Testosterone and Dry Eye/MGD

[Gemma90]

Im only 22 but I've always believed that my Dry Eye and MGD has been triggered by a change in hormones after a stressy time in my life. I've had blood tests for hormones that always come back 'Normal'. But my skin changed to more oily and I had acne for the first time in my life at 21, I gained weight/Body shape changed in the space of a month or so. (Nobody believes me, but I can't fit into any of my old Jeans! I was always someone who never gained weight before) My period is also a lot lighter than it used to be, I do still get it every month though so Im told not to worry about that. And then this Eye problem! (Which only advanced about 10 months after the inital changes but I did have an eye test at this time and MGD and Dry Eye was identified then in a subclinical, non symptomatic state).

I've read a bit about how Testosterone and Androgens can be important to a normal functioning eye and I always suspected that my levels must have increased due to the oily skin and acne I sometimes experience.

Both times i've had a blood test (before MGD became a huge problem) and after (a few months ago) my testosterone level has been 0.6 nmol/L. Im told that this is a normal level, but I have seen a few times that this could actually be on the lower end? Which could possibly be one of the reasons for my Dry Eye Case?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Referen...or_blood_tests

[Gemma90]

Anyone got any thoughts on this? Im going to see the specialist soon and thinking of mentioning this to him.

[lizlou29]

I'd be interested to hear what your specialist says. My opth had just written a research paper about low testosterone and dry eye, I had a blood test that came back normal and I have no other symptoms. I had a hormonal saliva test done through a naturopath that showed I had low estrogen level but my GP said it wasn't reliable and just to take the contraceptive pill if I was concerned. Not very helpful.

[Peppermint]

I went on bioidential testosterone cream recently for just 5 days. My eyes were already doing pretty good. I did notice they improved even more while I was briefly on the testosterone. They also felt more moist. I hadn't been using drops for a few months now. I stopped the testosterone bc I noticed a few side effects pretty quickly, specifically increased hair loss and my voice was changing a bit. I could have been overly paranoid but I was afraid of the hair loss. Testosterone could trigger increased hair loss in women.
I was low on testosterone and dhea. My dr also put my on dhea 5-10mg and I was on that for a month. I also stopped the dhea bc of the increased hair shedding. I could be paranoid but I was feeling pretty good and my eyes were also looking great before I started these treatments. I thought i would try them and maybe they would push me into being officially normal. But I was too afraid of the side effects.
Aside from my eyes feeling great on both the dhea and the testosterone, I also had a lot of increased energy and I just felt so much better overall.

[Gemma90]

Hmm, I think there is defo some hormone 'off' to cause all these symptoms that are new to me. But the doctors arn't very helpful and Liz I had the exact same thing said to me 'You could just go on the pill?'. I asked for a print off of my last blood test results but there wasn't any ranges on it so the numbers didn't mean anything to me. My LH and FSH seemed about right at 5.5 and 5.6. I am always considering going on the pill just to see if I have any positive changes and if it would help my eye.

Thats interesting Peppermint that your voice was changing and your hair in such a short amount of time! This is what I would be worried about and I probably wouldn't try it... I'd also be worried about even more spots and oily skin.

When I thought back to when my MGD became terrible and symtomatic, I had a few months before started drinking Spearmint tea instead of my usual because I had read that it can reduce oily skin and spots, I think it reduces testosterone production? I ran out and didn't reorder and the eye problem started not long after. I'd hate to think my testosterone was low and me trying to reduce it even more has caused a long term nasty issue for me. But if that were the case why would my eyes still be this way a year or so after drinking the tea?

[Peppermint]

Gemma,
I did notice my skin getting oiler, especially on my forehead. I also started getting little rosacea like zits on my neck. Yes it was pretty soon after I started that it happened but I also felt my eyes improve pretty quickly as well. I also went on biotin and I heard that increases sebaceous gland oil production. I went on it for my hair but I am off that now as well, as I noticed increased swelling on my upper eyelids. I think I was producing too much oil all at once with the androgens + the biotin. I actually had eye pain for the first time in about a year. I think it was from the pressure. It's such a delicate balance. The whole thing scared me a little and now I'm off all the androgens.

Spearmint tea supposedly does reduce testosterone. I would completely avoid it!

