Weeping eyes

Hi Chemo (and zoledronic acid and Tamoxifen and AI's!) can affect your eyes, making them sore and blurry. Do you have pink eyes too? Have you tried eye drops or ointment to moisturise them as they can become very dry (like your skin can) and gritty too. Chloramphenicol Eye Ointment is the one I used, and later with the issues Letrozole is causing my doctor suggested. Most oncologists suggest not having them routinely tested until at least 3 months post chemo for that reason. It's really horrible so hugs to you. I had pink eye and blurry vision, then Letrozole firstly caused a retinal detachment in one eye followed by an ulcer in the other, and I've never had issues with my eyes until now. I saw an optician a few weeks ago as an emergency, and se suggested a different drop, but the good news is my actual vision short/long sight hasn't changed much since it was checked 5 years ago. xxx

Hello HughieBearsmommy,

I do sympathise. Having sore and runny eyes is no joke. I had really itchy and gummy and runny eyes from the word go. I thought it was the chemo, which of course it could be, however in my case it was the aqueous cream I was using as a moisturiser. I come out in spots in each cycle like mini chicken pox spots!! The chemo team told me to moisturise with the aqueous cream. I used to lather it on after my shower and any time I tried to relieve the symptoms by washing my face. Then last cycle (6) I was so fed up I goggled it and found that the runny eyes, gummy eyes and soreness were an allergic reaction to the creeam!! I washed my face, dumped the cream and the next morning the runny eyes had stopped and gumminess wasn't so bad. I've not had it since.

I hope you find some relief soon. Docetaxel is a horrible drug - done three one more to go. I get blurry vision if I look to long at something which is a pain but it does come back to a point. Stay strong and take care. xx

Hey, I too had a few problems with my eyes...I am pleased to say nothing very serious though. With no eyelashes my eyes watered constantly through T. I also had problems when the cold sore virus spread to my eye...a trip to the hospital and some cream which was a nightmare to apply...but it did heal and my eyes improved once my lashes were back! I have a private optician and she gave tgem a thorough check and emailed my doctor to keep him in the loop. I now carry optrex eye spray ( the one you can apply to your eye lids with eyes shut) ....had no problems since. Good luck and hope you see some improvement soon.

I can fully sympathise. I had 4 rounds of docetaxel and the eye problems started after the 3rd round, got very slightly better before the 4th round and lasted several weeks after the end of chemotherapy. My doctor said it's a known side effect of docetaxel and generally advised patience. I used lots of artificial tears, which helped a bit. First I thought cold compress would help, but then I found in another forum that you are actually supposed to use a warm compress (people suggested different eye masks that can be warmed up either in a microwave or electrically). I'm now almost 8 weeks out of chemo and my eyes are practically back to normal. It was really annoying though, to put it mildly. Maybe your oncology team has better advice. I wish you strength and patience.

Hi

Yes, I had this too.  I was sure I had a hair from my wig stuck in my eye!  I was all for going straight to the eye hospital straight from oncology!  Only the covid19 put me off.  My eye lids on that eye became very swollen.  3 months post chemo and it is almost completely gone.  Probably will be even better once the lashes grow back. 

Hi hope you sorted now  I got drops from my chemo unit had to use for whole of chemo . Eyes find when chemo finished 

Margaret x