Correlation between CPAP use & Corneal Abrasions?

[SaltLakeJan]

During the last few months, I occasionally get one of those annoying leaks that awaken you in the middle of the night. Sometimes, it takes several tries to get the leak stopped. Following one of those experiences, the next morning I am aware that my eyes are dryer than than have been.

I talked to my Sleep Dr about this. He acknowledged the CPAP leaks did occasionally add to the dry eye problem, But in his experience, it didn't damage the eyes in a permanent way. He said to check with my Eye Dr. . We have been occupied family medical problems and I hadn't gotten around to it.

Lately, whenever I have a leak, my morning dry eye has lasted for a day or so. The eye weeps during the day. I have called for an appointment with my Eye Dr, but I checked on the MedHelp site yesterday and found this "question and answer "regarding corneal abrasion.

Does anyone have more information regarding eye damage from CPAP?

MedHelp Member's Question
Correlation between CPAP use & Corneal Abrasions?
by , Feb 25, 2008 04:53PM
Since one of your doctors shied away from drawing the conclusion, and I have apnea and have been undergoing treatment for the past two weeks with no end in sight(no pun intended)for a corneal abrasion, I'd like to pin someone down for an answer to the following: Since compressed air is a known cause for corneal abrasions, are there CPAP masks that rate high enough to claim innocence or is it all a matter of acceptable risk?


Doctor's Answer

by MD , Feb 25, 2008 08:50PM
I'm sorry but I have no knowledge about the design and method of properly fitting of a CPAP mask. I have had a few patients with troublesome eye problems like corneal abrasions that were worsened by CPAP masks. Your ophthalmologist will have to work closely with you to help the abrasion heal. Necessity is the mother of invention. I hope that he/she can help you to work something out to help you heal up.

MD

Jan

[JeffH]

During the last few months, I occasionally get one of those annoying leaks that awaken you in the middle of the night. Sometimes, it takes several tries to get the leak stopped. Following one of those experiences, the next morning I am aware that my eyes are dryer than than have been.

I talked to my Sleep Dr about this. He acknowledged the CPAP leaks did occasionally add to the dry eye problem, But in his experience, it didn't damage the eyes in a permanent way. He said to check with my Eye Dr. . We have been occupied family medical problems and I hadn't gotten around to it.

Lately, whenever I have a leak, my morning dry eye has lasted for a day or so. The eye weeps during the day. I have called for an appointment with my Eye Dr, but I checked on the MedHelp site yesterday and found this "question and answer "regarding corneal abrasion.

Does anyone have more information regarding eye damage from CPAP?

MedHelp Member's Question
Correlation between CPAP use & Corneal Abrasions?
by , Feb 25, 2008 04:53PM
Since one of your doctors shied away from drawing the conclusion, and I have apnea and have been undergoing treatment for the past two weeks with no end in sight(no pun intended)for a corneal abrasion, I'd like to pin someone down for an answer to the following: Since compressed air is a known cause for corneal abrasions, are there CPAP masks that rate high enough to claim innocence or is it all a matter of acceptable risk?


Doctor's Answer

by MD , Feb 25, 2008 08:50PM
I'm sorry but I have no knowledge about the design and method of properly fitting of a CPAP mask. I have had a few patients with troublesome eye problems like corneal abrasions that were worsened by CPAP masks. Your ophthalmologist will have to work closely with you to help the abrasion heal. Necessity is the mother of invention. I hope that he/she can help you to work something out to help you heal up.

MD

Jan

I've had this problem the whole time I've been on cpap. Was in a car wreck that screwed up my right eye. Use Muro 128 5% drops and ointment to treat this. I also have tear duct plugs and wear a tranqueleyes eye mask at night.

I guess I'm saying the air can be dealt with.

Good luck


JeffH

[SaltLakeJan]

I've had this problem the whole time I've been on cpap. Was in a car wreck that screwed up my right eye. Use Muro 128 5% drops and ointment to treat this. I also have tear duct plugs and wear a tranqueleyes eye mask at night.

I guess I'm saying the air can be dealt with.

Good luck


JeffH

Hi Jeff
I checked out tranqueleyes eye mask just after I started on CPAP - I totally forgot about that product. Thanks for reminding me.
Jan

[nicodan]

I developed some serious eye problems about 8 years ago. I went to my eye Dr. who said I had developed cornea abrasions in both eyes..at teh same time.
I had to quit wearing my contacts for them to heal, but he recommended I never wear them again. Later when my eyes healed, I realized that he also said his best contact wearing patients wore glasses..
I had told him I was on cpap and that I was sure my mask was leaking and that was the problem. While he admitted he knew nothing about CPAP therapy, he highly doubted it woudl cause my problems. .
I never went back to him.
After wearing my glasses for several months, I went back to my contact as usual. I pay more attention to leaks and sore eyes and have never had a problem since.

