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Why Do My Eyes Burn?

Jeepster

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Jeepster Apprentice
Jeepster
Posted

Along with my celiac disease I have found that I have severe reactions to over a dozen other foods including dairy, corn, soy, eggs, etc. It is nearly impossible to maintain an adequate calorie count on such a restricted diet because I'm a big guy (6'-2" and 190 pounds) so occasionally the hunger gets the best of me and I cheat. Can anyone explain to me what happens chemically during an antibody reaction that would cause my eyes to burn like they have had acid poured in them? It is very pronounced, and will subside once I return to my plain meat and veggie diet. Besides the diarrhea this is the most persistent, and annoying, symptom I suffer with. My eye doctor suggested using over-the-counter eye drops for relief but they barely help.

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angel-jd1 Community Regular
angel-jd1
Posted

Not sure where ya live Jeepster, but sounds to me like plain ol fashioned seasonal allergies are kicking in. Try the OTC eyedrops, but they also make some presciption eyedrops and prescription meds that are great for allergies.

-Jessica :rolleyes:

kabowman Explorer
kabowman
Posted

My doc used to think I was catching pink eye from the kids but I then discovered an OTC allergy eye drop and found that helped, even if it burned a little. I now use a prescription eye drop. It's worth a try...

Hey, I am on plain meat and veggie diet too...along with potatoes. If I gave up my potatoes, I would probably drop weight like a rock!!!

Canadian Karen Community Regular
Canadian Karen
Posted

Hi,

Although I don't have this as a particular symptom, I have read other posts regarding this. Alot of celiacs apparently also have something called Sjogren's Syndrome. If you google it up, you might find it interesting.....

Have a great day!

Karen

Jeepster Apprentice
Jeepster
Posted
  • Author

Jessica -

I know it's not seasonal allergies causing this because the symptoms are consistent throughout the year relating to what I eat. (I do suffer badly from a hayfever allergy though which brings on massive sneezing)

Karen -

I've looked into the symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome and I find that, for example, my eyes burn even before I open them in the morning and quite often are tearing out the sides at the same time. This wouldn't fit with the Syndrome.

I guess my frustration is knowing that something is going on chemically when I cheat with food that brings this eye burn on, but I'd like to understand what it is.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

It may well be that one of those foods you cheat with you have an allergy to, perhaps an intolerance as well, but at least an allergy. With allergies, the offending protein causes antibodies to try to attack it, and in the process of this attack, they cause mast cells to break open. Mast cells contain histamine, Histamine is important for many bodily functions, but it also causes a WIDE variety of symptoms. Some of them are the seasonal allergies you get, but itchy, scratchy, red, or burning eyes are certainly some of them. And - as you can tell - it doesn't always react the same way each time. (For me, my regular allergies - which I haven't been able to really attribute to anything in particular - definitely include that feeling.)

judy05 Apprentice
judy05
Posted

Jeepster

Red, burning, itchy eyes were one of my first symptoms of gluten intolerance. This occurred all year round. I was receiving allergy shots which helped but it never went away even with antihistamines, eye drops , etc. My allergist got so upset about hearing my complaints that he through his hands up in the air and said "this project isn't working". I was so angry at him that I left the office and never went back.I read later that if this condition does not get better then the patient should have a celiac panel done. My Dr. was board certified, he really should have done more. Anyway this continued for 3 years until I developed GI symptoms and finally got tested. My gliadin IgA was elevated to 75. Since going gluten-free my symptoms have gotton a lot better, not 100%, but better. Hope you feel better soon. B)

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Lesliean Apprentice
Lesliean
Posted

When I was gluten-free for 1 month my eyes became wetter. I didn't know my eyes were so dry till I noticed my contacts weren't sticking to my eyes in the evening. There are so many symptoms that improve. It seems symptoms of Celiac Disease vary tremendously from person to person and don't always fit the typical symptom list when you google it.

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    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @rei.b,  I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be.  I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse.  My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet.  It makes a big difference.   Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies.  So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms and reveals the underlying discomfort.  SIBO can cause digestive symptoms.  SIBO can prevent vitamins from being absorbed by the intestines.  Thiamine insufficiency causes Gastrointestinal Beriberi (bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or constipation).  Thiamine is the B vitamin that runs out first because it can only be stored for two weeks.  We need more thiamine when we're sick or under emotional stress.  Gastric Beriberi is under recognised by doctors.  An Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test is more accurate than a blood test for thiamine deficiency, but the best way to see if you're low in thiamine is to take it and look for health improvement.  Don't take Thiamine Mononitrate because the body can't utilize it well.  Try Benfotiamine.  Thiamine is water soluble, nontoxic and safe even at high doses.  I thought it was crazy, too, but simple vitamins and minerals are important.  The eight B vitamins work together, so a B Complex, Benfotiamine,  magnesium and Vitamin D really helped get my body to start healing, along with the AIP diet.  Once you heal, you add foods back in, so the AIP diet is worth doing for a few months. I do hope you'll consider the AIP diet and Benfotiamine.
    • captaincrab55
      Finding gluten free ingredients

      By captaincrab55 · Posted

      Imemsm, Most of us have experienced discontinued, not currently available or products that suddenly become seasonal.   My biggest fear about relocating from Maryland to Florida 5 years ago, was being able to find gluten-free foods that fit my restricted diet.  I soon found out that the Win Dixie and Publix supper markets actually has 99% of their gluten-free foods tagged, next to the price.  The gluten-free tags opened up a  lot of foods that aren't actually marked gluten-free by the manufacture.  Now I only need to check for my other dietary restrictions.  Where my son lives in New Hartford, New York there's a Hannaford Supermarket that also has a gluten-free tag next to the price tag.  Hopefully you can locate a Supermarket within a reasonable travel distance that you can learn what foods to check out at a Supermarket close to you.  I have dermatitis herpetiformis too and I'm very sensitive to gluten and the three stores I named were very gluten-free friendly.  Good Luck 
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and crackers are my 4 favorite foods and I ate at least one of those things multiple times a day e.g. breakfast with eggs and toast, a cheese quesadilla for lunch, and pasta for dinner, and crackers and cheese as a before bed snack. I'm not even kidding.  I'm not really big on sugar, so I don't really do sweets. I don't have any of those conditions.  I am not sure if I have the genes or not. When the geneticist did my genetic testing for EDS this year, I didn't think to ask for him to request the celiac genes so they didn't test for them, unfortunately.  I guess another expectation I had is  that if gluten was the issue, the gluten-free diet would make me feel better, and I'm 3 months in and that hasn't been the case. I am being very careful and reading every label because I didn't want to screw this up and have to do gluten-free for longer than necessary if I end up not having celiac. I'm literally checking everything, even tea and anything else prepacked like caramel dip. Honestly its making me anxious 😅
    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long?   DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule.  This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are  produced in response to.   TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to gluten.  The tTg IgA antibodies attack our own cells because a structural component in our cell membranes resembles a part of gluten.  There's a correlation between the level of intestinal damage with the level of tTg antibodies produced.  You are not producing a high number of tTg IgA antibodies, so your level of tissue damage in your intestines is not very bad.  Be thankful.   There may be reasons why you are not producing a high quantity of tTg IgA antibodies.  Consuming ten grams or more of gluten a day for two weeks to two months before blood tests are done is required to get sufficient antibody production and damage to the intestines.  Some undiagnosed people tend to subconsciously avoid lots of gluten.  Cookies and cakes do not contain as much gluten as artisan breads and thick chewy pizza crust.  Anemia, diabetes and thiamine deficiency can affect IgA antibody production as well.   Do you carry genes for Celiac?  They frequently go along with EDS.
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
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