Hi all, haven’t posted on here for ages, but hope somebody will be able to help here.
I’m now on my fifth (out of six) taxotere and am having a real problem with my eyes which will not stop running. They are watering so badly that yesterday I had to pull the car over to the side of the road - I just couldn’t see. They have also become quite sore.
Anybody else had this horrible side effect? It feels as though I have been crying for months. Is there anyting at all I can do to alleviate it?
Deirdre
Hi Deirdre
Im sorry you are having this horrible side effect. I had this during Taxol and it was a nightmare. I cant offer much hope of a ‘cure’ though as I was told it is partly the lack of eyelashes and partly a drying (I know it sounds mad) of the eyes.I went to a chemist for eye drops and didnt know which ones to buy so asked the Pharmacist. he could see exactly what the problem was but decided he just couldn’t recommend a product - just to be on the safe side he said. I went back to my ONC and she wasnt much help either. Maybe you will be luckier. I just didnt have the strength to argue with any of them at the time
The one thing that did seem to help was sleep -closed eyes didnt sting ,so at least you can have some excuse for a nice lie down…
Wynn
Hi Deidre,
I had that problem too, my chemo finished in Jan 07 and the watery eyes stopped a short while after, can’t remember how long after but it wasn’t too long. I didn’t find anything to help it but like Wynn I found sleep a good thing for many of the nasties caused by chemo!
Lyn
Hi
I was the same on Taxotere and my onc said it was also to do with lashes missing and it was an unfortunate side affect that we can do nothing about
Mary
xx
Hi Deidre, yes me too.
I also find my eyes are sticking together in the morning and I have to pry them open. At one point I was prescribed eye drops by the onc for dry eyes although they certainly don’t feel dry. It is called Hypromellose.
Margaret
Hi Deidre
Yes I had very watery eyes after the 3rd and 4th out of 4 taxotere’s. Not helped by the fact that it was very cold and I had to take tissues up to school and wipe my eyes. However it is a side-effect that wears off really quickly afterwards.
best of luck Pauline
Hi Deidre,
Me too. I am the same stage as you. It is embarrassing - I look like I’m crying all the time. My onc was very unsymapathetic and send if it is really a problem, they can put a stent in but that it will resolve itself when chemo finishes. Combined with watery eyes from hayfever, I am going to put the tissue industry out of business. That and the sticking plaster industry as I’m usding loads to protect my infected nails (see another thread!). I suppose if these are the worst of our side effects we should be reasonably glad!!
Best wishes,
Gill
Deidre -
I sympathize with you - watering, itchy eyes are just horrible since you can’t get away from them!
Talked to my dr (not onc) who sent me to a opthamalogist who declared it was an infection. Was on antibiotics for 7 days, then on lubricating drops, Optive here in US, which helps somewhat. Doesn’t make sense that my eyes are watering to beat the band and I have to put more lubricant in them… Very counter-intuitive.
I am an old-time allergy person. Insanely allergic to pollen and cats and dander and stuff like that. So have gone into my cat allergy mode.
Washing the face helps remove the allergens, but also give your face a nice clean feel. Think of it as a new start…don’t touch the eyes after it is clean. I found that wearing glasses helped…less strain in the eyes and for me and the itching, keeps my hands away from the eyes so can’t rub them. Also, keep a few gel masks in the refrigerator…that cooling sensation is WONDERFUL on your eyes, no matter the problem. My Opth said warm compresses would be good too. Last thought, you might want to ask about lubricant, if that’s the prob, for night time. My OH puts it in, but it is like an ointment that goes on the lower lid, just overnight cause it blurs the vision. But you wake up without eyes pasted together which is really a treat.
Anyway, rambled on here too long, but it is a subject close to my heart!!
Emily
xxx
I also used good old vaseline around my eyes at night
I found some very useful tips on googling this as a side effect of taxotere.
Irritation of the tear ducts:
This occurs when the tear ducts become scarred and are unable to drain tears adequately. Symptoms of this problem can include redness, chronic watery discharge, and dry eyes
Irritated, teary eyes:
use artificial tears during and after each treatment to flush the Taxotere from the surface of the eye to prevent this problem.
dawnhc
thank you Dawn
I will be gettng Taxotere on Friday and will remember that.
Emily
xxx
Hi Emily
Mine watered terribly on FEC and tax. And my nose ran uncontrollably too. Passing of time cured it all. But is is awful when it happens. Really feel for you.
Love and strength
Dilys
xxx
Thanks everybody. I have my last tax on Wednesday. I suspect I may spend the next three or four weeks bumping into things or dropping things. It’s so frustrating not being able to read. But good to know that it passes.
Dawn, thanks for the info. I will see if I can get hold of some drops to use.
Deirdre
My oncologist recommended Sno Tears (available from chemist). Personally I didn’t find them much help but could be worth a try. I also went to my GP as my eyelids were becoming very swollen and red. He prescribed Hydrocortisone cream which did offer some relief but didn’t stop the watery eyes.
I finished Tax 2 months ago and still get watery eyes occasionally - can’t wait to have eyelashes again!
I am using the normal tears you can buy but it is only a little relief. When my children were little and got pink eye, I used to bathe their eyes with cold camomile tea and it did help to soothe them. May be worth a try.
just posted a new thread about watery, yet dry, eyes…
found a great solution and just wanted to share it with you all
Emily
xxx