Eyesight issues

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Bluemire

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Hello,
I am new to this and looking for people who have the same experience as me.
So basically my eyesight has been awful the last 6 months or so, I am now experiencing headaches daily, sinus issues and my eyes are blurring, sore, itchy and feel tired. I am unsure whether I should go back to the optician who had an attitude with me last time I mentioned my eyesight changing frequently or the Dr. I am not on any medication just now but this is really effecting my life.
 
Hi there, and welcome! 👋

Are they dry perhaps? That might explain the variation. A doc could do a Schirmer's test.
And If you also had a dry mouth, that could be checked with a Saxon test -
if one or both or there's some autoimmune suspicion, Sjögren's Syndrome would be a possibility, a possible co-morbidity of fibro. But as with fibro each symptom has to be treated pretty much alone anyway.
If dry, many replace the fluid with drops. If milder, eye warming and massaging (e.g. gua sha) can help.

Or these might be intolerances - then allergies or MCAS might be something to look into....
And as workarounds trying to find & prevent the triggers, whether smells, detergents or foods etc.
Antihistamines might then help.
 
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So it would likely be better to see a Dr rather than a optician. I will contact them and mention some of the suggestions above and hopefully they will help.
Thank you for taking the time to reply to me.
 
yes, i would start with primary care doctor...
then optician, but perhaps a different one?

I was told I had dry eyes at my last vision check-up, and have had a swing in my vision from near sighted to more far sighted.. weird, i know..
but yeah, dry, itchy eyes.. sometimes the inner corners feel a little sore (possibly from too much rubbing?)
OTC artificial tear drops help some, but not a lot. I was given a sample size bottle of prescription drops at the time of the eye exam, but those kind of burned.. did not like them.
Warm compresses help a little too, when they feel overly tired and achy.
 
I have put in a request to the doctor so I will see what they have to say, normally takes a few days to reply which is a pain but at least it's done.

I just can't put my finger on it but I have pain in my shoulder blades and neck so could be tension.
 
I would suggest an ophthalmologist - a doctor of eyes - as opposed to an optician, that specializes in selling eyeglasses. Definitions given to me by my doctor, to help remember which was which. The ophthalmologist may have a much better idea as to what to check.
I don’t know about anyone else here, but I don’t mention the Fibro to new doctors / specialists, mostly because I don’t want them to get “confirmatin bias” and automatically say - oh it’s your FM or CMS. I want them to investigate! Then I feel better if they ask me - do you have FM or CMS, because this looks like it may be a symptom.
 
I don’t know about anyone else here, but I don’t mention the Fibro to new doctors / specialists, ... because .. get “confirmatin bias
Not a bad strategy at all, I'd say! If I'd felt it necessary I'd do it like that too.
I seem to have been lucky that all my docs were keen on wanting to find something else. Didn't tho, until MCAS...
 
An optician cannot help you with things like that as they are not medical doctors. I recommend seeing an ophthalmologist. Don't mention fibromyalgia, just tell the doc your symptoms. This may have nothing to do with fibro and it needs to be checked out.
 
Been there. See an ophthalmologist. Definitely suggest using some decent eye drops that come in single vials. If you’re getting too much screen time, that can really bother your (my) eyes. Good Luck.
 
Hi. I have had terrible trouble with my eyes too. My optician said my eyes were losing concentration. Referred me to hospital..they could see nothing wrong thankfully but put it down to the fibromyalgia and the way the nerves in the brain could be affected. Hope you get it sorted x
 
My optician said my eyes were losing concentration
Hmm, I don't quite get that...
We usually say that when the brain become "fatigued", so did that mean the eyes get fatigued more easily over a period of hours? Or over a period of years the eyes muscles losing their ability to focus it?
I find my eyes are brilliantly focused after sleep or relaxation, like an osteopathy, acupressure or acupuncture session.
And less focused in the evenings. I've sometimes thought it's just fibro-muscular fatigue....
 
Hi jayCs, i have sjogrens and raynauds. do by my rheumatologist. Please get the dry eyes checked. I need to carry special eye drops with me and for the dry mouth I either use a spray or gel . the dry eyes get bad at times, I got up one morning and oh my eye, felt like I had grit in them, by the third day It was so painful i took myself to my optometrist, just to see if he could flush it out, but no wasn’t grit , my eye had dried out that much and when I opened my eyes my eye ball has stuck to my eye lid and had formed an ulcer. A few days with a special eye drop and it was back to normal. I am so scared of it happening again. It was very painfull.
 
My wife has all of the symptoms mentioned. None of the prescribed drops did much including single vile type. The preservative in most are a problem in themselves. In my web search for something that may help I found 'Thealoz Duo Eye Drops' which are preservative free and has two medications. They have done wonders and she needs them only once or twice a day compared to hourly with most others.
 
Hi jayCs, i have sjogrens and raynauds. do by my rheumatologist. Please get the dry eyes checked.
Hi Harpy and thanks for the concern...
but don't worry, I've had about everything checked there is (50 docs in 2 years) and continue to do so, and I haven't got Sjögren's (or didn't have) and manage without eye drops. My eyes are actually not that bad, it's the dry mouth that gets annoying, hurting at night, despite sipping (sending me to loo even more often) and dry mouth gel which only helps a little. That was the main reason along with 2 bloods for getting a lip biopsy which "proved" no Sjögren's. Whilst I personally am still keeping that possibility open, I do agree with the head rheum. that said it wouldn't make a difference to me. It's still each symptom for itself, as I don't tolerate meds anyway (MCAS). That's the only thing that I can see a severe Sjögren's diagnosis leading to.

Or have you got anything else that really helps your Sjögren's aside from eye drops - specifically for the dry mouth?

I have like you got Raynauld's, which I mainly have been working around with 5* pairs of socks 24/7 and my hot water bottle, plus cold or alternating showers. And lots of supps that increase blood flow, esp. now increasing niacin/B3. A cream someone suggested (Akilhiver/Akilwinter) doesn't help.
* The socks do keep my feet warm, as they are organic cotton & wool, without Lycra, and my shoes are flexible.


What helps your Raynauld's?
 
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I use hylo -forte drops 2mg/ml , I have used so many different gels, drops ect , it’s costly but found it helps . I use biotene mouth wash and a spray for my mouth, its a bit more pleasant than the gel.
I make my own woolly slippers and wear two pairs at a time , that helps with my feet. My hands I make sure my gloves go on once I am ready to get up, if I touch anything cold before i am warmed , takes a good painful while to get em back to normal. Oh just thinking of a cold shower 🥶
 
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