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Dry eyes from Lialda(Mesalamine)?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/5/2018 8:39 PM (GMT -5)
I have been on just Lialda for a little over a year now after getting off of biologics (Simponi and Humira). I mostly manage my UC with lifestyle and food. Over the course of the year, my eyes have been getting progressively drier and drier and I am wondering if it is from the Lialda. Has anyone else experienced this?
Posted 8/6/2018 12:12 AM (GMT -5)
No.....but could be autoimmine. You should get checked for Sjogren's.

q
Posted 8/6/2018 12:13 AM (GMT -5)
I was tested for Lupus and Sjogren's and they both came back negative.
Posted 8/6/2018 12:17 AM (GMT -5)
Why were you checked for those....other issues, or eyes?
And when were you checked....
Have you seen an opthamologist?
q
Posted 8/6/2018 1:02 AM (GMT -5)
Unfortunately, us with the IBD are higher risk for eye disease. Ugh, I have uveitus and my eyes are constantly dry and irritated and sometimes painful. You may want to inquire about that or at least see an ophthalmologist.

Until then, the artificial tears in the gel form for day and there is an ointment artificial tears for night, using both should help a bit. There are are the prescription ones like Xidra and Restisis but insurance is cagey about covering them because of course, they're expensive.

Also, I use an antihistamine eyedrop called Ketotifen, works good for irritation.
Posted 8/6/2018 7:25 AM (GMT -5)
Ditto what others have said. Most likely an extra-intestinal manifestation of UC. about 25% of us have other issues within our bodies, often immune system created, whether that is inflammation of the eyes, joints, sinuses, dry eyes, itchy skin, rashes, etc. Unfortunately just part of living with chronic illness, that other things do pop up, especially after time.
Posted 8/6/2018 7:58 AM (GMT -5)
Eye inflammation can be a manifestation of UC, but I never heard anything about UC causing dry eyes. But maybe it is.

However waking up in the morning one of my eyes was extremely dry after multiple eye surgeries from an unrelated condition. But taking hyaluronic acid and fish oil before bed cleared up that problem very quickly.
Posted 8/6/2018 9:18 AM (GMT -5)
Dry eyes and dry skin can be an allergic reaction, and the immune system is what's over-reacting in such scenarios. And god knows our immune systems are wacky, over-aggressive, and like to attack things that they should not be.

You could try anti-histamines, if there is some allergic reaction going on: benadryl, claritin, etc. Eye drops might help.
Posted 8/6/2018 12:44 PM (GMT -5)
Antihistamines will make dry eyes much worse. Are they red and sore as well?
Do you have rosacea?
q
Posted 8/6/2018 1:47 PM (GMT -5)
I recently stopped taking zyrtec because it makes dry eyes worse. I have not seen an improvement yet from doing that though.

I don’t think it is rosacea. I think the eye doctor would have mentioned that?
Posted 8/6/2018 2:54 PM (GMT -5)
Are they red? Painful? Or just dry?

Would a doctor mention It?? Regarding doctors, best question of the day.....😎
q
Posted 8/6/2018 4:29 PM (GMT -5)
They get a bit red when they are super dry. But they also get red from allergies so hard to know. My eyelids are not red or inflamed.
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