Dry eyes due to no hormones?

Hi

I am 15 months post op from my oopherectomy (had hyst the year before) and have been off HRT for just over 8 months as it made me ill.

I am putting up with the meno symptoms but the dry eyes are driving me mad. I am using artificial tears and they are helping a bit but not much.

Has anyone else had this and what did you do about it.

I have seen an optician and the doctor and they both said nothing wrong with my eyes except dryness. (I am 47)

Many thanks

Herne x

not sure if you've had your thyroid checked but when my levels are off and i'm hypothyroid, my eyes feel like sandpaper. artificial tears dont really help..only a med increase does.

Yes, I have had this since before my hyst in my 40's. I wear contacts and to be able to wear them I had what they call duct plugs put in and they work. Your doctor can also give you a perscription for Restasis which will help make more of the right kind of tears.

Hrt has not made much difference in this for me because it does not always reach the eye, kind of like hrt does not reach other sensitive areas for some of us.

Here is a link to dry eye and tear duct plugs:

http://www.stlukeseye.com/Conditions/DryEyeSyndrome.asp

They do not hurt to have them put in, and I do not even realize they are in there. I have been wearing them for 10 years now and still can wear my contacts.

I have been tested for thyroid and other autoimmune diseases and they all came up negative for the diseases.

I hope this helps some.

s

Hi

thanks for replies, I have just had my blood taken to check thyroid issues, so will know soon if its that, with regard to the tear plugs that is useful to know, do they work well? I am finding computer work really hard now and it is a bummer as I am starting a new job next week and have just signed up to finish my degree and this dry eyes thing is really getting me down, more than all the other meno rubbish I have been through so far.

Thanks again

Herne x

Yes, I only need drops in morning and at night depending on how dry the air is, my fluid intake and how long I wear my contacts. Computer bothers my eyes, so I have to blink often which helps dry eye.

s

I have read that having your hormones balanced helps this problem. In the book The Savvy Women's Guide to Testosterone it says women go to the eye dr. with this prob. when in reality they should have their hormones tested. It says that estrogen and testosterone have roles in keeping our eyes moist. It says that testosterone helps the mebothian glands in the eye make their lubricating secretions. It talks about eye drs. performing surgery to block the tear duct (plug) before checking the womens hormones. I would much rather have hormones balanced than have surgery on my eyes. But if hormones make you sick then I guess you don't have a choice.

Hi again

Glad the plugs worked if neccessary I will look into it if I don't get any improvement.

Re hormones:

I am going back to the menopause clinic to discuss my options, I can't take oral HRT (liver function problems) but I might be able to try a patch. I am really undecided about what to do, as I really don't like taking HRT, I have had two breast lumps (both benign thankfully) and endometriosis so would rather do without if I can, but wasn't expecting eye problems as a result of menopause. Never mind. All these things were sent to try us!!!!

I am grateful for the help and support available on this site and other forums where women help each other to find solutions to all this meno stuff.

Herne x

I have had dry eye syndrome for years but have found that it is worse post-hyst. I started taking flax seed pills again and that seems to help. I also put a hot wash clothe over my eyes for ten minutes in the morning and at night. Hope this helps.

I also have problems with dry eyes. I actually had more problems before my hysterectomy. Mine would get so dry that I actually had "blisters" on the whites of my eyes. I went to the eye doctor and he just told me to use eye drops. He said if it is really bad, use the drops every 1/2 hour. Of course, before you use the drops, your vision is blurry then after you use the drops your vision is blurry. It's hard to do my job when my vision is blurred all they time.They really didn't seem to help that much, no matter how often I put them in.
Hope you find a solution soon.

I had more dry eye problem when I was on hormones. I really noticed the difference in my eyes when I stopped progestrone along with the vaginal dryness. Very interesting when this is supposed to help with all that.