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Eyes and Neuropathy

Posted by Rachel, Volunteer Mentor @rwinney, Jun 17, 2020

I would love to hear from folks who have peripheral neuropathy and eyes problems such as worsening dry eye and photophobia (light sensitivity). Has anyone been to a neuro opthamologist for this and been advised of the correlation? What did you learn?

My eyes have mitigating circumstances.... beginning with Fuchs Dystrophy (cornea disease) requiring cataract and cornea transplants, intractable migraine and Small Fiber Polyneuropathy...all of which play off each other. Photophobia, for me, has been constant since prior to eye surgeries and increasingly worse after. Migraines create photophobia and vice versa. SFN is nerve damage/dysfunction which for me has created hyperalgesia (overactive and hyper sensitivity). The cornea contains the highest number of small fibers in your entire body. My ongoing dry eye is developing along with intense flares of light sensitivity. I feel like a vampire...it puts me down, to bed, in hiding. As I explore how to tackle worsening dry eye, I came across this link that opened my mind further and thought maybe it might help some of you who have dry eye and neuropathy.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Eye Conditions Support Group.

Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Aug 25, 2020
In reply to @sunnyflower "Hi Girls and anyone interested, I have dry eyes as well so have been using a..." + (show)
@sunnyflower

Hi Girls and anyone interested, I have dry eyes as well so have been using a tiny (grain of rice or smaller) blob of lubricating eye ointment at night. I was told to make sure it has either castor oil or mineral oil in it, the higher percent the better. The one I'm using now is Soothe Lubricant Eye Ointment made my Bausch and Lomb but I thought Walgreen's own brand had a higher percent of those oils than what I'm using. It's almost impossible to see once it's in, so be sure to wait until you're in bed and ready to sleep. You can blink and blot it out if necessary. I have been able to make it to the bathroom in the dark but it's more difficult. It really works! BTW, for those of you who use a C-Pap and have dry eyes, my husband has recently begun to use a sleep mask and those symptoms have disappeared! Often the air from the C-PAP or A-PAP can blow into the eyes at night. Also, we blink less when we sleep so thus can have dryer eyes in the mornings. If I understood that correctly. I also use Systane Lubricant Eye Drops Complete Optimal Dry Eye Relief which also has mineral oil in it, during the day. I find a little problem (sting) that I think is from the preservatives. Hope this helps in some significant way. Warmest regards, Sunny (too lazy to type the "flower" LOL! Okay, truth be told, can't see well and more time, more eye strain, more pain!

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@sunnyflower

My ophthalmologist told me to use gel drops at night. Like you, I have to be ready to sleep. Reading is out of the question. But they do help my dry eyes. I use lubricant eye drops during the day - when I think of it.

Jim

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Aug 25, 2020
In reply to @sunnyflower "Hi Girls and anyone interested, I have dry eyes as well so have been using a..." + (show)
@sunnyflower

Hi Girls and anyone interested, I have dry eyes as well so have been using a tiny (grain of rice or smaller) blob of lubricating eye ointment at night. I was told to make sure it has either castor oil or mineral oil in it, the higher percent the better. The one I'm using now is Soothe Lubricant Eye Ointment made my Bausch and Lomb but I thought Walgreen's own brand had a higher percent of those oils than what I'm using. It's almost impossible to see once it's in, so be sure to wait until you're in bed and ready to sleep. You can blink and blot it out if necessary. I have been able to make it to the bathroom in the dark but it's more difficult. It really works! BTW, for those of you who use a C-Pap and have dry eyes, my husband has recently begun to use a sleep mask and those symptoms have disappeared! Often the air from the C-PAP or A-PAP can blow into the eyes at night. Also, we blink less when we sleep so thus can have dryer eyes in the mornings. If I understood that correctly. I also use Systane Lubricant Eye Drops Complete Optimal Dry Eye Relief which also has mineral oil in it, during the day. I find a little problem (sting) that I think is from the preservatives. Hope this helps in some significant way. Warmest regards, Sunny (too lazy to type the "flower" LOL! Okay, truth be told, can't see well and more time, more eye strain, more pain!

