I started getting very red, burning eyes at the beginning of my treatment which would come and go.
They have recently gotten a lot worse. My eye lids swell up, my eyes burn and feel like there is grit or something in them, and I usually end up having a headache with this symptom, along with a very stuffy nose.
My optometrist says I have chronic dry eye and wants me to get plugs. I did temporary ones but could not see any difference. I am using lubricant eye drops (OTC)but it does not help at all some days.
In addition, my eyes also tear excessively. These symptoms flare like my other Lyme and co. symptoms flare and get very bad, then go away and come back unexpectedly.
My eye doc wants me to try Restasis (cyclosporine drops) but since they are immunosuppresive I won't do it.
Has anyone else here had experience with eye problems like this? Is it from Lyme, Bart, aging??? Its really difficult to deal with.
My optometrist says that aging is the main factor as well as hormones, but honestly, I think it has to be connected to the infections as the stuffy nose and headaches are bad with it too.
Any feed back would be appreciated, thank you!!!
Posts: 187 | From Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2013
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steve1906
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16206
posted
I've had Lyme for many years now, I developed ALL of everything you mentioned in the past couple of months, and I do mean "ALL" of it!
My eye doc said the same thing, and nothing is helping me also.
I'm really wondering if it's not Lyme related. I've heard of a lot people all of a sudden developing these symptoms.
Are they adding "MORE Chemicals" to ours foods, I just don't know why I'm hearing so many people complain about this lately!
-------------------- Everything I say is just my opinion! Posts: 3529 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
I am sorry to hear you are suffering with this too! One LLMD told me he thought it was related to Lyme, but I know other people who don't have Lyme also have it, although not as badly as me.
Even my dog has this, but he has chronic Lyme too.
I know Bart can cause a lot of eye symptoms and I definitely have that and still need to treat it so I thought perhaps that had something to do with it.
Posts: 187 | From Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2013
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steve1906
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16206
posted
Your right about that, Bartonella can cause a lot of problems.
here's some info on (eye's and Lyme: I've also had conjunctivitis a few times, how about oceangirl, ever had conjunctivitis?
How does lyme disease affect the eye? Fortunately, involvement of the eye is uncommon in lyme disease. But when the eyes can be affected in many different ways by the disease.
In the early stage of the disease, many persons have conjunctivitis. In this condition, commonly called pink eye, the eyes are red and uncomfortable, and there is a discharge of pus. Unlike many forms of conjunctivitis, the type that occurs in lyme disease is not contagious.
In later stages of the disease, inflammation of the eye may develop. Parts of the eye that may be affected include the uvea, the middle layer inside the eye, the cornea, part of the outer coat of the eye; the iris, the colored circle around the pupil, and the choroid, a layer of blood vessels in the eye. Ocular symptoms can include sensitivity to light and floaters (spots in front of the eyes).
Inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis) also can occur, which results in visual loss. Loss of vision can result from inflammation in the brain as well.
Persons who develop Bell’s palsy may be unable to blink or close their eyes. This dries the cornea and can result in an infection or even a hole in the cornea, which can endanger vision if not treated promptly.
-------------------- Everything I say is just my opinion! Posts: 3529 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
if thi comes with treatment begin or changes it´s herxing. I have this myself. I always knew that I ws hitting bart or whatever this bug really is. strongest reaktions came from moxifloxacin (but nothing from levofloxacin which is unusual) ketek and biltricide the antiparasitic which is also unusual to work for bart. but maybe bart is in many cases protozoan. The red eyes got better after 1-2 weeks.
eye doctors know nothing about lyme in my experience they only see the eye.
Posts: 185 | From Germany | Registered: May 2012
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I haven't had conjunctivitis since I was a little girl, so I can't complain about that. I think Jupiter76 might have some truth in the herxing theory.
My eyes get really bad in cycles and then flare, but in between don't bother me too much. This last flare came after 3 days of Tindamax, so it might have been a herx.
Who knows?! Its just worse than it was ever before on meds.
Posts: 187 | From Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2013
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Haley
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22008
posted
I do get this from certain medications. I feel that there may be a correlation between being highly acidic and the stinging eyes. I have tested the ph in my urine when I have the stinging eyes and it is always acidic.
If that is the case, drinking some water with baking soda would help.
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Goodness YES!
Been in a terrible herx for the last two weeks.
I would use the term healing crisis, as I dialed back my abx, and still only got relief with IV glutathione...argh!
Anyways, my point being that the bells palsy is especially bad this morning (I look like a pirate...), but my eyes are SO DRY and SO SWOLLEN!
Argh!
I have tried the ointment at night and the eye drops during the day. They help but are temporary only.
I believe this to be BART.
I also have terrible pressure in the one eye with the bells, and I believe the bells is affecting the nerves and muscles to that eye.
I see an eye doc next week. Will be interesting to see how much damage has been done by Bart.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I just read that bart can affect your eyes causing all kinds of symptoms. In vet manuals they say Ehrlichia makes a dog's eyes red and inflamed. They also say Ehrlichia is chronic in a dog. It can go dormant in the spleen and then come back again.
Dry irritated eyes and sensitivity to light began shortly after I was infected. I used to put a lot of gooey ointment in my eyes but it didn't help much. I had to wear sunglasses in the house.
My eyes are not as bad but they have never ever been normal ever since treating. All my other symptoms have come and gone and come again but not this one. It is relentless.
Someone recently mentioned that testosterone might help. The NP I am seeing is giving me DHEA and pregnenolone trying get my hormones more normal. If that doesn't help she said she would try giving me a small amount of T.
I wonder if I have an undiagnosed infections that is causing it. Toxoplasmosis can cause dry eyes. I wonder about mycoplasma and BLO too.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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