Under-Eye puffiness and bags caused by CPAP?

[remstarcpap]

Hi,

Long-time CPAP user with dry eyes. I use a Resmed S9 with auto pressures and a Resmed Airfit P10 nasal mask. I mouth tape. I also use Restasis drops at night and have for a long time. I am 66.

I've developed pretty large puffy eye bags under both eyes. They are not dark, but they are pretty puffy.

I am wondering if CPAP use or the particular mask I use could be causing or contributing to the eye bags. Or the Restasis drops?

Does anyone have any knowledge of this? Any fixes?

[Pugsy]

I am wondering if CPAP use or the particular mask I use could be causing or contributing to the eye bags. Or the Restasis drops?

Does anyone have any knowledge of this? Any fixes?

Most likely fluid in the face (under the eyes) is pooling because the straps tend to not let the fluids disperse.
I get this and have for years. Do you wake up with dents across your cheeks from the straps?

One of the reasons I like to use the Bleep....no straps and no bags under the eyes.
With the P10 if you use the strap pads from padacheeks.com it will help reduce the puffy bags but not totally eliminate them.

[remstarcpap]

I don't think the Bleep is for me, are there any other ideas?

[Pugsy]

Strap pads???
They will help diffuse the pressure on the facial tissues a bit so hopefully lessen the fluid accumulation.

Otherwise you just have to experiment with various masks and straps and maybe find something that doesn't inhibit the dispersion of fluids in the facial tissues.

[Sleepygal2]

I started therapy six months ago and had no problem with under my eyes for the first three months. Now I wake with EXTREMELY large fluid filled bags under my eyes every morning. They slowly reduce 80% by mid-day, but never go away completely. I’ve spoken with my sleep doc. He recommended that I try a saline nasal rinse every night. That offered no help. I have gradually lowered my pressure and that has helped slightly without a negative affect to my AHI. I saw an ENT and he said the mask was causing it and recommended I use nasal pillows, but that would require a surgical procedure for my nasal passages that I do not want to have. I went on a search for the perfect mask for my face…lol. Five different masks later, I am now using the Evora and have a great fit. While the eye bags are still there, I am getting the best results on reducing the eye bags and controlling the leaks with the Evora mask. The ENT said that my facial edema is caused by the mask preventing the drainage that normally occurs from the sinuses. I have always had allergies and nightly take a decongestant and antihistamine.
I don’t know if any of this information has helped, but I do understand your frustration and will follow this thread for any additional tips that might be posted.

[remstarcpap]

I started therapy six months ago and had no problem with under my eyes for the first three months. Now I wake with EXTREMELY large fluid filled bags under my eyes every morning. They slowly reduce 80% by mid-day, but never go away completely. I’ve spoken with my sleep doc. He recommended that I try a saline nasal rinse every night. That offered no help. I have gradually lowered my pressure and that has helped slightly without a negative affect to my AHI. I saw an ENT and he said the mask was causing it and recommended I use nasal pillows, but that would require a surgical procedure for my nasal passages that I do not want to have. I went on a search for the perfect mask for my face…lol. Five different masks later, I am now using the Evora and have a great fit. While the eye bags are still there, I am getting the best results on reducing the eye bags and controlling the leaks with the Evora mask. The ENT said that my facial edema is caused by the mask preventing the drainage that normally occurs from the sinuses. I have always had allergies and nightly take a decongestant and antihistamine.
I don’t know if any of this information has helped, but I do understand your frustration and will follow this thread for any additional tips that might be posted.

For what it's worth, I've always used a nasal mask and I have the same exact problem you do, so I wouldn't worry about switching to a nasal mask. I think the issue is probably a combination of some mild allergies and the straps of the masks which prevent drainage and movement of fluid in the face. At some point, I should probably try the Bleep mask which has no straps. It just seems like a lot of fiddling, and I'm not sure I'm vain enough to be motivated.

[lynninnj]

I started therapy six months ago and had no problem with under my eyes for the first three months. Now I wake with EXTREMELY large fluid filled bags under my eyes every morning. They slowly reduce 80% by mid-day, but never go away completely. I’ve spoken with my sleep doc. He recommended that I try a saline nasal rinse every night. That offered no help. I have gradually lowered my pressure and that has helped slightly without a negative affect to my AHI. I saw an ENT and he said the mask was causing it and recommended I use nasal pillows, but that would require a surgical procedure for my nasal passages that I do not want to have. I went on a search for the perfect mask for my face…lol. Five different masks later, I am now using the Evora and have a great fit. While the eye bags are still there, I am getting the best results on reducing the eye bags and controlling the leaks with the Evora mask. The ENT said that my facial edema is caused by the mask preventing the drainage that normally occurs from the sinuses. I have always had allergies and nightly take a decongestant and antihistamine.
I don’t know if any of this information has helped, but I do understand your frustration and will follow this thread for any additional tips that might be posted.

For what it's worth, I've always used a nasal mask and I have the same exact problem you do, so I wouldn't worry about switching to a nasal mask. I think the issue is probably a combination of some mild allergies and the straps of the masks which prevent drainage and movement of fluid in the face. At some point, I should probably try the Bleep mask which has no straps. It just seems like a lot of fiddling, and I'm not sure I'm vain enough to be motivated.

I am hoping the new bleep is out within the next 3 months when I can order a new mask at my 6m appt.

[remstarcpap]

Okay, I've decided to do a controlled experiment. Just ordered the Bleep Dreamport mask, already have some nose pads, and I will do a test comparison with pictures comparing the eye bags while using the Resmed P10 nasal mask with straps versus the strapless Bleep. Will post results once I get them. Will science the heck out of it!

[lynninnj]

Okay, I've decided to do a controlled experiment. Just ordered the Bleep Dreamport mask, already have some nose pads, and I will do a test comparison with pictures comparing the eye bags while using the Resmed P10 nasal mask with straps versus the strapless Bleep. Will post results once I get them. Will science the heck out of it!

Good for you!

I have a bleep that you’re inspiring me to revisit.

[doriluigi28]

The Bleep is better than anything I’ve used. I’ll never go back to those masks with straps and slide up into my eyeballs. So frustrating.