Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Why Do My Eyes Burn?

Jeepster

Recommended Posts

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.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


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)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


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.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,334
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    johnfreirefr
    Newest Member
    johnfreirefr
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.