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.

@rwinney , I saw this post about dry eye conditions and peripheral neuropathy. I do have both. I also have PMR. My understanding of part of my dry eye problem is a relative deficiency of meibomian glands. (glands on underside of eyelids that secrete oily lubricating substance ) I am also experiencing photopsia in my right eye (shooting stars or flashes of light on peripheral vision) however this seems to be caused by posterior vitreous detachment, a normal process I am told.
I also would like to hear from folks who are experiencing these cluster of eye symptoms. I did also have a temporal artery biopsy shortly after being diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) to rule in/out Giant Cell arteritis. Rachel, I have lots of questions, not many answers. đŸ™‚ David

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@sunnyflower

Hey John, when people don't sign their names at the end of their post, I don't know who is writing bc I can't remember who belongs to what last name or "handle" they use that isn't their name. It makes it very difficult to reply to that person by name

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Hey @sunnyflower, You bring up a good point which is why I always tag the person my message is replying to using their member name. Sometimes I will "sign" my name but since I feel like I'm sitting in Cheers where everybody knows my name I normally don't type my name unless it's a really long post and you can't see my member name at the top of the post. So just for you, thanks for the reminder... John 🙂

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@phoenix0509

@rwinney , I saw this post about dry eye conditions and peripheral neuropathy. I do have both. I also have PMR. My understanding of part of my dry eye problem is a relative deficiency of meibomian glands. (glands on underside of eyelids that secrete oily lubricating substance ) I am also experiencing photopsia in my right eye (shooting stars or flashes of light on peripheral vision) however this seems to be caused by posterior vitreous detachment, a normal process I am told.
I also would like to hear from folks who are experiencing these cluster of eye symptoms. I did also have a temporal artery biopsy shortly after being diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) to rule in/out Giant Cell arteritis. Rachel, I have lots of questions, not many answers. đŸ™‚ David

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@phoenix0509 David, you indeed have a plethora of concerns and problems. What a difficult path you are on. I'm sorry for this. Let's see if others share their common problems with you, or can offer help in any way to you. Thank you for bringing these topics to the conversation. I wish you well.
Rachel

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@jesfactsmon

@sunnyflower
Hi Sunny, yes not everyone feels comfortable using their real names here. I think they are trying to be careful. The internet is, as you know, attended by some very bad people along with the 99% good and well meaning people. And some people are trying to be as safe as they can.

I try to remember everyone by their handle or Mayo name. I suppose if someone wanted to, they could make a list of each person's handle they want to remember and write a few notes with each one to remind them of who they are. I try to do it in my brain which is hardly a perfect way to remember. If you click on their handle (I am talking about the @<name> thingy in blue), you will be taken to their profile page and you can read some of their recent posts as a refresher. I don't know how to go back very far in their post history though. Best, Hank

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Hello Hank, yes I too am a very private person and can't even believe I'm on a Blog let alone sharing personal stuff LOL! I think what I'm talking about is that some people do sign their name after a post and sometimes they don't. The Gabapentin has all but destroyed my memory so it is really tough to I know who I am speaking to match what they shared with their stories. That's the real issue, reading the stories and then not knowing in later posts who had shared what story, it's just a matter of not knowing how to address them rather greet them in the beginning of a response or a post with a new thought for that person.

It is because the web is so full of evil and evil people that I do not typically post any personal information about myself and none on social media. I will just have to try harder. Thank you for your input and take good care of yourself and Linda, Sunny flower

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@johnbishop

Hey @sunnyflower, You bring up a good point which is why I always tag the person my message is replying to using their member name. Sometimes I will "sign" my name but since I feel like I'm sitting in Cheers where everybody knows my name I normally don't type my name unless it's a really long post and you can't see my member name at the top of the post. So just for you, thanks for the reminder... John 🙂

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Hello John! I chuckled w/ your Cheers example! Good one! To be fair, John is a very common name. I love it. So many Johns it would be hard for someone to track you down were you not to share your last name. You have a very nice last name too. Mine is unique so I wouldn't want to put it out there. fHope this is a great day for you and that you and yours are doing well. Warm regards, Sunny PS: Mmmmm, I haven't figured out yet how to insert or create an icon on my Surface tablet here. I'll ask my husband, the computer guy.

