Dry Irritated Eyes Type 2

[Lucy Riddeough]

My partner was diagnosed with type two diabetes approximately 3yrs and it is generally well managed however he seems to get dry and irritated eyes quite regularly and was wondering if anyone else had experienced this and could offer some insight

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.
I don't suffer with dry eyes.

 

[Hazel]

I get prescribed eye drops for just that

 

[Lucy Riddeough]

Hi hazel
Thanks for replying I hope u dnt mind me asking but what medication do you use for it and is it something that's affected by your sugar levels etc

 

[Ljc]

Hi Welcome. I get dry eyes if my BG (blood glucose) is high. Does your partner test his own BG levels ?

 

[Caroline]

Usually only when I am high or late at night. I find eye bath helps but it is wise to check with your doctor too.

 

[Lucy Riddeough]

He hasn't been doing lately because after a check up he was told his levels are within normal parameters but he will be doing from now on, he has changed his diet recently aswell to more healthier options so not sure if that's something to do with it

 

[Ljc]

He hasn't been doing lately because after a check up he was told his levels are within normal parameters but he will be doing from now on, he has changed his diet recently aswell to more healthier options so not sure if that's something to do with it

When you say healthier options do you mean low or less carbohydrates?

 

[Lucy Riddeough]

Yes less white carbohydrates and starchy veg he's having wholemeal bread and pasta and green veg and sweet potatoes rather than white potatoes

 

[Amigo]

Hi Lucy, I have a long term dry eye condition that pre-dates the diabetes diagnosis and the two don't necessarily have to be related. However, it is essential to look after the eyes with diabetes and keep the glucose levels within good limits.

There's a number of conditions that can result in dry eyes but I'd advise he bathes his eyes each morning with previously boiled water allowed to cool and 1 drop of baby shampoo in there (you can also buy drops especially for this). Use q tips to gently clean the eyelids because quite often bacteria can cause this problem (the Consultant Opthamologist told me to do this).
I use hyloforte eye drops which I get on prescription but they're expensive to buy. If you buy eye drops, make sure they're preservative free because that can cause problems with chronic dry eyes.
You can also buy simple eye ointment as a lubricant for wearing at night which really helps.

A simple trick is using slices of cold cucumber on the eyes to soothe them and even cold used teabags.

I have a condition called Sicca Syndrome which results in very dry eyes and sometimes a dry mouth. Not sure if he has this symptom too.

Best thing is to get it checked out medically of course to eliminate any problems but sometimes we just have dry eyes. Make sure he's blinking plenty if he regularly looks at a computer screen. That's known to cause dry eyes! Good luck.

 

[Hazel]

Hi hazel
Thanks for replying I hope u dnt mind me asking but what medication do you use for it and is it something that's affected by your sugar levels etc

It is not for use with any medication - my eyes just get dry. I may use it every day for a while, then maybe not for weeks. My bloods are normal.

My mother was the same - but she was not diabetic. Just one of those things.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

My partner was diagnosed with type two diabetes approximately 3yrs and it is generally well managed however he seems to get dry and irritated eyes quite regularly and was wondering if anyone else had experienced this and could offer some insight

Some people suffer from dry eye whether diabetic or not. The way to treat it is by using artificial tears/lubricant. They can be bought over the counter or prescribed.

I suffered with it for a few years it has now disappeared, coincidently with the removal of the night storage heaters. Which leads me to suspect the house air was to dry.

 

[Lindarose]

I had dry eyes a few years ago and was prescribed little ampoules of a liquid that really soothed them. Also available to buy but quite expensive. Like Sue the problem has resolved now. Though I didn't find out the cause. I did wonder if it was hormonal.