sinuses and soreness around eyes

[untkicker29]

I was just curious if anybody else ever notices that their eyes become sore when their sinuses are messing up. Not my actual eye, but all around my eye and eye lids are sore right now, but I am having a really bad spell of sinuses right now!

I am glad to see that everyone had a great time at the workshop.

[shells]

Yes, I also experience these problems when my sinuses are acting up. It is mostly sinus congestion that makes my eyes feel alot worse though. I get this terrible pressure and soreness around my eyes, but it isn't just normal sinus pressure. For some reason it makes my eyes feel alot worse.

-Shells

[sazy123]

for some reson my sinus are only bad when my eyes feel alot better, when my eyes fell bad my sinus pain is gone. it is very wierd

[jcorbett]

I find an antihistamine, like otc Actifed, helps. Now antihistamines are supposed to dry your eyes out, so I am not advocating this for everyone, but when I have sinus pressure and I take an antihistamine, my eyes actually feel moister.
Go figure.
If anybody is tempted to try this, I would suggest taking half a pill at first and drink plenty of water.

[Amy09]

i actually take "non-drying sinus sudafed"..... i'm not sure how good it really works- I personally think it works really well, but that is just me, and my mind could be playing tricks on me. all i know is that if i don't take it, i definately have more conjestion/sinus pressure.

and just as the medicine says, i don't have any problems with it drying me out, and it clears up the conjestion, pressure, and grogginess. I take two in the morning, and best of all, it apparently doesn't contain the ingredient used to make meth because it is one of the only types of sudafed that you don't have to go up to the pharmacy table to get.

[shells]

Just this past week I've started taking the non-drying Sudafed, and I don't think it makes my dryness worse either. I think it is actually helping clear up the congestion a bit as well which makes my eyes feel a bit better. I also do saline sinus rinses which seem to help.

[sazy123]

It appears we can not get non drying sinus sudafed, in the UK so i guess have to put up with sinus pain when it appears, dont really want to risk anything. Ive checked the ingredeants with the sudafed we do have (which is quite alot) not the same.

[jp2084]

sinus problems too

I noticed also that when my eyes get really bad, and I think this is a blepharitis flare up. My eyes get red, eyelids are swollen and i can barely open my eyes, my nose also starts to run a little and is stuffed up. Does anyone know why or how the two are related? The only thing that helps is to go to bed.

[jcorbett]

There is something called SinuGuard that you can get at your health food store that is supposed to work. My chiropractor swears by it. This probably wouldn't dry your eyes out.

[khasler]

sinus help

I have found that using a neti-pot has really helped my sinuses, which in turn has helped my dry eyes. I have a lot of sinus pressure/infections due to allergies and my allergist recommended a neti-pot, which helps to drain your sinuses using a warm water/non-iodized salt mixture. You can learn more from www.thenetipot.com . I got mine at Whole Foods for about $15 and the salt was another $2.

[shells]

So, today is one of those awful pressure/achy/stiff/sore eye socket kind of days for me. I have been working so hard to keep my sinuses clear so that I don't have days like this, and I just don't know why it keeps coming back. I'm starting to think that it has nothing to do with my sinuses at all? Or maybe it is just a combination of congested sinuses and screwed up eyes.

For those of you out there that don't have many tears (my schirmers is usually below 4mm), do you get that feeling in your eye sockets? Where they just constantly ache and feel stiff all day long? Is that from the dryness? It isn't like some of my other symptoms when it just hurts to blink, it is just a constant achy feeling that does not give up.....even after putting in drops. Maybe I'm just barely producing any tears when they feel this bad? I have this terrible pressure feeling that accompanies it, like my eyes are going to pop right out of their sockets. For me, this is the most maddening of my symptoms. I just feel like I'm going absolutely crazy today. It is so hard to function...especially at work. Not that home will be much better since I'm not even sure what to do when they get like this. I guess its gel and closed eyes for the rest of the night. Any other suggestions?

Shells

[neil0502]

Forgive me, Shells, if you've discussed this elsewhere, but ...

Have you been seen by an excellent ENT for the sinus issues?? Have you had a CT scan of your sinuses done?? Endoscopy??

Have they diagnosed you with acute or chronic sinusitis?? Have you been evaluated for allergies that might underlie sinus issues??

Chronic sinusitis can be a real nagging thing to have to deal with, but there are quite a few things in a qualified ENT's arsenal that can usually alleviate most of the symptoms. Among these may be nasal steroid sprays (Flonase, Beconase, etc.), spray antihistamines (Astelin), steam, oral decongestant medication, saline irrigation using a WaterPik, Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, antibiotics (the proper one for the proper duration). If it's allergies, then they can treat the allergies, either with the sprays, shots, or other methods.

You probably ought to be seen. I can tell you one thing with certainty: when my sinuses are bad--especially when it's a full-blown infection--my eyes (and everything else) feels much worse.

Meanwhile, drink lots of herbal tea or water, take a bunch of vitamin C, take long hot showers, get plenty of rest, and find a good ENT near you.

Best,

Neil

[shells]

Hi Neil,

Thanks for your reply. No, I have never been seen by by a specialist for my sinuses, but I never felt the need until this winter. Every winter I have had problems and my regular doctor just told me it was chronic sinus congestion and to use a humidifier, do saline rinses, etc. So, I've dealt with the sinus stuff before, but it never effected my eyes like this. My dry eye is from my lasik in June 2005, so I'm new to the dry eye thing this winter. I still use a humidifier and do the saline rinses and have tried some decongestants that are supposed to be dry eye friendly, but I'm staying away from the anithistamines and nasal sprays that I would normally take because I don't want to dry my eyes out worse. Right now I'm in complete panic mode over my dry lasiked eyes and am only concerned with them getting better, but I think once things calm down I will take your suggestion and see a good ENT about my sinuses. It is probably something I should have done long ago.

I guess I'm just trying to determine what causes this horrible aching. From your post, it sounds like it is most definitely sinus related? That this aching and pressure in my eye sockets is not just from the dry eye alone? It may be worse due to sinus congestion, but it is not ALL sinuses because I never had it this bad until after lasik. I mean, I had normal sinus congestion, but I guess it was just never this debilitating. It must just be the combination of my bad sinuses and my now bad eyes! I have a day like this once or twice a week, so I should probably consider myself lucky for not having to deal with it all the time, today was just extra rough and I needed to vent. I think your suggestion of a hot shower sounds like a good one right about now.

Shells

[Cindy]

Hi Shells, I know what you're feeling. I have it today (and yesterday) as well. Too much eyestrain reading, computer use. It feels like something is squeezing the back of my eyeballs.

What I do: a warm rice baggy compress and I move it all over my face. Five minutes on the eyes, 5 on the forehead, 5 alternating from right to left cheek/ear. And then I start over if I'm feeling relief. Which I usually do. The warmth increases circulation I suppose.

A half hour on the treadmill helps too.

[Lucy]

I think allergies/sinus problems can be a very big part of our eye problems. I remember a few years ago, an internet M.D. was adamant about getting sinus problems under control.

As Cindy can attest, our state's humidity can wreak havoc on our sinus problems. I have a friend who has suffered badly all her life with sinus infections and problems. The last I knew, she was doing saline rinses.

PS. I am usually NOT comfortable in a hot, dry climate even before the eye stuff. Vegas and Arizona are examples. I LIKE BEING AROUND WATER.