- Fibromyalgia and Eye Pain - 29 January 2025
- Hyperalgesia and Fibromylagia - 24 January 2025
- Can You Be Hypermobile but Not Flexible? - 26 December 2024
The unpredictable nature of fibromyalgia is well-known to those who have been living with the condition. Your joints will ache one day. The following day, you’ll feel as if you’re trudging through molasses due to a foggy head. When pain suddenly shifts to an unanticipated location, like your eyes, what then?
Eye pain is a common symptom of fibromyalgia and can be extremely bothersome for many people. It’s not just a minor irritation; it can make daily life even more challenging. Everything adds up: hazy vision, parched eyes, and sensitivity to light. Yet, if you bring it up in conversation with your doctor, you may receive an evasive shrug and an order for artificial tears.
But eye pain in fibromyalgia is real. And understanding why it happens is the first step in managing it.
Why Does Fibromyalgia Affect the Eyes?
If the neurological system is good at anything, it’s overreacting to things it shouldn’t be, and that’s exactly what happens in fibromyalgia. This state, known as central sensitisation, puts your nervous system and brain on high alert, making even common sensations seem intense or painful.
The eyes may experience burning, irritation, dryness, and changes in vision if this process spreads there. These symptoms can come and go, making it hard to pin down exactly what’s happening, because fibromyalgia doesn’t follow a predictable pattern.
However, anxiety isn’t the only factor. According to some research, fibromyalgia can impact not only blood flow and immune responses but also the delicate structures in your eyes, such as the cornea and optic nerve. This proves that the pain in the eyes caused by fibromyalgia isn’t merely “in your head” it’s accompanied by actual, bodily changes.
Common Eye Problems in Fibromyalgia
What does this feel like in reality?
Dry and irritated eyes
Is it ever like your eyelids are sandpaper?
Over 60% of fibromyalgia patients experience dry eyes, according to studies (Schuster et al., 2018), making dry eye syndrome a common symptom in this condition.
Why? Nerve dysfunction could be the cause. Inflammation may be the cause. An autoimmune reaction that impacts the tear glands is another possible explanation. Whatever the reason may be, dealing with dry eyes, discomfort, and the never-ending quest for eye drops is an inevitable consequence.
Visual Distortion or Changes
Someday, you’ll be able to see clearly. The next, things become hazy or double-edged. Does that ring a bell? Your vision may fluctuate throughout the day due to fibromyalgia’s impact on the tiny nerve fibres that regulate eye focus. This means that some people will need to get new eyeglass prescriptions quite often, and some people will have trouble with depth perception, which makes reading and driving difficult.
Photophobia, or Light Sensitivity
Fibromyalgia symptoms can be particularly bothersome when they manifest as photophobia, or an extreme sensitivity to light. Several hypotheses propose that this is due to the brain’s light processing mechanisms; in essence, your neurological system is once again overreacting, making even moderate levels of light seem intolerable.
Tension in the Upper Back and Neck That Causes Eye Pain
It is important to note that not all cases of eye pain associated with fibromyalgia originate in the eyes. When you have fibromyalgia, which is characterised by chronic pain in the upper back, neck, and shoulders, you may experience referred pain to the eye sockets. This can make it seem like the pain is emanating from inside the eyes, when in fact it is radiating from somewhere else. If you also experience headaches or a heavy, aching feeling at the base of your skull, this might be part of the problem.
Managing Eye Pain in Fibromyalgia: What Actually Helps?
In addition to the many difficulties already experienced by those living with fibromyalgia, even the most basic of tasks can become overwhelming when combined with eye pain. However, there are ways to alleviate the persistent discomfort of fibromyalgia-related eye symptoms.
Light sensitivity, blurred vision, and dry eyes are all symptoms of a larger issue. Treating your eyes may only provide temporary relief if your fibromyalgia is also impacting your circulation, nerves, and muscle tension. To get better results that last, it’s best to take a more holistic approach to treating these symptoms, taking into account factors like nerve function, stress levels, and hydration.
Hydrating Your Eyes Properly
Your initial reaction might be to reach for artificial tears if you suffer from dry, itchy eyes. You can’t assume that every eye drop is the same. A lot of the preservatives in over-the-counter drops make dryness worse in the long run. Choose lubricating gels or artificial tears without preservatives instead, particularly if you experience dry eyes in the morning or after staring at a screen for a long time.
