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Original poster

Very dry eyes

26 replies

WarriorN · 03/03/2022 04:58

Ive suddenly got very dry eyes, contacts were close to impossible. But it's been 5 weeks since infection

Is this anyone else's experience?

Now I think about it they've been slowly getting worse as contacts didn't sit properly

OP posts:
coronafiona · 03/03/2022 05:00

Covid can cause dry eyes. Use some good quality lubricants to help. Make sure they are preservative free and if they don't help get your gp to refer you to ophthalmology

Original poster
WarriorN · 03/03/2022 05:13

Thanks - but this late after infection?

I was chucking them hyromellose in all day. Didn't do much. Issue was contacts, I don't have glasses that work right now (argh.)

Which lubricants?

OP posts:
Disfordragon · 03/03/2022 06:00

How old are you OP? I went from full time contact lens wearer to full time glasses wearer almost overnight in April due to dry eyes. I’m mid forties and have worn CL 12 hours day every day since my early 20s. Apparently I have blocked ducts, and it’s a peri menopausal thing. I now do regular hot compresses which allows me to occasionally wear lenses for a few hours. I’ve been told it won’t improve.there was no link with Covid.

Original poster
WarriorN · 03/03/2022 06:05

I'm definitely peri and on hrt. I've had occasional dry eye issues with it but not bad enough to affect how the lenses sit and usually relieved by eyes drops.

Actually I've been taking an antihistamine (loradatine) for the last few days for a post Covid itchy rash and when I checked, that's apparently linked to dry eyes.

Anyone got recommendations for an overnight eye gel?

OP posts:
DrNo007 · 03/03/2022 06:07

Thealoz Duo eye drops are great for this and a very natural formula.

Original poster
WarriorN · 03/03/2022 07:12

Apologies, was really panicking after a day of not being able to see properly!

They're not as bad as they were now contacts are in. Still going to have to Chuck the eyes drops in though.

I think Covid plus peri as well as the antihistamines might be the cause. Hrt isn't working as well as it was which I believe is common.

OP posts:
Walkaround · 03/03/2022 10:29

My ds, who gets hayfever, said he preferred the sneezing, snuffling, itchy eyes and sore throat of the hayfever to the hideously dry eyes of loratadine. Cetirizine doesn’t give him dry eyes, it just relieves the hayfever symptoms. I would strongly suggest trying a different antihistamine.

Mosaic123 · 03/03/2022 10:33

Antihistamines make your throat and nose dry so I bet it's that. Can you try taking half a dose?

Ormally · 03/03/2022 10:54

Hycosan night eye at night (a cream), and drops about 6 times in the day (those that are suitable for this). Similar problem but only in 1 eye, so probably hormonal - this is what the optician has recently advised. It's going ok.

Ormally · 03/03/2022 10:54

(Although as a disclaimer, I don't wear contacts).

Original poster
WarriorN · 03/03/2022 12:18

Your poor ds Walk!

Thanks all, sounds like it. Google said cetrazine is better for this too.

Haven't taken it since Tuesday morning and eyes not as bad today. Weird as I've taken it on and off for a couple of weeks, but could be in addition to fluctuating hormones I suppose.

I've been prone to dry eyes on and off all my life but never had it that badly! I did feel contacts weren't working very well over the last few weeks while recovering from Covid, but didn't think to use drops regularly to see if it helped.

Thanks for the suggestion Ormally I'll pop to the chemist tomorrow

OP posts:
coronafiona · 03/03/2022 22:58

@WarriorN I use thealoz duo it's very good. Hypromellose is rubbish and will irritate your eye

Bagelsandbrie · 03/03/2022 23:16

Google Sjorgens syndrome. It’s an autoimmune condition that they suspect is a lot more common than people think and is often under diagnosed in those over 40 as people tend to think dry eyes etc are just part of ageing. Covid has shown to increase the risk of autoimmune issues in the long term (ie long covid) due to the immune systems reaction to covid itself, so sjorgens wouldn’t be a far stretch to consider. If it is sjorgens your GP can prescribe various eye drops and gels.

Justkeeppedaling · 03/03/2022 23:18

Anyone got recommendations for an overnight eye gel?

I use Hylo Night gel at night and Hylo Tear drops in the day.

LovelyYellowLabrador · 03/03/2022 23:19

Try Hycosan

JamieFrasersBigSwingingKilt · 03/03/2022 23:48

I get this due to peri too. I use eye drops, take isoflavones and Omega 3(the first and last recommended by my optician).

CiderWithLizzie · 04/03/2022 00:21

I suffer with severe dry eye syndrome and Meibomium gland dysfunction - but autoimmune and not related to covid. Most people find eye drops containing a preservative irritating after a while. I second Hylo Night why is a greasy ointment and would recommend Hylo Dual in the daytime alongside Visuxl Gel. However there are lots of alternatives and you have yo find what works for you. Good luck.

Bagelsandbrie · 04/03/2022 07:44

If you can get your Gp to prescribe them you can get eye drops on prescription which have twice the amount of active ingredient in the standard Hycosan red eye drops. That’s what I have due to sjorgens and they work really well. There are different brand names but you want the 0.4% sodium hyaluronate ones.

Original poster
WarriorN · 04/03/2022 08:22

Thank you all for recommendations - I. Sorry to read some of you really struggle with this.

Ive heard of sjorens but have no dry mouth issues. I do have other autoimmune things so will keep and eye on it (!)

It's no where near as bad but not great so off to chemist today. I do take omega but haven't much recently so will up
It a bit. I think the anti histamines were mainly responsible and peri. I'm newly on hrt but Covid definitely reduced its effectiveness.

OP posts:
bellamountain · 04/03/2022 09:51

It could be hay fever. I've have dry eyes generally but at the moment it's really bad. There's a lot of blossom, tree pollen at the moment.

underneaththeash · 04/03/2022 15:38

It could be your anti-histamines, but could equally be something else. Please go and have a contact lens check with your optician.

Original poster
WarriorN · 05/03/2022 06:55

Thank you all. Hyclosan night has made them feel better.

I've never previously been allergic to pollen but you never know.

Using drops and night time drops has helped; I think it's a combination of several things.

There's a slight fug feeling I've had since Covid still going on, couple of new itchy spots today but I can manage that. So I think I'm still recovering from Covid.

I have some peripheral nerve issues that had returned this week, possibly peri hormonally related so probably peri affecting things too. Back on the evening primrose and omega. I know sea buckthorn works but not sure can afford that...!

OP posts:
Original poster
WarriorN · 05/03/2022 06:58

@CiderWithLizzie is that a specific autoimmune issue? Or relating to wider autoimmune issues?

@Bagelsandbrie I was looking at the red one, v expensive! Will bear in mind if this continues. Sorry to hear you have sjorens, a friends mother has this and took ages to diagnose.

OP posts:
Original poster
WarriorN · 05/03/2022 07:05

Ok, I've noticed sjorens can be accompanied by peripheral neuropathy. I didn't know that. Have had ongoing drs visits for that but hrt had helped.

But I produce a normal amount of spit. If fact I feel I can produce a lot if needed. Do have ongoing fatigue and occasional joint pain but felt that's hormonal.

OP posts:
CiderWithLizzie · 05/03/2022 09:47

My dry eyes were caused by a specific autoimmune condition - Stevens Johnson syndrome - wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy (but maybe on Putin).

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