Bad eye irritation and CPAP

Hi,

I have been on CPAP appr. 2 years now. My eye irritation is getting worse and worse. I suspect link between CPAP leakage and irritation.

It is usually left eye which is very sore, red and leaking. Worse of irritation happens weekly now and minor more often.
I use Patanol 0.1% Eye drops but eye irritation happens still. I use Patanol morning and evening.

I tried to use sleep mask for eyes but does not seem to help. Tried it under the CPAP mask but feel that it could make more leaking. Also feel that it puts some pressure on the eye on resting top of it.
CPAP machine F&P Sleepstyle does show normal leakage. I though some time feel when going to bed that there is slight flow but cant really locate it clearly. I use full mask and replaced it prob. 1 year ago. Nasal mask is not for me as tend to breath through mouth. Tried it in the beginning when got CPAP. I have though ball in my back to try reduce breathing through mouth.

I have had eye issue now prob. 6 months.

Can CPAP internal pressure cause eye irritation ie not only from external flow to eyes? My pressure level was increased from 8 to 10 on MArch 2020 which might be correlating with eye issue. I just now realized this probable link. Pressure increase did not enhance AHI value that time though. It was around 8-10 on March time. Value started to decrease mid April, not sure if that was delayed effect on pressure increase or totally something else.

Overall AHI value has been around 3-6 lately.

Any other ideas to eliminate probable external leakage to eye?

I need CPAP but really struggling with eye at the moment and concerned what it does to the eye.

Cheers
ack_241

Have you seen a real eye doctor and had the ducts that go from the nasal passageway examined to see if maybe they are open (they should be closed) and consider the possibility that the air is sneaking up those ducts and messing with your eyes that way?
If not.....get it done. There are fixes for that problem.
Not all dry eye problem can be blamed on the mask leaking and blowing to the eyes.

Patanol is for allergies ... i don't think it is intended to help for this problem.
I guess it is possible for air to travel towards the eye, but your pressure is not that high.
Pugsy has the correct advice. You need to see an eye doctor. There's a great variety of possible treatments.

Drugs like patanol can have a cumulative effect--take it too long, it doesn't work.
See a real eye doctor--specifically a ophthalmologist.
Your eyes are too precious to mess around.

My theory is that the pressure of the mask seal just below my eye sockets interferes somehow with tear plumbing with the result that my eyes are not protected with normal tears.

I had mild dry eye prior to starting on CPAP. I would occasionally need to use artificial tears for comfort.

Once I started CPAP, I developed such severe issues that I could no longer drive, had trouble reading, watching TV, knitting, etc. I had plugs inserted into my tear ducts, which helped for a while but the severe problems returned. I finally saw a dry eye specialist and also the Bleep became available. I had never been able to find a good mask before that. My severe problems were caused by mask leakage and/or exhaust blowing into my eyes. Although the Bleep does not leak and the exhaust is diffused and pointed down, the cummulative damage means that I now sleep with a silicone mask to preserve moisture in my eyes at night. Big difference.

The others are right. You do need to see an opthalmalogist. And Patanol IS for allergies, I believe it is an antihistamine drop. I would imagine it might have a drying effect which could make your symptoms worse. Again, something to check about with your doctor.

Good luck, I know it must be difficult!

Thanks for replies.

Went to eye doctor and seems it not related to CPAP usage. There is issue with my eyes called recurrent corneal erosion syndrome. Trying with ointments to deal with it first.
The way according eye doctor CPAP could impact on eye is causing sloppy eyelids which is not happening in my case. Not sure method though how CPAP can do that.

-ack_241-

Thanks for the update.

Just confirms what we have always said...not everything that goes wrong with us can be blamed on cpap or the mask just like cpap can't fix problems unrelated to the airway that we might have.

God gave us only 2 eyes and we damn well need to take care of them.