Anyone "see" a connection between having taken Accutane for acne at some point and having problems with dry eyes? My opt. didn't know anything about it, but if you read the very small print on Accutane labels, they mention that you may not be able to wear contact lenses in the future.

Just curious how many out there with dry eyes have taken accutane.

Accutane definately casued my dry eyes, and its been five months since I have been off the damn drug and I still have the dry problem. Hopefully with time it will clear up, but you never know.

Here are a few side effects of Accutane:

corneal opacities, decreased night vision, cataracts, color vision disorder, conjunctivitis, dry eyes, eyelid inflammation, keratitis, optic neuritis, photophobia, visual disturbances

Actually, I think one of the main side effects of accutane is dry eyes. in fact, ur whole face seems to get dry: ur face, ur eyes, ur lips. i had meibomitis before i took accutane but it wasn't until after accutane that I noticed dry eyes. so i don't know, still trying to figure out whether it was the accutane or the meibomitis athat caused the dryness. also, my friend who took accutane also has difficulty w/ contacts. i'm sure its one of the cause.

I was on accutane and had a tough time with dry eyes and wearing my contacts. My derm did warn me about this at the beginning of my treatment, though. It's been 11 months since I've been off accutane, and I no longer have a problem with dry eyes.

Accutane definately caused my dry eyes. I have been off the horrible drug for 6 months now, and although my eyes are SLOWLY improving, they are no where near back to normal. What is everyone here doing to ease the dry eye symptoms.

I am currently using Restasis and Systane eye drops. Also, giving acupuncture a try to see if it speeds up the recovery.

Boston girl, how long did it take for your dry eyes to improve back to normal? Did it persist long after treatment stopped?

Be sure and use Systane with no preservative, comes in individual vials. Preservatives can cause irritation and your eyes will not improve.

Refresh Celluvisc is a thicker eye drop if you need one.

Accutane definately caused my dry eyes. I have been off the horrible drug for 6 months now, and although my eyes are SLOWLY improving, they are no where near back to normal. What is everyone here doing to ease the dry eye symptoms.

I am currently using Restasis and Systane eye drops. Also, giving acupuncture a try to see if it speeds up the recovery.

Boston girl, how long did it take for your dry eyes to improve back to normal? Did it persist long after treatment stopped?

Hey ndb,

My eyes improved only recently (I'd say 8-9 months after going off accutane) which was May/June. I still use eyedrops once in a while but my eyes have improved almost 100%.

My eyes got dryer and dryer (and my skin clearer and clearer) for four years after stopping accutane. They've since improved but are still dry. I last took the medicine in 1993. Our problem is with the oily meibomian glands not with the lacrimal glands. Our eyes produce fluid like anyone else, it's just that there's not enough oil for the fluid to stick. The meibomian glands recover from accutane damage but the recovery is very slow. They are working on androgen concoctions that will help meibomian glands. These should be on the market this decade.

I have seen four eye doctors, and three out of the four all told me that I have a problem with the aqueous layer of tears, and that my meibomian glands looked fine. The only doctor that said my meibomian glands looked bad just looked at my eyes through a microscope and came to the conclusion. So, I am hoping that with time I will slowly regain the normal amount of tears.

Just curious, did anyone use punctal plugs or using them righ now??

BostonGirl, what exactly did you do (eye drops, etc.) while you were recovering for those 8-9 months?

ndb,

I just used my regular eyedrops whenever I felt my eyes starting to get dry. It was never too unbearable for me, so I was very lucky. I know that it could've been a lot worse than it was. I also took my contacts out immediately when I got home and wore my glasses and that lessened my problems.

BostonGirl,

What exactly were your symptoms? I get a burning feeling when they get real dry, and the foreign body sensation too. I dont wear contacts, but still have the problem. I must have been borderline dry eye before and never noticed because as soon as I started noticing a real difference in my eyes while on Accutane I got off of it. So, I was only on the drug for a month and half, but I guess that was more than enough time to mess up my tear flow.

What did your eye doctor say about all this? Thanks for answering these questions. I have been trying to find people who got the dry eye side effect that alsted post-accutane, but it seems like it only affects a small number of people.

Hi ndb,

I had a mild burning sensation and I'd feel like I need to rub them. Once in a while I'd also feel like there was an eyelash stuck that I needed to get out. I never had a problem with dry eyes before I went on accutane so I'm assuming that accutane was what caused me to have those symptoms. My eye doctor knew that I was on accutane and told me that if the dry eyes became too unbearable, he would be able to prescribe eye drops for me but it never got to the point that I needed that. I was scared that accutane may have permanently damaged my eyes, but luckily nothing like that happened to me. Do your eyes feel any better with the drops that you've been using?

The drops only temporarily ctop the burning whenever it gets bad. And I get the same feeling of it feeling like something is in the eye and needing to rub it. My left eye is close to normal as I hardly need to use eye drops in it, but my right eye is still noticeably dry. And its amazing, just one eye being dry makes both seem like they are dry just because your eyes work together so much.

Do you know anyone who has used punctal plugs?

ndb,

I hope your eyes are feeling better. The burning and itching are just awful feelings. I hope over the past week you've started feeling some relief.

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Hi NDB,
I have accuatane induced dry eyes as well so I know exactly how you are feeling. It's been 6 months now and the burning, soreness and redness is still there. I've been doing eveything that my opthalmologist has suggested but nothing is really working. I guess it is just a matter of time for things to get better. How are your eyes today. Have they improved? How have you been treating them?

Thanks

BostonGirl,

What exactly were your symptoms? I get a burning feeling when they get real dry, and the foreign body sensation too. I dont wear contacts, but still have the problem. I must have been borderline dry eye before and never noticed because as soon as I started noticing a real difference in my eyes while on Accutane I got off of it. So, I was only on the drug for a month and half, but I guess that was more than enough time to mess up my tear flow.

What did your eye doctor say about all this? Thanks for answering these questions. I have been trying to find people who got the dry eye side effect that alsted post-accutane, but it seems like it only affects a small number of people.