Ladies Only! Birth Control Pills and Dry Eye

[Stanza]

Strange isn't it? I guess it's because the pill keeps the hormone dosage at a regular level, and evens it out.

[Stanza]

Strange isn't it? I guess it's because the pill keeps the hormone dosage at a regular level, and evens it out.

[sazy123]

OK girls, I went to Dr. Latkany today and he said he can't believe how much better my eyes look and how much better the quality of my tear film is since I'm back on birth control pills.
So STAY ON THE PILL. Going off is not going to make your eyes better!!
(I pointed out to him that I only went off of them in the first place because of what it said in his book!!!)

Are you on a particular type of pill, what hormone ratio?

I have irregular periods, sometimes i dont get them and lately ive been getting them every other week! So i think it might be something to try.

[migirl]

Yasmin and dry eye

NYgirl: Did you go back on the Yasmin or did you try another type?

[jsalad]

I changed BCP from Yasmin to a low dose pill (lo-estrin) about a month ago. I didnt notice a difference. I'd been on Yasmin for about 3 years -- which is about the time my dry eye got worse and now severe. I dont know how long it takes the body to adjust to the change in hormones...but I havent seen a difference yet by switching.

Check your thyroid too. One of my docs recommended it, just to cover all bases. Mine was fine...which brought me right back to my usual question "so what else could be the problem?"

[Stanza]

Just wondering if anyone has tried switching to progesterone only pills? seems to be the estrogen quoted in Dr L's book that is the problem? I'm on a low estrogen dose and not really sure right now if to try higher or progesterone only....

[UhOhHello]

I have been wondering if this is the underlying cause for my dry eye as well. Thinking back, dry eye wasn't really an issue before I started taking birth control. Of course starting at a computer screen for work all day and a dry climate don't help, but I don't think these are bad enough causes to effect my vision the way my dry eyes have.

I wondered if switching to a different pill might help, but I worry about the cost since I'm one of those poor college students Going off the pill altogether isn't an option, in my opinion as my period are so awful I can't eat without risking throwing it back up from the pain. But then, the dry eyes are a constant problem, not a monthly one.

Did it make a difference for anyone else when they tried a different pill?

[bernmee]

i was told by a health care provider that Yasmin is one that is given out a lot ait is cheap to produce, and it is not one she would recommend, she told me why but I can't remember exactly.

have you ever tried taking a tonic of "Chaste tree"? Here is a link. I found it amazing since I used to turn into crazy lady with my moods.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaste_Tree

I also have a friend who is drinking lots of peppermint tea for her PMS

http://stanford.wellsphere.com/green...th-herbs/27533

Good luck,

bernadette

[Stanza]

I'm thinking of trying a higher dose of estrogen, I'm on the european equiv. of loestrin at the moment. Have been as long as I've had dry eye...

[kitty]

I just started on the patch 2 days ago. My eyes have felt terrible since, even with being on Lotemax. I can only imagine how bad they would feel if I were not on the Lotemax! I'm only using BC until after my wedding, if my eyes will tolerate it that long!

[Gretchen]

Iud

I just got the Paraguard IUD yesterday. No hormones, 99% effective, can last for 10 years and is reversible.

[Jaclyn]

Off combination oral contraceptives

I am convinced that, in my case, hormones have an effect on my dry eyes. I went off of my oral contraceptives after doing some research and my new corneal specialist encouraged me to stay off of them. Depending on where I am in my cycle, I have very noticable worsening or improvement of my symptoms and it's the same every month. I haven't sat down to determine whether it's at estrogen or progesterone dominant times (or worried with testosterone either - ha!) as I'm not interested in adding any hormones (I'm of childbearing age and would personally prefer to not get into adding anything ... even if it helps my eyes). However, I wonder if that might be helpful for some patients. :-) Just my experience ... as many of us have different reasons for our DES.

Good luck!
Jaclyn

[ringo]

I am going to be prescribed Clomid pills soon. Anyone knows of any effect on dy eye? thank you...

[avee]

I don't know about BC pills - never used them. But hormones clearly affect my dry eye: I've recently had two pregnancies in a row and I almost never had a dry eye day at that time. I wish there was a BC pill that protects my eye the same way as a pregnancy...

[Meem]

My Dry eyes

Hi ladies. I just want to share my dry experience. I started taking Yaz about 2 1/2 years ago. Last year I stopped the pill for a few moths and then I started again. Then about 6 months later I noticed that my eyes were burning. I just ignored it because I dry a lot for work and was always tired so I attributed it to that. Then I started having blurry vision and decided to go to the doctor. I had a horrible experience at the eye doctor. He only gave me drops that didn't help.
And instead of continuing to help me, he pushed me onto a contact lense specialist. He gave me more drops for my eyes but wanted me to use Rigid gas permeable lenses. I don't know if anyone has used them, but my eyes were so severely dry it was extremely uncomfortable to wear them. One time the lense slipped out of place and pushing it back felt like glass scratching my eye. I almost went to the hospital because I couldn't get it out! Then I wanted to return them and he wouldn't give me my money back! I didn't really want them and he pushed them onto me. It was such a horrible experience.

Anyway, I went to another eye doctor that gave me steroids which cleared up the blurriness.. but the dry eyes are still there. I switched my pills about a month and a half ago and noticed no difference.


Has anyone had any luck switching pills or am I doom to have this problem for ever?!