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@sunnyflower, @jimhd, Here’s a little hint for eye medications. If they sting, keep them in the refrigerator.
My best.......Chris

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2 replies
sunnyflower | @sunnyflower | Aug 25, 2020
In reply to @artscaping "@sunnyflower, @jimhd, Here’s a little hint for eye medications. If they sting, keep them in the..." + (show)
@artscaping

@sunnyflower, @jimhd, Here’s a little hint for eye medications. If they sting, keep them in the refrigerator.
My best.......Chris

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Thx Chris, makes good sense to me! Always appreciate a good tip! Hope you are better than tolerable today. Warmest regards, Sunny

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sunnyflower | @sunnyflower | Aug 25, 2020
In reply to @jimhd "@sunnyflower My ophthalmologist told me to use gel drops at night. Like you, I have to..." + (show)
@jimhd

@sunnyflower

My ophthalmologist told me to use gel drops at night. Like you, I have to be ready to sleep. Reading is out of the question. But they do help my dry eyes. I use lubricant eye drops during the day - when I think of it.

Jim

Jump to this post

Hi Jim, the ointment really is like a gel. I too use the drops during the day. Apparently, we blink less while reading (tech devices too) and watching TV. My glasses block blue light from TV and my devices. I also set my phone and tablet backgrounds to be much less light and to block blue light as well. Much easier on my eyes. Take care, Sunny 😊

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sunnyflower | @sunnyflower | Aug 25, 2020
In reply to @jimhd "@sunnyflower I have double vision, probably a symptom of autonomic neuropathy. I had a prism ground..." + (show)
@jimhd

@sunnyflower I have double vision, probably a symptom of autonomic neuropathy. I had a prism ground into the right lens of my regular glasses, and it was better for a month or so, but has returned with some new variations. Most of the time I just deal with it, but as it progresses it could become an issue. I hope it doesn't become bad enough that I would lose my driver's license. @avmcbellar has written about treatment options.

My eyes get tired after reading very much, both print and digital. After going through posts here for a while, I need to go lie down and rest them.

Jim

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Hi Jim, I never even thought that some of my vision problems could be from neuropathy! My eye doctors and retinal specialist don't pay much attention to my Sxs. A few minutes ago I did a couple of replies regarding eyes. Hope you are much better than tolerable today and tonight and forever!! Blessings, Sunny. 😊

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1 reply
onamission | @onamission | Aug 25, 2020
In reply to @rwinney "@onamission I read this link and am amazed by the benefits to my cornea. I found..." + (show)
@rwinney

@onamission I read this link and am amazed by the benefits to my cornea. I found the top 10 Quercetin products. I am already taking ample supplements...why not one more. What brand do you recommend? Have you personally used Quercetin?
Thanks,
Rachel

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Rachel, it seems quercetin is becoming a Swiss Army knife in the number of things it can do.The supplement MRM Quercetin 500 is worth checking out. Quercetin does not desolve in water and needs to be taken during a meal to increase it's availability, I've attached two links. One contains a range of areas quercetin provides benefits and the other how it together with liposomal vitamin c assists in recovering from covid-19.
https://www.drrathresearch.org/attachments/education/Phytobiology/Quercetin.pdf
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01451/full

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2 replies
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Aug 26, 2020
In reply to @sunnyflower "Hi Jim, I never even thought that some of my vision problems could be from neuropathy!..." + (show)
@sunnyflower

Hi Jim, I never even thought that some of my vision problems could be from neuropathy! My eye doctors and retinal specialist don't pay much attention to my Sxs. A few minutes ago I did a couple of replies regarding eyes. Hope you are much better than tolerable today and tonight and forever!! Blessings, Sunny. 😊

Jump to this post

@sunnyflower, I just caught your post about vision problems from neuropathy. I know about dry eye syndrome and my ophthalmologist described how the partially dead nerves on my eyes lead to more cells dying from lack of moisture. There are machines that massage your glands, ointments, and fluid drops that keep the eye moist. You can try all of those remedies or just move to a rain forest. That is actually what my clinician told me.

