I know that one of the side effects of prednisone is itchy eyes. Today I was sitting quietly when the outside my lower eyelids started itching/burning in spots where my eyes were tearing. It struck me that this problem might be caused by my tear ducts excreting prednisone. Have members of this forum read anything that can confirm that tear ducts are one of the body's' ways of dumping prednisone?
In addition my lower eyelids are black and I look like I am recovering from a fight or genetically related to a raccoon. I believe that this is caused by rubbing my eyes because of itchy tears and is a side effect of age and prednisone bruising.
Hello there - this isn't something I have heard of as a way of excreting Pred and although I have itchy eyes at times it is because they are very dry. I know that the dry eyes are side effects of at least 3 drugs I am taking so I haven't looked to see if it's also a side effect of Pred! I suspect it is.
The black lower lids does sound as if it is bruising due to rubbing, but if they are that itchy/dry that you are getting subcutaneous bleeding is probably something you should mention to your GP/Rheumy as soon as you can. I had an episode of facial spontaneous bleeding at one point, so it is something that should be at least noted.
Also never heard of preds being excreted through the tear ducts. Agree with Nefret that itchy eyes are likely due to dry eyes or an allergic reaction of some kind..
Take care with your eyes – troublesome things and very precious. I am suffering from extreme dry eyes right now, itching is one symptom, the least disturbing.
See your eye doctor if it persists, no?
Thank you, I have an appointment on the 14th of this month.
Approximately 1.5 hours after taking prednisone my eyes start itching and burning. I believe that the prednisone concentrated in the tear duct fluid is causing this. I hope that as my preddose reaches maintenance level that my eyes will stop being red and irritated.
The tear ducts do not form tears, it is the two lacrimal glands (tear glands) that have the responsibility of forming tears. These glands have lots of capillaries and as the fluid portion of the blood leaves the capillaries it is taken up by the cells of the lacrimal gland and they manufacture tear. Small tear ducts (about 6 to 12 for each eye) deliver the tear into the space between the eyeball and the eyelid.
Thanks, CC for that little description of the process. Good to read it, though I suppose it's obvious that a tear duct is... well... a duct!
I assume it is the openings to these ducts in the lower and upper eyelids that my eye doctor had cleansed out individually a while back when there was infection.
I too feel a stinging shortly after the prednisone drops, but compared to all my other eye ailments, it feels relatively mild and I quickly follow up with lubricating drops. But I'm talking about stinging after the cortisone drops, not the little tablet I also take.