Hi, Kate!
Yes, I hate to say it but eye aches are pretty common to people with
Graves’ Ophthalmopathy. It is one symptom, along with dryness,
irritation and excessive tearing, that is due to retraction of the
eyelids which do not close completely at night. Here are some tips
that may help relieve your discomfort:
*Use lubricating ointment (LacriLube, Refresh PM, Tears Renewed) at
night. You may also want to tape your eyes shut with first aid tape
for sensitive skin (3M – one inch or wider), or use a scarf/bandana
to tie around your head and cover your eyes.
*Use artificial tears (Celluvisc, Tears Naturale, HypoTears) during
the day.
*Elevate your head with pillows, or put wooden blocks under the front
bedposts to raise the bed.
*Use a humidifier in your bedroom to keep the air moist.
*Avoid drafts, i.e.ceiling fans, open windows.
*Use hot or cold compresses, whichever feels better.
*Make a conscious effort to blink, the more the better, the longer
the better.
*If you are a smoker, stopping will improve the appearance of your eyes,
minimize irritation, and decrease the likelihood of severe involvement.
Tobacco worsens the autoimmune attack for unknown reasons.
*Avoid salty foods and drink lots of water.
Keep in touch with your ophthalmologist, so he can track the progression
of your eyes and offer treatment recommendations when appropriate.
Hopefully, your eye disease will “burn out” on its own.
Wishing you health and happiness, Debby
