Things You Can Do for Thyroid Eye Symptoms (byDebby)

Dryness, irritation, excessive tearing, and aches are due to retraction of the eyelids that do not close completely at night. Here are some tips that may help relieve your discomfort:

  • Use lubricating ointment (LacriLube, Refresh PM, Tears Renewed) at night. You may also want to tape your eyes shut with first aid tape for sensitive skin (3M - one inch or wider), or tie a silk scarf or bandana around your head and cover your eyes. Saran wrap over the eyes also keeps moisture in.
  • Use artificial tears (Celluvisc, Tears Naturale, HypoTears) during the day. Don't use Clear Eyes for getting red out.
  • Elevate your head with pillows, provided it doesn't hurt your neck too much. It can relieve the build up of fluids and the puffiness in the eyelids.
  • Tilt your bed (wooden blocks under the legs at the head of the bed will make gravity work to your advantage).
  • Wear dark sunglasses outside for protection against the sun, wind, dust, and smoke.  It also helps you avoid those "staring" incidences from others.
  • Wear tinted eyeglasses (prescription or non) indoors to help with the glare from the lights and your computer screen.
  • Take a warm steamy bath or a dip in a hot tub (moisture in the air).
  • Use a humidifier in your bedroom to keep the air moist.
  • Avoid drafts, i.e. ceiling fans, open windows.
  • Use hot or cold compresses, whichever feels better.
  • Use cucumber slices on closed eyes (cool & supposedly has enzymes that soothe the eye), or try tofu, which is supposed to be soft, cool, and mushy.
  • Make a conscious effort to blink; the more the better, the longer the better.
  • If you are a smoker, stopping will improve the appearance of your eyes, minimize irritation, and decrease the likelihood of severe eye involvement. Tobacco worsens the autoimmune attack for unknown reasons.
  • Try to avoid stress (easier said than done), but stress is thought to play a role in eye flare-ups, etc.
  • Bath and Body Works sells an eye mask with an adjustable strap. The mask is filled with flax, lavender, etc. Some people have found this mask to be very soothing, especially when placed in the refrigerator for a short time. Cost is approximately $10.

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