To people with "dry eye' syndrome - Eye & Vision Message Board

B-Jean · 01-29-2003, 07:40 AM

Hi,
Was just wondering if any of you have had your thyroid checked? I was diagnosed with Grave's disease and had extreme dry eyes, tried the plugs but they fell out.
I was going thru a bottle of natural tears a week, luckily I did'nt end up with the "bulging" eyes. Finally my meds are working and my eyes are much better-only use drops once or twice a week. Went to eye doc yesterday and he says my eyes look suspicious for glaucoma:frown: So am going to have 2 special tests done on the 14th, field vision and HRT(like an MRI of the eyes).
Wet eyes to all and not because of tears!
B-Jean

KayKay · 01-29-2003, 07:17 PM

B-Jean,

Yes I did have my thyroid checked. Was also checked for Lupus. Both test was negative, Which this was also 7 years ago. my grandmother had thyroid problems so guess I should look into having that checked again.
Right now my dry eye problems seem to be caused by rosacea.

Kay

purple2067 · 01-29-2003, 08:43 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. I too have had my thyroid checked several times, and all of the bloodwork came back normal. I have been tested for Sjogren's Syndrome, and they believe that this, combined with extremely bad allergies is what is causing my dryness, itching, inflammation, irritation, etc... I too go through tears like they are water! I use the individually packaged preservative free bion tears that come in the single dose units. They come in boxes of 28. At my worst, I go through a box of them every 2 days. But now my doctor is encouraging me to try and cut back because he thinks that by using too much artificial tears, I can wash out what I do have of my own natural tears. So now I go through a box of them every 4 days or so. Luckily I get them at wholesale prices! But it is still cleaning out my wallet!

Hope you are all feeling well,
Elyse

[This message has been edited by purple2067 (edited 01-29-2003).]

Bellajoon · 01-30-2003, 12:14 PM

Hi B-Jean
I am also on the thyroid posts. I have Hashimoto's and have had it for over 5 to 6 years. My eyes started having problems last summer. They got so irritated that I would rub them raw! I went to an optomologist in November and had many tests. He said he would treat me as if I had dry eyes. The drops didn't help so I quit them. They have been a little better recently. I was also asked if I had been tested for Sjogren's too. I haven't, but wonder if that would be a good idea. I have also been having problems with my inside of my lip. They have been drying out and I have to keep licking them. I think a lot of these things are autoimmune related.

purple2067 · 01-30-2003, 09:22 PM

Sjogren's can dry out your mouth as well as your eyes. It can dry out any part of the body that produces moisture. I hope that you still use the tear drops when your eyes feel dry. You don't want to let them get so dry that you develop a corneal abbrasion.