kirstee

Hi Shelly:

Do you ever wake up with your eyes glued shut with gooky stuff? The reason I ask this is most FMSers have problems with the mucosa that lines every moist membrane of the body, including the eye. The primary reason for this is the watery secretions that keep these membrames wet become acidic and create surface burning. Eyes react with excessive tearing that dries up at night. Water evaporates leaving behind mucus and calcium phosphate which forms the sticky sand that we find in the corner of our eyes in the morning.

Blurred vision can have another cause. There are four eye muscles attached to each eyeball. They're hooked into the orbits to maintain coordination when we move our eyes. Any of these eight muscles can be affected with FMS. There will be swelling, spasm, and tenderness. The muscles will tire from trying to maintain focus because they can no longer synchronize with the other properly working muscles.

Another issue to complicate the above symptom is the lens of the eye. It is a live, gel-like structure. FMSers have problems with calcium and phospates not assimilating together in cells, with the phosphates floating randomly in the system until it finds a resting place (muscles, ligaments, etc.). This same phosphate/ion intrusion in the eye will be accompanied by water to guarantee safe dilutions. The extra water thickens the lens and alters the focal point to induce temporary nearsightedness. Eventually these intrusions are sucked out and the lens will flatten to a more farsighted state. This ever-changing lens thickness causes blurring and keeps FMSers fighting to maintain focus (tired eyes).

At other times, our eyes can become dry and red because tears do not stream out properly or mucous channels become dammed up. The inner eyelids become dry and excessive blinking starts to take over. This upset in fluid causes the eyelid to spasm and looks like a nervous tick. I get this from time-to-time and it drives me crazy. If you ever have trouble with this scenario, there are OTC brands or prescription tears such as Bion Tears, GenTeal or LacriLube which will help moisten the eye.

My husband is always floored when I have to obtain a new prescription for my eye glasses every year. It is no surprise to me! Your doctor's advice to obtain OTC glasses seems like a good idea since you may have need for a different strength in a few month's time. No sense spending a bunch of money on prescription lens since your eyes are pretty normal other than the FMS situation.

I have probably given you more information that you every needed! LOL!!

Blessings,
Kirstee