He also told me that fires in your area invite particulates to fall into your eye. Tired of the fires, the evacuations, the anxiety while waiting to go back up the mountain to see what is left, I chose to move to MN. Much higher humidity and I have noticed the lack of eye irritation.

Guess what.....today the air around the river was filled with particulates from the CA fires. I wanted to scream "don't come here......... I moved here to get away from the particles."

Be safe, free, and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris

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1 reply
Hank | @jesfactsmon | Aug 26, 2020
In reply to @onamission "Rachel, it seems quercetin is becoming a Swiss Army knife in the number of things it..." + (show)
@onamission

Rachel, it seems quercetin is becoming a Swiss Army knife in the number of things it can do.The supplement MRM Quercetin 500 is worth checking out. Quercetin does not desolve in water and needs to be taken during a meal to increase it's availability, I've attached two links. One contains a range of areas quercetin provides benefits and the other how it together with liposomal vitamin c assists in recovering from covid-19.
https://www.drrathresearch.org/attachments/education/Phytobiology/Quercetin.pdf
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01451/full

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@onamission
Thank-you for the interesting info about quercetin. My wife Linda has eye issues and might benefit. One of the things discussed in the initial article you provided is quercetin's ability to deactivate the ROS which mitochondria produce as a waste byproduct of ATP creation. Linda takes a supplement called MitoQ which is a more absorbable form of Co-Q10 and the main thing it is purported to do is to clean up the ROS. But I am not sure whether MitoQ is as effective as quercetin at dealing specifically with ROS in the eyes, something I plan to try to find out. If not, then quercetin may be the next supplement we'll be adding to her regimen.

Again, thank-you for being of service with all of this very useful information, including the info about magnesium and boron, it is all appreciated! Hank

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1 reply
Mentor
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Aug 26, 2020
In reply to @onamission "Rachel, it seems quercetin is becoming a Swiss Army knife in the number of things it..." + (show)
@onamission

Rachel, it seems quercetin is becoming a Swiss Army knife in the number of things it can do.The supplement MRM Quercetin 500 is worth checking out. Quercetin does not desolve in water and needs to be taken during a meal to increase it's availability, I've attached two links. One contains a range of areas quercetin provides benefits and the other how it together with liposomal vitamin c assists in recovering from covid-19.
https://www.drrathresearch.org/attachments/education/Phytobiology/Quercetin.pdf
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01451/full

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@onamission Thank you very much for taking your time to help others. Stronger together. 💪🏼
Wishes for a comfortable, happy day,
Rachel

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 26, 2020

When considering complementary or alternative treatments, be open-minded yet skeptical. Keep in mind that supplements are not regulated, and learn about the potential benefits and risks. Here is an article from Mayo Clinic that might interest you about evaluating claims made by the producers and/or sellers of supplements, natural products and other alternative medicines. http://mayocl.in/2tGC0Jp

Quercetin is getting a lot of attention these days for its potential benefit. When evaluating the information be sure to note whether the evidence is based on test tube and animal trials or whether there have been human trials. Many drugs show promise in early trial phases but do not prove effective in later human trials. In the case of quercetin, more human research is needed. See this article and related research:
- What Is Quercetin? Benefits, Foods, Dosage, and Side Effects https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/quercetin

You might also be interested to know that Mayo Clinic is researching a drug called a senolytic – dasatinib plus quercetin - that has just moved into early human research.
“We are studying the effectiveness of this and other senolytic drugs, but that does not mean that these should be used by patients or prescribed by physicians for any off-label conditions,” says Dr. Kirkland. “I want to emphasize that no one should take these drugs. This research is only beginning.”
- Senescent cell research moves into human trials https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/senescent-cell-research-moves-into-human-trials-2/

As always, please consult with your medical provider before taking supplements.

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