Eye sockets bloated.

[tarzan]

I've been using cpap for almost a year now. I know that it does stop me from snoring, but I still have trouble with my eye sockets feeling all sore and bloated by morning, I'm guessing because of all the air pressure going into my sinuses. Lately I've been waking up at 3am and taking off my headgear because I can't take the bloated eyes feeling anymore. My cpap pressure is 7, which I'm told is the lowest you can go. I've tried other masks and they leak. My comfortlite is the only one that allows me flexibility of movement without leaking too much.

[Stefernie]

I've been using cpap for almost a year now. I know that it does stop me from snoring, but I still have trouble with my eye sockets feeling all sore and bloated by morning, I'm guessing because of all the air pressure going into my sinuses. Lately I've been waking up at 3am and taking off my headgear because I can't take the bloated eyes feeling anymore. My cpap pressure is 7, which I'm told is the lowest you can go. I've tried other masks and they leak. My comfortlite is the only one that allows me flexibility of movement without leaking too much.

7's not a very high pressure. That's a STRANGE problem to have. I'd call your DME provider. If they can't make any suggestions, I'd make an appointment with your sleep doc.

But I'm sure someone on here has had the same problem and has a fix, probably involving like, duct tape or something.

[Slinky]

Are you absolutely sure that you don't have a very minor leak near the eyes, around the bridge of the nose? I'm not familiar w/the ComfortLite. I assume a nasal mask?

Have you tried setting the nasal cushion a little lower on your nose than where it should be, then after it has filled w/air and you have all your strap adjustments made push it up just a skosh to proper position. That ensures that the cushion "cover" is turned under and not cutting the skin of your nose or leaking air.

Then use your finger tip to run around the "seal" between the cushion cover and your skin to further encourage the cushion cover edges to turn under and seal.

[Linda3032]

7 isn't the lowest you can go, but it might be the best for you regarding apneas. You could try 6 to see if that helps the eye problem, even if it allows a few more apneas.

[ozij]

Have you been to an ENT? Are your sinuses clear? Have you considered nasal irrigation?

O.

[Catnapper]

If your mask is tight it could be restricting circulation in the area of the mask, and causing swelling around your eyes. Maybe something like the Hybrid mask would help. It would not put pressure around your eyes at all. That is what my doctor suggested for me.

[dieselgal]

I get that same feeling but only when I have a mask leak somewhere near the eyes. It can be a leak so tiny that you don't necessarily realize it is leaking. I don't see how that could happen with a comfortlite 2 unless you are using the simple cushion.

[tarzan]

Have you been to an ENT? Are your sinuses clear? Have you considered nasal irrigation?

O.

Yes, in fact I had a septoplasty (surgery to clear a partially blocked septum) a couple of weeks ago. I'd been hoping that would help, but it hasn't. On my follow-up visits, whenever the ENT puts his tweezers and other tools up my nose to clear scabbing and mucus, a reflex occurs that causes tears to come out of my eyes. Doc says that's normal, but it makes me think, maybe the inside of my nose is just very sensitive to having anything forced into it, be it tweezers or just pressurized air.

I've done a lot of experimenting with tape around the tube near my nose, and I've done a lot of checking to make sure there's no leak blowing into my eyes, I'm pretty sure there isn't. I've been to the cpap provider, and the tech there suggested using a larger nasal pillow, which didn't work, and also tried getting me another type of mask, which also didn't work.

I'm the kind of person who sneezes a lot, so I'm convinced that the inside of my nose is just so sensitive that it causes a reflex reaction anytime anything goes into it. I don't know what else to do about it. My sleep study showed that I'm primarily a nose breather, so I don't think a mouth mask would help me.

[ozij]

That sounds tough.
Perhaps you can ask your ENT about the mildes way of doing nasal irrigation. I'm thinking of the possibilty that bathing the inside of your nose daily (twice daily?) with a warm, saline solution might desnesitize it eventually.

That is just a guess - not based on any knowledge, and may be way off base for you.

I hope you find a solution.

O.

[tarzan]

Perhaps you can ask your ENT about the mildes way of doing nasal irrigation. O.

I've been doing that as well, using a neti pot, but so far that's not working either.

[TerryB]

I have some discomfort in my eyes, but I wouldn't call it an eye socket problem. Have you considered using a sleeping eye-mask to eliminate the possibility of external irritation possibly caused by leaking air?

Just a thought,

Good Luck,
TerryB

[JeffH]

It is probably air leak OUT of your tear ducts. I have the same problem and have had eye pain to varying degrees off and on ever since I went on CPAP. I too had septoplasty, but only to repair my septum, not anything else. Right now I'm having eye pain too. You might try putting laser lube or muro128 ointment in your eyes at night. Hasn't worked every nite for me but does enough that I keep doing it.


Good Luck


JeffH

[oceanpearl]

Eyes been feeling funny for a few months. After having cataract surgery on one eye a few months ago the eye doctor told me that I have Glaucoma.
Don't just accept the fact that it "might" be the CPAP. Get checked for Glaucoma. Those few months might be the difference between seeing and not seeing.

[Snoredog]

I would go see an Opthamologist or medical eye doctor. They need to give you a thorough eye exam best to go when symptoms are present.

You need to do this to rule out any kind of eye disease which may permanently impair your vision. They can also examine the tear ducts for any infection etc.

Your tears normally drain from your eyes down the tear ducts into the nose. It is when those tear ducts become blocked do the tear sacs become swollen and cause eye irritation. You know when you cry you can sometimes taste your tears, so there is a common connection between your tear ducts and sinuses.

But can CPAP pressure go up backwards up the tear ducts?

I'm sure it is possible, I've seen people on Leno blow bubbles out their eyes by simply holding their nose and applying pressure. One guy even brought a thread out his eye once.

7cm is not a lot of pressure, normally you wouldn't think that amount would cause a problem. The bigger problem is when mask leaks blow directly into the eye it can prematurely dry them out which can lead to impaired vision. But aren't our eyes normally closed when we sleep? mmm.....

[JeffH]

[quote="Snoredog"]I would go see an Opthamologist or medical eye doctor. They need to give you a thorough eye exam best to go when symptoms are present.

You need to do this to rule out any kind of eye disease which may permanently impair your vision. They can also examine the tear ducts for any infection etc.

Your tears normally drain from your eyes down the tear ducts into the nose. It is when those tear ducts become blocked do the tear sacs become swollen and cause eye irritation. You know when you cry you can sometimes taste your tears, so there is a common connection between your tear ducts and sinuses.

But can CPAP pressure go up backwards up the tear ducts?


I know it can....it does on me at times.

I'm sure it is possible, I've seen people on Leno blow bubbles out their eyes by simply holding their nose and applying pressure. One guy even brought a thread out his eye once.

7cm is not a lot of pressure, normally you wouldn't think that amount would cause a problem. The bigger problem is when mask leaks blow directly into the eye it can prematurely dry them out which can lead to impaired vision. But aren't our eyes normally closed when we sleep? mmm.....