[SaltLakeJan]

Hi nicodan

Now that I know corneal danage can come from CPAP I am going to be more aware and not dis dry eyes as nothing to be concerned about. My eyes burned and felt like each time I closed my eyes that sandpaper was running across my eyeball. They are better now -

It is discouraging that our medical professionals specialize to the degree that they do not know what outside forces may be affecting our bodies, and what your doctor tells you, may not be the absolute truth. It is interesting, but sad, that your doctor didn't realize that CPAP could be causing your eye problem.

Jan

[BlackSpinner]

When I switched to the hybrid mask it cleared up a lot of eye issues. This week I have been wearing my quatro again becuase of the flu/cold I was having and my eyes are bothered again but at least nothing is touching my nostrils which are kind of red and sore.

[momadams]

I had dry eye and cornea erosion problems before starting CPAP. I was already using Muro 128 ointment at night and worked to find a mask which circulated the least amount of air around my eyes (Headrest).
Shari

[Like it is...]

Hi nicodan

Now that I know corneal danage can come from CPAP I am going to be more aware and not dis dry eyes as nothing to be concerned about. My eyes burned and felt like each time I closed my eyes that sandpaper was running across my eyeball. They are better now -

It is discouraging that our medical professionals specialize to the degree that they do not know what outside forces may be affecting our bodies, and what your doctor tells you, may not be the absolute truth. It is interesting, but sad, that your doctor didn't realize that CPAP could be causing your eye problem.

That's the main problem, isn't it? They have no flippin' idea. OSA is still a relatively new condition and science still doesn't know the consequences of using xPAP therapy! People here even will dismiss people's side effects while on xPAP as being caused by something else.

Yet, people blindly go ahead and trust their doctor or anyone in prominent position or in a position of authority. The side effects of medication including medical apparatuses are not fully known. If you experience problems, not automatically dismiss them or attribute them to something else. Do your own research. In all likelihood, your gut instinct will lead you to the right path.

Just remember, science is still in it's infancy when it comes to xPAP therapy and it's side effects. People here and there will try to defend or rationalize xPAP as being a godsend, but like with every medical device and medications, there are side effects involved. While the side effects may not affect everyone, you could be the one who develops them. Just bear that in mind while using an xPAP. Sadly, for us OSA suffers, it's really the only option we have.

[SuperGeeky]

I'm sorry if I misunderstood, I can't read this post in it's entirety. It sounds too painful and very unnecessary!

FYI...

viewtopic/t48870/For-those-suffering-ey ... leaks.html

Hope this helps!!

Mark aka SG

[Guest]

3UDRRk
I have been suffering with dry eyes and wet runny eyes alternately.
My CPAP leaks quite often after several hours of sleep. It wakes me and I struggle to get it back to proper function.
I used the nose pillows for a couple of years and had no problem with my eyes. I switched to a partial face mask and the problem started. I am using a RES-MED system set at 12. I guessed I was the only person with the problem.
I am going to try and use dry eye ointment before going to sleep. If that helps, I will post it here. If not I will go back to the Pillows and post that.

[SuperGeeky]

You might consider KY jelly as a temporary fix. Cheap, effective way of taking care of it.... Coat the KY jelly around the part that touches your skin. Non-irritant seal!!

[Rico_2]

I've had this problem since I started CPAP in August 2011. My sleep doctor said if it was severe Keratitis (a condition in which the eye's cornea, the front part of the eye, becomes inflamed), it wasn't CPAP. Clearly this is a cop out. I guess in his mind CPAP only causes mild Keratitis . . . anyway . . . .

My mask (mirage quattro) fits very well, very few leeks and none around my eyes. I'm wondering if the air is coming up through the tear ducts and collecting under the eye lids? Would plugging the tear ducts would work for this?

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[ozij]

Dry eye ointment or gel, to be put in your eyes before going to sleep, and artificial tears or humidification during the day.
Try a number of types, and use whichever feels best - for me the third type I tried is much much better than the first two.

Both my eye doctor and ENT realized CPAP can dry my eyes - and using a gel before I go to sleep makes things much better.

[bayourest]

I dont know how old you are but menopause can be accompanied by dry eyes. This may or may not be worsened by issues related to your mask. I have had good luck with genteal gel for severe dry eye relief. I had the problem pre-cpap so it's hard to tell if it the mask affects it. Generally I dont perceive air blowing in my eyes with the quattro fx. My eye doctor recommended the genteal severe dry eye gel and I get a lot of relief from it. The weird thing for me is that my right eye tends to be much worse than my left (even pre-cpap)