Hi All
Have posted this on chemo and herceptin forums too, but trying to get as much info as I can.
Just wondering if anyone has had problems with their eyes during chemo. I finished chemo in November 07 and am now on Herceptin having just had no.5. I went to the opticians 3 weeks ago and was told not allowed to wear my contacts anymore and have to wear my glasses (which i absolutely HATE with a passion).
I had eyedrops to use and then went back yesterday only to be told that my eyes had not really improved. Apparently not too serious, but serious enough to be referred to my doc who may then refer me to eye specialist.
He is saying that my vision is a little blurred and my eyes are very dehydrated and dry and not seeming to get any moisture. He doesn’t know if this effects from treatment.
Just wondered if anyone else has had anything like this or has any advice.
Thanks for listening
Dawn
x
Hi Dawn
Sounds very similar to soemthing that happened to me.
I had chemically induced conjuctivitis for about 8 week, (actualy a bit painful!!) and then my eyes have been very dry. My onc wasnt’t too conerned and gave me a prescription for drop that definite.ly helped, they have a funny name - just been looking in my bag for them but dont have them with me at moment. My onc said that the treatment wiped out the moisture and then eyes were irritated, definitely took the edge off of it.
As you are staying on herceptin it seems logical the problem wouldn’t go away…maybe one of the others having herceptin has had a similar experience?
love
cathy
Hi Dawn (and Cathy)
Didn’t know this was a problem for you as well! I was told to stop wearing my contacts last autumn because the chemo was affecting the amount of tears I could produce. There just wasn’t enough moisture between the lens and the eye so the lens was scraping the surface of the eye. Sounds as if yours, Dawn, might be worse than mine (or you have a more proactive optician) - I went back after a few weeks and was told the eyes looked better (not so sore) but I still wasn’t producing enough moisture each time I blinked. So no contacts for 6 months were the instructions! And I HATE my glasses too - have worn contacts since I was 17 and that’s a long long time ago.
Other advice offered by optician was that I should restrict my time at the computer (LOL) because evidently whilst you are staring at a screen at that distance, you tend not to blink as frequently which again means you don’t get the moisture over the eyeball. Not sure I’ve followed that advice…
Lots of love Kay xx
Hi – I have had similar eye problems on and off since starting Xeloda over four years ago – was advised to use an artificial tears product called “Sno Tears”, which is available at chemists and costs less that £2.00. Helps me when my eyes are troublesome.
Marilyn x