was something I should mention about to you. Xx
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An interesting thought Thank you for taking the time to post :)
I've seen the ocular rosacea articles and wondered if this is what I'm
suffering with. But I don't have any other symptoms ie redness of skin etc
I've got a spray and gel today from a local pharmacist so will try those. It's
getting me down I must admit!
Thank you to all who have offered advice and shared experiences It is very
much appreciated x
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Hi karic - just wondered if you have been tested for sjogrens disease? It's an autoimmune disorder http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Sjogrens-syndrome/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Taz x :hug: