Watery eyes?

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Whatashocker3
Whatashocker3 Member Posts: 209
edited October 2017 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I have watery eyes that run all day long. As of Wednesday I am three wks out from my last chemo. Can anyone whom had experienced similar give me some suggestions as it looks like I am crying all the time. It also brings attention to my lashes and brows of which I no longer possess. My lashes and brows fell out about 5 wks ago and haven't come back :(. I am putting olive oil on the lashes and the top of my head hoping that will help. It is hard to feel normal when you look like this. I wish everything came back as quickly as it fell out.

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  • jacksnana
    jacksnana Member Posts: 168
    edited April 2012

    I had watery eyes for a year after finishing chemo... I always thought it was due to the herceptin.  It continued for several months after finishing the herceptin, but it rarely happens now.  Maybe it does have something to do with not having lashes, they must be there to provide some protection for our eyes, even though we focus on how nice they make us look!  Congratulations on finishing chemo, hope everything is back to normal (whatever that is!) for you soon! 

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2012

    What type of chemo did you have?  I had 6 TCH and the tears came from dryness caused by the Taxotere - aka taxotears.  I had them occasionally after that as I continued on Herceptin, but there was a definite point that the Taxotere SE stopped.  The recommendation is lubricating eyedrops, not the redness relieving kind.  The tears stopped for me at about the 6-8 week PFC point.  Good luck.

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  • Whatashocker3
    Whatashocker3 Member Posts: 209
    edited April 2012

    It was 3 fec and 3 tax. Did you do anything to stop the tears and do you think it is associated with the lack of lashes?

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2012

    whatashocker - It is most likely from your taxane and should stop in about a month.  I didn't feel that it was a lashes thing.  Try some drops and see if it helps.  I know it sounds counter-intuitive to put drop in watery eyes, but get some lubricating ones.

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  • kevlia
    kevlia Member Posts: 3
    edited April 2012

    I am so sorry to hear that you are experiencing the watery eyes.  The same thing happened to me and I know how frustrating it can be.  I called my doctor and she thought it might be due to allergies so I took every allergy pill under the sun with no relief.  I am now 6 weeks out from my last taxotere cytoxan treatment and the watery eyes have stopped for the most part with just a small tearing in the morning.  Although I have no suggestions for relief, I hope this will give you some encouragement that it does stop.

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  • Whatashocker3
    Whatashocker3 Member Posts: 209
    edited April 2012

    Kevlia, thank-you for the information. I did speak to my oncologist today and she thought it was the taxotere and that it will go away it a couple more weeks. I am three weeks from my last chemo. It is a pain in the butt because your face is always leaking and people think you are upset:)..

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  • keepingon
    keepingon Member Posts: 117
    edited April 2012

    I had this very same issue, crying eyes I called it. It was awful. My onc said it was from the Taxotere. I finished about a year ago and still have the sensitivity in my eyes? But nothing as bad as it was while going through chemo. It was no fun because I had the white faced chemo pallor and I actually had red spots on the corner of my eyes from the salt from my own tears! Talk about a sad sack ;( If it is really bothering you, ask your onc. and they will tell you what eye drops you can get to help. The eye drops did help.

    GOOD LUCK! And congrats on finishing chemo darlin'Cool

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  • Daxxydog
    Daxxydog Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2013

    I started having horribly teary eyes right after starting taxotere - and I still have watery eyes - 13 years later! It's not as bad, thank goodness, but it's definitely an issue, especially when it's cold and/or sunny. The right eye more than the left, but both have problems. I tried tear duct surgery (a waste of time and money), moisturizing drops, and homeopathic drops. I sort of tried flax seed oil but am considering it again, as it helped my dog with his dry-eye problem (lol). My eye doctor suggested acupuncture but I haven't tried that. All I can say is if the only long-term side effect I have from Stage IIIB breast cancer is watery eyes, then I will just have to cope for the rest of my life!

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited March 2013

    I have watery eyes and am on taxotere...it is so annoying....

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2013

    My watery eyes had to stop on their own which they did several times after several chemos about 4 weeks after the chemos finished.  

    Have you considered semi-permanent make-up?  It's pricey here but excellent for eyebrows & eyelines.  Fake tan?  I use a Nivea one, people say I look healthy.

    Hope all gets back to normal soon for you.

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  • ChemicalWorld
    ChemicalWorld Member Posts: 172
    edited March 2013

    I had this with Taxotere too, my eyes watered all day long it seemed, and I constantly had tissues up to my eyes.  Worse in the morning.  I went around explaining to people all the time that I wasn't crying, it was a p.i.t.a.

    I am two years out and I still have problems with my eyes.  Many mornings I lose half my eye makeup before I even get to work.  Typically only mornings or if it's cold outside or what not.  If I yawn, my eyes pour. 

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  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited March 2013

    thanks for letting me know, the water is sometimes blinding...

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  • Sickofpink
    Sickofpink Member Posts: 190
    edited March 2013

    HI ladies,

    My onc sent me to an eye doc for the Taxotear watery eyes  - they shrink the tear ducts, causing the tears and can actually scar over the tear ducts. My eye doc dialates my tear ducts every three weeks with needle like prods (after numbing drops) which is not as awful as it sounds and better than having stents in them to keep them open. AFte ra few days, he tearing does minimize. On my last round now hoping it will solve for good.

    xo

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  • scrappygirl
    scrappygirl Member Posts: 7
    edited August 2013

    I am on a/c, and my eyes tear so bad they are red and puffy. I read that is is caused by the steroids, but not sure. I started on gel eye drops today, and so far....nothing. Ugh! :/

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  • Clarebearalert
    Clarebearalert Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2014

    Hi - 

    I'm aware these posts are a little old but keen to hear from you now as I too look like I'm constantly crying and can't keep make up on as a result, just at a time when you need it most! I've had docetaxel and still having Herceptin. Hospital don't seem to care about these 'niggles' as they call them, they're all about the big picture... 

    How much longer will I look like a teary mess?? 

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  • bonniebug69
    bonniebug69 Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2014

    I understand how annoying this is, in fact, it drives me crazy.  I was dx in 2009 and had cytoxin, taxotere and herceptin.   Herceptin ended in October 2010.  I believe the tears are caused by the taxotere scarring the tear ducts.  I've had the one tear duct, which is the bad one, probed by an oculoplastic surgeon.  It did not help. Here I am 4 years later still having the same problem.  Why some people improve and others don't is a mystery.  I think antihistamines help me somewhat by stopping some of the watering.  I love eye makeup, but it is hard to wear with this problem.  I thought in the beginning it was due to losing lashes.  My eyes are still very sensitive to light and cold and breezes.  I am, however, angry that this side effect, which happens in 77percent of cases, was not disclosed to me at any time.  My doctor acted as if he never encountered it.  What a dunce!  I hope your problem goes away, as this is irritating and sounds minor, but makes your life miserable.

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  • amarantha
    amarantha Member Posts: 457
    edited February 2014

    I also have constantly watering eyes - NOT from Taxotere (haven't started Taxotere yet, still on FEC regimen). What should I do ??

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  • Gubbyann
    Gubbyann Member Posts: 34
    edited February 2014

    Hi...had and still have watery eyes...started wen using Taxotere...stopped chemo last november, and still going strong...eye doctor wanted to irrigate the ducts, but I was not in any frame of mind to get my ducts peirced with a needed...then he suggested stents...have to think about it, but in the meantime it's still annoying as you all know...And some of you stated the stents were a waste of time...I have been taking claradin every day...can't hurt...some days, it doesn't seem that bad, and days like today they run like fausets...any other suggestions out there??I see that some of you use eye meds. can you tell me what they are?? Thanks and have a good day

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  • Geosomin
    Geosomin Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2014

    This started for me after my second taxotere dose too. First time it lasted a week. This time it's been 2 weeks and it's driving me nuts. At a time when I'm bald and have no eyebrows or lashes left it would be nice to be able to wear a bit of makeup and not have people look at me with deep concern whenever I feel up to being out! I am hoping that after my last dose it will fade away relatively soon...it's honestly the most annoying side effect for me. Aches and nausea I can deal with but this for some reason just takes the cake! I found Systain lipid eye drops do help with the gritty dry feeling, but they still tear away...

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  • Sr_Liberty-4
    Sr_Liberty-4 Member Posts: 4
    edited February 2017

    Hi I also have the watery eyes. If I bend down they water heavy. I also lost eyelashes eyebrows. I cannot wear eye makeup my eyes water too much. I am hoping this SE fades. I met a woman at treatment who had this condition permanently from chemo drugs. Let's hope it goes away in time. Take care. I am celebrating last chemo was yesterday!!!! I am very happy really hope I don't have to do this again!




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  • adrianh
    adrianh Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2017

    No I don't think it has anything to do with not having lashes. Three years ago I had AC and lost my lashes, my eyes did not tear. This time I have had 5 treatments of Taxotere and my eyes won't stop tearing.

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  • Leatherette
    Leatherette Member Posts: 448
    edited October 2017

    I have lashes still, but my eyes watering is the most annoying side effect (not the worst, but the most annoying). I can't read, drive without stopping to wipe my eyes, and I have crust around my eyes all the time. And definitely no eye makeup.



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