Dry eyes?

[Admodean]

When I wake up in the morning my eyes are so dry and sore. Everything is blurry and I can’t see, for at least an hour until my eyes lubricate themselves again.

I’ve seen my optician and my prescription hasn’t changed, the problem is due to dryness. He told me to go to my GP to discuss medical causes.

My GP just shrugged and said “probably age related”. I’m 45. She did some general blood tests and there’s nothing wrong. I also have heavy periods, vaginal dryness, muscle pain and occasional twitching. But she won’t give me HRT because my periods are regular and I’m not having hot flushes.

Is this menopause related? I can’t be going around blind for an hour every morning, I don’t have time.

I have dry eyes and optician sent gp a letter to refer me to ophthalmologist. I am 48 and only perimenopausal symptom is anxiety.

Your GP is useless. If nothing else they should have given you a dry eye leaflet advising you re lubricating drops, gels and ointments, hot compress and massage - the options are numerous. If you can't resolve the problem using those methods you can be referred to a Dry Eye clinic where they can look at the quality of the year film and recommend other things to try.

It is very common, especially as we get older.

I get prescribed Evolve Carbomer drops as I've had similar. You can buy it over counter though.

Hycosan extra eye drops are really good

I have chronic dry eyes which were diagnosed by a hospital consultant after an injury (I poked myself in the eye with a tree). The injury wasn't healing because there was too much friction from my eyelid due to lack of lubrication.

They just told me to buy gel tears which you get over the counter - one brand is viscotears.

It's a long time ago so there may be new products but the gel tears work fine. I'm hoping diagnosis has got more sophisticated. I had to sit in a room with blotting paper shoved under my eyelids (to be fair did get anaesthetic drops first).

Hycosan are brilliant. It's like they replace the protective lubrication layer that has been lost, for whatever reason.

Ask at the optician, then the pharmacist. There are things you can buy

Second Hycosan during the day, but also Xailin night ointment in the eyes at night time (apparently this timing is important as effectiveness peaks at between 12 and 24 hours after putting in). Used to use Hycosan night ointment but there were shortages and it shot up from £5.95 to £15 at one point!

The optician should have given you drops which you can then get on prescription. I'm on hrt but eyes still dry. Probably not helped by endless scrolling on Mumsnet either.

"Your GP is useless". Yep. This.

"My GP just shrugged and said “probably age related”" 🤬🤬🤬

Hycosan Extra (red bottle), has double the active ingredient as the blue for a few extra pounds.

Hycosan Night (ointment). Immediately before bed.

Try a warm compress & lid massage too- a huge proportion of dry eye disease (including menopausal/peri-menopausal) is evaporative dry eye/meibomian gland dysfunction. Warm compress helps to release the oils that should form part of the tear film (and actually stabilises the TF and stops it evaporating).

I went to the optician last week and he said I have dry eyes too - mainly because of all the screens.
Got a heated mask to use for 10 mins a day for a month, followed by 2-3 times a week, and then eye wipes which are mainly micellar water to use daily too.
It's been less than a week so far, and seems to be helping already.

I second Xailin night ointment. I have had dry eyes for a few years and the optician sent a request for a prescription to my GP for eye gel. That helps during the day but the Xailin has been a game changer. I hardly need to use the daytime gel now as the Xailin is so effective and long lasting. I buy it from Amazon.
Also - your GP really is useless. Go back and insist that you need some help with your symptoms.

My eyes were fine until this raft of menopause symptoms began. What I’d like is for the problem to be fixed so I don’t need eye drops for the rest of my life. I was hoping HRT would help - but no, not allowed to have it because I’m apparently not perimenopausal. Because according to my GP, if your periods are regular you’re not in peri.

Hycosan eye drops from Asda optician only thing that has worked for me.

I know this isn't what you're asking but why don't you go and see another GP and say your periods are irregular and you're having hot flushes. Then you could trial HRT and see how you feel?

Get some hydrosan dry eye drops, they are amazing. What ever the cause they will help

Had similar issue and went to optometrist. She told me to steep cotton pads in hot water and hold them over my eyes. Repeat 4-5 times three times a day. This opens up the tiny glands on your eyelids which allow secretions to kerry your eyes moist. I use HyLo night gel every n8ght and haven't had an issue since

I got really dry eyes, and eye drops helped. But starting HRT sorted it completely and I no longer need drops

Didn't the optician talk to you about eye drops and heat pads / massage for your eyes?

Nope. Just said it’s outside his remit, see the GP to discuss the cause.

I'm on HRT and I had blepharitis for years prior to menopause. Post menopause and whilst on HRT my eyes dry up so badly at night. Usually when I'm scrolling on Mumsnet as I'm doing now! I don't like drops or eye lubricator either as I find I still can't see clearly. I also hate faffing around with eye masks etc...

That's bollox and really shoddy service. My optician talked to me about why it was happening ( age related) and recommended day drops and night ointment and most importantly using a heated eye mask twice a day and massaging the eyes. It does work but takes ages to come right , a good month or so for me but I've been fine since as long as I keep up with the routine.

Also standing in the shower with a hot wash cloth held to your eyes really helps too.

Ask the GP for a referral to rheumatology as it could be Sjogrens.

Also get your vitamin D checked.