Eye too Dry to Blink Properly?

[fluffiebunnie]

I dont know if my eye problem is due to the general dryness.. have been fine for months with hardly using drops to now today waking up and feel I cannot control my eyelid.. when I blink it doesnt blink the same as the other eye....

Have bought some new drops today as I think my other ones are out of date, but it is a real effort to get my right eye to blink!!

Is this a normal SS thing if your eye gets extremely dry?  I am on no medication at present.  I am worried that when I blink my right eye is not blinking and therefore will get even dryer...

Any advice? Thanks!

[ohiolady]

Best to get in and see your eye doctor.  You do not want damage to occur to your eyes because of the dryness.  I use Restasis, drops, gel at night and warm compresses to manage my very dry eyes.

Anna

[fluffiebunnie]

I dont have an eye doctor.. but a GP as am in the UK.. I cant make an appt until the day and only if they deem it to be an emergency    Otherwise it will be about three weeks till I get to see the doctor... I will call tomorrow and see what they say.. but any tips or thoughts anyone as to what is causing this?

[kimbo]

Fluffie,

You should go to your eye doc so he can get a good look see.

Recently I made a visit to my eye doc, with my eyes presenting dry, itchy and some swelling issues, he advised me to use my GenTeal gel drops at bed time and systane ultra high performance eye drops 4-5 times of a day.

Then he advised me to do the baby shampoo eye wash; one cap of baby shampoo to one cap of warm water, mix and pore onto a hot watered and wrung out wash cloth, scrub eye slits with this and then rinse. Although I was apprehensive about the baby shampoo washing, it made my eyes feel better.

I normally do not have eye issue enough to bother with drops.

If you are dry enough that it messes up your blinking, I hope you consult your eye doc.

Fluffiebunnie I hope you had a blessed Easter holiday.  And that you also get resolve with your eyes,  kimbo    

[Katybarstool]

Hi Fluffie

When I had an eye problem and couldn't get into GP, I went to optician. He was very good and examined my eyes and made suggestions of which eye drops to use. You might have to pay an eye test charge, but it could be money well spent.

Kathyx

[Scottietottie]

Hi Fluffie 

I don't know where you live but a lot of cities have casualty units specifically for eyes. Any chance of heading there?

Take care - Scottie 

[TerriJ]

This may not be the same thing you are experiencing, but when I wake up in the morning my eyes are so dry I can hardly open them let alone blink.  I have a gel that the ophthalmologist gave me to use at night, but sometimes I forget to use it.  Also, if I get up in the night I end up using drops again because I have a difficult time blinking because of dryness.  Also, rubbing my eyes almost seems like a dangerous thing anymore.  It only makes it worse and actually hurts.

Just one eye not blinking though sounds like something you should get checked out though.

Terri

[fluffiebunnie]

Thank you for all your comments and advise - I am just as bad today and woke with my eyes stuck this morning... I am seeing my GP at 10.20.. I will explain I am undiagnosed SS and take it from there... its hard to explain really, but its like one eyelid is paralised and wont blink automatically.  I can blink it shut if I try really hard    I am getting a few twitches around the bad eye and it is watering a lot even though it is dry (if that makes sense).

I hope the GP can prescribe some eyedrops/gel that is better than the stuff you can buy over the counter.

[harrigan]

Good luck Fluff and let us know how you get on - thinking of you xx Ailsa

[fluffiebunnie]

Well I have been to see the GP.  She says its Bells palsy... a mild case... my right side is affected slightly and the worse bit is my eye.... I also notice now she has asked that my tongue and cheek are slightly numb....

I am on predisolone 30mg for five days and also anti viral pills... eleven pills a day in total and have to see her in two weeks.

She says its a viral thing that affects the nerves in my face..

She has given me some eye drops to try as she had a free sample and said to tape my eyes shut of a night to stop the drying out so much..

I wonder if this is connected to having suspected SS ? I seem to get every thing going these days..

[KYMOM]

Fluffie, I don't know about Bells Palsy.  Does this clear up with meds.  Hope you start feeling better.  Roxanne

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

I developed Bell's Palsy many years ago after a bout of Mono. It was quite bad and in my case they thought it stemmed from an ear infection. I had my middle ear drained of fluid and was hospitalised for a few days and given exercises to do.

My parents were warned that my face may not go back to normal - but it did. I did the exercises - feeling very stupid in the days when there were several in a ward - kept doing them when I got home and the only bit that never got back to normal is one side of the back of my throat, which obviously doesn't show.

I hope yours clears up quickly. Mine was so long ago I can't remember time scales.

Take care - Scottie 

[harrigan]

Fluffie, found this when I was browsing effects of anxiety on Sjogrens - don't know if you have seen it.  I've included the link and the mention of facial palsy.  Hope you are starting to feel better, xx Ailsa


http://www.lef.org/protocols/immune_connective_joint/sjogren_syndrome_01.htm

Individuals with Sj?gren's may develop neurological problems, such as impaired memory and reduced concentration (Sj?gren's Syndrome Foundation). A French study linked the onset of facial palsy involving cranial nerves to Sj?gren's (Rousso E et al 2005).