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@phoenix0509

@rwinney , I saw this post about dry eye conditions and peripheral neuropathy. I do have both. I also have PMR. My understanding of part of my dry eye problem is a relative deficiency of meibomian glands. (glands on underside of eyelids that secrete oily lubricating substance ) I am also experiencing photopsia in my right eye (shooting stars or flashes of light on peripheral vision) however this seems to be caused by posterior vitreous detachment, a normal process I am told.
I also would like to hear from folks who are experiencing these cluster of eye symptoms. I did also have a temporal artery biopsy shortly after being diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) to rule in/out Giant Cell arteritis. Rachel, I have lots of questions, not many answers. đŸ™‚ David

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Hello David, wow, you've got a lot to deal with and that's a gross understatement! I too have the meibomian gland problem. The docs have said dry eyes can be from old age and/or disease. They said I have both LOL! There have been some great discussions and tips about the subject of eye problems very recently. I'm new to Connect and a pretty slow learner. Someone may have already directed you how to get into that discussion. I think on the main Neuropathy page in the directory, you can select the discussion on eyes? I hope I'm not misleading you. I still struggle with how to get back to the main site! I hope and pray you get some relief and the answers you need. Many blessings, Sunnyflower đŸ™‚

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@sunnyflower

Hello John! I chuckled w/ your Cheers example! Good one! To be fair, John is a very common name. I love it. So many Johns it would be hard for someone to track you down were you not to share your last name. You have a very nice last name too. Mine is unique so I wouldn't want to put it out there. fHope this is a great day for you and that you and yours are doing well. Warm regards, Sunny PS: Mmmmm, I haven't figured out yet how to insert or create an icon on my Surface tablet here. I'll ask my husband, the computer guy.

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@sunnyflower - If your Surface tablet can do a right mouse click with the mouse pointer in the text box while you are typing, you might see an option for Emoji like I have on my Windows 10 computer 🙂

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@phoenix0509

@rwinney , I saw this post about dry eye conditions and peripheral neuropathy. I do have both. I also have PMR. My understanding of part of my dry eye problem is a relative deficiency of meibomian glands. (glands on underside of eyelids that secrete oily lubricating substance ) I am also experiencing photopsia in my right eye (shooting stars or flashes of light on peripheral vision) however this seems to be caused by posterior vitreous detachment, a normal process I am told.
I also would like to hear from folks who are experiencing these cluster of eye symptoms. I did also have a temporal artery biopsy shortly after being diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) to rule in/out Giant Cell arteritis. Rachel, I have lots of questions, not many answers. đŸ™‚ David

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David, I can't believe that I didn't see that you can access the discussions about eyes right from the bottom of Rachel's post to you. I am so uniquely talented that way. Looking for a rock to crawl under.....Take care, Sunnyflower

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@johnbishop

@sunnyflower - If your Surface tablet can do a right mouse click with the mouse pointer in the text box while you are typing, you might see an option for Emoji like I have on my Windows 10 computer 🙂

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Thanks John, I don't use a mouse b/c my device is on a tray over my knees from bed. No space on my tray for a mouse so touch the screen. I'm so used to that. My hubby is going to check it out but knowing this info, do you have any other ideas? Thanks so much for taking the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! đŸ™‚

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@johnbishop

@sunnyflower - If your Surface tablet can do a right mouse click with the mouse pointer in the text box while you are typing, you might see an option for Emoji like I have on my Windows 10 computer 🙂

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John, you're a genius. I plugged in my mouse and sure enough, on the right click I got the emoticon options. But even better, I tried holding my finger on the cursor and guess what????
👍😊👏 They aren't the best I've ever seen but hey, good enough! Yay! I actually figured something technical out by myself! Thanks for your help! Sunnyflower

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