31 replies to this topic

[snowbear]

Hi.  I know that red & puffy eyes are a common side effect of Gleevec, but what about dry eyes, inflammation, and infection? 

 

I had been having trouble with my eyes and first thought it was allergies, although I normally only get a few weeks of eye allergies in the early spring - not in the summer.  I went to the eye doc and was prescribed a steroid eye drop for 2 weeks and a lubricant to use as often as I needed.  It got better, but then returned and now I have a stye on my eye.  I have a bumpy rash around and under my eyes. 

 

Here's a few recent pics:  eye 1.jpg   77.1KB   5 downloads  eye 2.jpg   98.78KB   3 downloads  eye 3.jpg   88.92KB   3 downloads

[jmoorhou]

I do have some trouble with red eyes on Gleevec. I do my tea bag thing and sometimes it clears up. Saturate a tea bag put it in the freezer to get very cold, then put over eye. With me I think it's allergies.

[gerry]

I had dry eyes while on gleevec, but I also had my eyes lasered, less of an issue nowadays.
Also vision issues, I took my gleevec in the morning and by knock off time I felt like I was looking through a grey fog, not sure if that was from the fluid retention.

[gerry]

Also if you wear eye makeup, did you toss it out after the previous issue?

[kat73]

Of course, best advice:  go back to the eye doc; it could be he missed something, or this could be secondary to the first thing, or it could be an unrelated second thing.  For what it's worth, I'll give you an anecdote from my past:  Like you, I had the first bout, went in and got pretty much the same treatment, didn't work.  Went back, and this time I mentioned that my toddler had a confirmed strep throat (which had been present when I first went in.)  Doc was skeptical but gave me a prescription for the correct antibiotic specific for strep, and et voila, my eyes cleared up really fast and perfectly.  What I can't remember is whether he took a swab - throat? eye? Anyway, just put that in your mental bank for when you go back.  I'm sure you'll get over this very soon, and that it's not something bigger.  Just annoying.

[snowbear]

I haven't worn eye make-up in months and some days, I don't wear any make-up at all.  I just don't want anything close to my eyes.  I rinse my eyes out with warm water and wash around them with just a dab of face cream. The only thing that really helps is the steroid eye drops and those are not good to use long-term. 

[gerry]

I use a warm compress over the eye when I have one, usually the face washer while I am in the shower. The other common suggestion is using diluted baby shampoo to wash your eye lashes with.
Hope your eye feels better soon.

[Trey]

Dry eyes are common.  Flush eyes with water in the morning (cup hands and push water into the open eyes and blink to clean out). 

 

Wash eyelids, eyebrows and eyelashes twice daily with soap and water to clean out allergens and other stuff that accumulates.

 

Puffiness may continue since it is a systemic edema issue.

[campanula]

Hi Snowbear - After 6 months on Imatinib, I just started having major problems with my eyes, too - not just edema.  Your photos could be me - red, swollen, etc.  A week ago, it was my left eye, this week it is my right eye.  In between eye problems I had my 6 month checkup and spoke with my doctor about it.  She thought perhaps dry eyes - TKIs have that effect on the body.  So now I am using Thera Tears often and a warm, wet wash cloth to soothe the afflicted eye.  Maybe as a result, the right eye was not as bad as the left (where I used no eye drops and only cucumbers to soothe).  I have no idea why I suddenly got this now - allergies, dust, sun - or just being on a TKI for 6 months?  I don't know when it is going to hit me, which is difficult - I haven't told anyone about my CML - and it lasts for days, although clears up quickly.  You are not alone.

[AllTheseYears]

I've suffered a great deal of problems with my eyes, especially on Gleevec: Dryness, broken blood vessels, irritation, inflamation, puffiness.  Hot compresses help, as do eye ointments at night.  Eye drops offer no relief for me. I stick to ointments. Allergy meds, which I take sparingly, aggravate the condition.

 

As for using water for flushing, just FYI: https://oculuseyehos...r-good-or-bad/ 

[snowbear]

I'll have to try the ointment.  I'm not sure it's just the Gleevec though.  I haven't been taking it for the past few days and while the swelling is going down, the rash isn't.  I should probably go back to the eye doc and maybe a dermatologist too but I have 4 appointments coming up over the next few weeks - all with specialists. This is after a shower this morning  Very painful

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[kat73]

Snowbear - That is the picture of pure misery.  We must and will get to the bottom of this!  All your problems are real, serious, and - I believe - interrelated.  Someone needs to take the lead and be in charge of you; one of your doctors needs to take the big picture in hand.  You will triumph in the end, but first someone really needs to take care of you.  I hope this happens in the course of these next 4 specialist appointments.

[hannibellemo]

Snowbear, you have my sympathies, your eyes look so painful in those photos! 

[Cliffee]

The only symptoms I had on Gleevac were very puffy eyes.

On Tasigna puffiness gone dry eye to some extent.

 

That looks like more than just eye issues.

[campanula]

Snowbear - Just checking in to see how you're doing.  How did your doctor appts go?  What kind of ointment is everyone using?  My eyes are better in terms of swollen redness, etc. but now I'm dealing with floaters and lightning in my right eye vision.  Glad to have reached MMR but really want to get this situation under control.  I hope you're doing better, Snowbear. 

[gerry]

Snowbear - Just checking in to see how you're doing. How did your doctor appts go? What kind of ointment is everyone using? My eyes are better in terms of swollen redness, etc. but now I'm dealing with floaters and lightning in my right eye vision. Glad to have reached MMR but really want to get this situation under control. I hope you're doing better, Snowbear.

Just to be on the safe side have you seen an optometrist - you are describing signs of retinal detachment. I would go straight away just to be sure.

[Gail's]

I had something very similar happen, campanula. I went to my ophthalmologist and they did find a tiny bleed where my retina had a tiny detachment. It's been several months and although the ever present blind spot in my vision is still there, it's much smaller. The doc told me at a 30 day re check that since the bleed hadn't enlarged I wouldn't need laser surgery. It was pretty scary at first, more used to it now.

[campanula]

Thanks, Gerry and Gail - It just started about 24 hours ago, on Saturday.  It is not getting worse, and maybe just a bit better?  Hard to tell.  I e-mailed my CML specialist and we agreed that I should see an eye doctor, so will call my ophthalmologist tomorrow morning first thing.  It's pretty freaky, and I was so glad to get your input.  Gail - good to know that these things can sometimes heal on their own.  I hope your blind spot disappears soon.

[gerry]

My optometrist got a bit keen on this during an eye exam, I had a spot on the back of my eye that she was concerned about. People who are very short sighted are more prone to it. Plus the earlier it is detected the easier it is to repair.

[campanula]

Saw my ophthalmologist and got a good laugh - basically, I'm just getting old(er).  The vitreous in my eye detached.  I am a bit on the young side, but I am also a little near-sighted, so more common.  With all the problems I have been having with Imatinib and my eyes recently, I thought this was related, but it's not.  Makes me wonder about some of the other "TKI side effects" I've been having!  Glad to be getting old(er), by the way.

 

I did talk to my doc about dry eyes and got a good otc ointment - Refresh P.M. - no preservatives. 

 

I hope your eyes are doing better, too, Snowbear.