Do you have saliva tests available to you in the UK? That's how I've had my hormones tested.

[Katewest]

Peppermint-What have you found helped your eyes most?

[Gemma90]

Gemma,
I did notice my skin getting oiler, especially on my forehead. I also started getting little rosacea like zits on my neck. Yes it was pretty soon after I started that it happened but I also felt my eyes improve pretty quickly as well. I also went on biotin and I heard that increases sebaceous gland oil production. I went on it for my hair but I am off that now as well, as I noticed increased swelling on my upper eyelids. I think I was producing too much oil all at once with the androgens + the biotin. I actually had eye pain for the first time in about a year. I think it was from the pressure. It's such a delicate balance. The whole thing scared me a little and now I'm off all the androgens.

Spearmint tea supposedly does reduce testosterone. I would completely avoid it!

Do you have saliva tests available to you in the UK? That's how I've had my hormones tested.

I would def agree with you that hormones are such a delicate balance, not something I thought 2 years ago, but I've since discovered how so many differnet supplements, meds, stress etc can change them. When I went on Evening Primrose Oil and Doxycycline my period for that month was late!

We don't have saliva tests in the UK, I had to keep asking my doctor for ages before they let me test my estrogen and progesterone and even then I think it was because they were fed up of me asking, haha. I do wish I had known the ranges and in and outs.

Do you think 0.6 nmol/L is a low testosterone level then?

[Peppermint]

Do you think 0.6 nmol/L is a low testosterone level then?[/QUOTE]

I really don't know. I'd have to check my saliva test to see if I can find that in the testosterone chart they have on there. I will look and see if I can figure it out.

[Peppermint]

Do you think 0.6 nmol/L is a low testosterone level then?

I really don't know. I'd have to check my saliva test to see if I can find that in the testosterone chart they have on there. I will look and see if I can figure it out.

[Peppermint]

Peppermint-What have you found helped your eyes most?

Hi Kate-
Before I went on the androgens, I was on a month long vacation. It was great. Low stress and limited computer use. That really helped!! When I arrived back home my eyes were looking and feeling great-the best since this whole thing started! Then I went on the testosterone and they just felt and looked even better. But I was too afraid to continue bc of the side effects. I was doing pretty good without it so I didn't want to risk it. My diet is still almost 100% organic...no processed foods. I'm also gluten free.
I think I over did it bc I started producing too much oil on the androgens and biotin. I also am back at work and introduced a new stressor-a night class with 40 minute one way commute in somewhat heavy traffic. My eyes are paying for it. I try to take it very easy the rest of the week.

[Gemma90]

This link here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Referen...or_blood_tests
...would suggest my level is low I think... But my doctor says its in the middle of normal, their range is 0.12 - 1.78 nmol/L I think.

[NotADryEye]

I've always believed that my Dry Eye and MGD has been triggered by a change in hormones after a stressy time in my life. I've had blood tests for hormones that always come back 'Normal'. But my skin changed to more oily and I had acne for the first time in my life at 21, I gained weight/Body shape changed in the space of a month or so. (Nobody believes me, but I can't fit into any of my old Jeans! I was always someone who never gained weight before) My period is also a lot lighter than it used to be, I do still get it every month though so Im told not to worry about that. And then this Eye problem! (Which only advanced about 10 months after the inital changes but I did have an eye test at this time and MGD and Dry Eye was identified then in a subclinical, non symptomatic state).

Gemma90,

Unexplained weight gain, particularly after a "stressy time" can be a sign of autoimmune thyroid disease, Hashimoto's. The lighter period, mgd and dry eye would all be symptoms as well.

Have you had a thyroid panel, TSH, Free T4, TPO, T3, that also included Reverse T3?

[Gemma90]

I am actually borderline hypothyroid, fluctuating between normal and abnormal. I was on 50mg Levothyroxine for three months which didn't see any of my symptoms change and I just kept having hot flushes rather than being cold all the time instead.

I also have dizzy spells alot, that just come on out of the blue, and I feel off balance and like im drunk when I haven't had a drink! Sometimes I eat something which helps, but sometimes it doesn't. I feel im in a right mess atm tbh!

[NotADryEye]

Do you see an endocrinologist?