Severe dry eyes?

[MewsikMaker]

Hello!

Resmed AirSense 11
Started with a F&P full face mask
Switched to a Resmed P30i nasal pillow last night for the first time

I started CPAP therapy at the beginning of November 2021. It’s changed my life in so many ways. Losing weight, eating normally, functioning like a human. Crazy.

My eyes, however. I can’t keep them open. I hope I didn’t miss any new rules, I seriously can’t see very well. Things were okay for a bit, lots of leak with the full face mask. I have good days and bad, some nights the leak was over 100L/minute. (So the machine says)

I thought changing to pillows would help, and woke up this morning with more severe dry eyes than normal. Only 4L/min last night. Should I go to an ophthalmologist? I’ve been using artificial tears and some dry eye gel at night and in the morning, and it does absolutely nothing. What on earth am I missing here?

Thanks to anyone who can offer advice!

[GrumpyHere]

Assuming the cause of your dry eyes is leaks or blowback from CO2 vents, these three threads have solutions that forum members used.

I found them by searching for swim goggles in the search box under the forum logo.

If you had eyes issues before CPAP, it can't hurt to visit your ophthalmologist.

Best of luck in solving the problem.

https://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=181220

https://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=179099

https://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php? ... im+goggles

[MewsikMaker]

Thank you very much. It has to be the CPAP therapy. But honestly, I don’t know how the pillows are hurting my eyes like that!

[Pugsy]

It wouldn't be impossible for the air from the cpap going up your nose to make it to your eyeballs via one of the ducts that connect the nasal passage to the eyeball socket area.
It's not common for that to happen but it can happen.
If it persists you might want to have a chat with an eye doctor about it.
And of course it could be related to vented air from the mask blowing back to your eyes...might try wearing an eye mask to block the air from hitting the eyes just to see if it helps or not.

[amenite]

I've had dry eye problems but nothing that I felt required goggles or other mechanical intervention. I use an oral mask now and run into this from time to time, and also had this issue with Full Face masks and Nasal masks over the years.

Generally this stuff will help with symptoms and it's not a prescription or anything like that. I have bottles stashed in key locations around the house As to the actual cause, you'll need to dig further into that, but I like to have this around for the morning after a bad night, or for relief after hours of extended screen time:

https://www.similasanusa.com/dry-eye-relief

[ChicagoGranny]

Only 4L/min last night.

That probably is not enough leak to cause what you are reporting.

Which position(s) are you sleeping in? Is it possible that air through the vents is hitting a sheet and bouncing back into your eyes?

[Respirator99]

Of course it may not be related to cpap at all. Have a look at these:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-con ... c-20370148

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/blepharitis

[babydinosnoreless]

Don't know where your at but everyone around here was complaining of dry itchy burning eyes. Mentioned it to my husband who is more aware of the world around us than I am and he said we had some really severe unhealthy air quality those days. You might want to check out the pollution index where you are.

[booksfan]

It's been a while since your original post, but I was out of town for quite a while and didn't get on so am just seeing it.

When I started on CPAP, I had similar issues with my eyes. I was unable to drive, read, watch TV, use the computer...it was awful. I did see an ophthalmologist, who inserted plugs, patted me on the head and sent me on my way! Helped a bit but I ended up looking for a dry eye specialist a few months later. It was a combination of mask leaks and exhaust leaks, into my eyes. Once the Bleep came out, those issues were resolved, thank goodness! However, it had gone on long enough that it caused some on-going damage to my eyes. The specialist tried some treatments that have helped, as well as prescribing daily drops. I also sleep with a silicone eye mask (Eyeseals 4.0) which has been a lifesaver.

[chunkyfrog]

This is your EYES.
See your ophthalmologist.
While you still can see.

[zonker]

This is your EYES.
See your ophthalmologist.
While you still can see.

i SEE what you did there.

[chunkyfrog]

This is your EYES.
See your ophthalmologist.
While you still can see.

i SEE what you did there.

your syntax is revealing.

[MewsikMaker]

I’m so sorry! I thought I had notifications set up via email and have gotten none so far! I assumed no one saw my post or I sucked at posting.

The diagnosis is floppy eyelid syndrome. It is related to starting CPAP treatment and the amount of weight I’ve lost. Almost 65 lbs so far. Apparently my eye lids evert at night, and alllll kinds of crap got stuck in there. They were pretty scratched up.

SO-my doctor says this is a little known side effect of CPAP therapy. Spread the word, get some eyeseals or eyeeco clear or black gel goggles. LOTS of people who use CPAP have floppy eyelids now!

[ChicagoGranny]

SO-my doctor says this is a little known side effect of CPAP therapy. Spread the word, get some eyeseals or eyeeco clear or black gel goggles. LOTS of people who use CPAP have floppy eyelids now!

Your doctor is FOS (badly mistaken). If anything, CPAP will prevent sloppy eyes.

The moron may be confused because there is some evidence that untreated sleep apnea can cause floppy eye syndrome - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2 ... 172919.htm#:

[loggerhead12]

SO-my doctor says this is a little known side effect of CPAP therapy. ... LOTS of people who use CPAP have floppy eyelids now!

I think you misunderstood your doc. Lots of people who have sleep apnea also have FES, but using CPAP doesn't cause FES. It turns out that if you have loose floppy tissue in your throat it's very likely that you have it in your eyelids too.