Nutrition is more important than most people think when it comes to eye health, even more so than eye drops. Fish oil and other omega-3 supplements are famous for their anti-inflammatory and tear-quality-enhancing properties. However, some reviews highlight the potential mechanisms of omega-3s in addressing dry eyes, most do note that evidence remains inconclusive, and further research is needed to establish their efficacy as a standard treatment
Prioritising Sleep for Eye Health and Pain Relief
If you’ve ever had a bad night’s sleep and woken up with sore, puffy, or irritated eyes, you already know how much rest impacts eye health. But when you have fibromyalgia, sleep deprivation does much more than just make your eyes feel dry: it can heighten pain sensitivity, worsen nerve dysfunction, and contribute to fatigue-induced vision issues.
Many people with fibromyalgia struggle with poor-quality sleep, frequent waking, and unrefreshing rest. And when your body doesn’t get enough restorative sleep, the nervous system remains in a heightened state of stress, making eye symptoms feel even worse.
To improve sleep and reduce eye pain:
Stick to a consistent bedtime and wake-up time – This helps regulate your body’s internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Limit screen exposure before bed – Blue light from phones, tablets, and computers can suppress melatonin production, making it harder to drift off. Try using blue-light blocking glasses in the evening or switching your screens to night mode.
Control light exposure in your bedroom – If light sensitivity is a problem, consider using blackout curtains or an eye mask to block out excess light that could disrupt sleep.
Avoid caffeine and heavy meals before bed – Both can interfere with deep sleep, leaving you groggy and more prone to pain the next day.
Practice relaxation techniques – Deep breathing, meditation, or listening to calming music can help shift your nervous system out of its pain-sensitive state and into restorative mode.
Even though fibromyalgia makes sleep difficult, prioritizing rest is one of the most effective ways to manage eye pain and other symptoms. The more well-rested you are, the better your nervous system can function, and the less intense your pain and discomfort will feel.
Dealing with Blurry Vision and Focus Issues
You are not dreaming if your vision appears to change hourly. There may not be a magic solution for the fibromyalgia-related vision fluctuations, but there are ways to cope. Having a separate pair of reading glasses, a pair for driving, and possibly even a third prescription for those times when your eyes feel especially tired is helpful for some people.
Try experimenting with different levels of brightness and contrast to see what works best for your eyes if you find that screens aggravate your vision. If you find that you need to spend a lot of time staring at a computer screen, you may want to consider investing in blue light filtering glasses or software. Furthermore, consult your optometrist if you are overwhelmed by the frequency of prescription changes; sometimes, even a small change to your lenses can have a significant impact.
Easing Light Sensitivity
Normal lighting, including harsh fluorescents or even the light from a phone screen, can be intolerable for those who suffer from photophobia, an extreme sensitivity to light. Researchers found that wearing tinted glasses with the FL-41 filter, which blocks the most irritating light wavelengths, helped.
Altering the illumination in your house is another way to achieve this effect. Gentler on the eyes than glaring white LEDs are soft, warm-colored bulbs. Lamps or indirect lighting can be a good alternative to overhead lights if you find that they are too harsh. Additionally, if screens are bothersome, you can find some relief by adjusting the brightness or switching to dark mode.
Neck and Shoulder Tension
Sometimes the muscles surrounding the eyes are the source of the pain, not the eyes themselves. Tense muscles in your neck and upper back could be the source of headaches and pain that seems to be radiating from behind your eyes.
A simple adjustment to your sitting position during the day, along with some light stretching or massage, can have a profound effect. Keep your screen at eye level and use a supportive chair to avoid strain if you spend a lot of time at a desk. If you’re experiencing muscle tension or pain that’s radiating to your eyes, try using heat therapy, which can take many forms (a warm compress, a heating pad, or even a hot shower).
We often find with our clients that gentle mobilisation exercises, like the “Yes Nod,” can be incredibly effective in reducing this kind of tension. Rather than stretching, which can sometimes make instability worse for those with both Fibromyalgia and Hyprmobility, these small, controlled movements help to improve neck stability and nerve function without overloading fatigued muscles. By focusing on gentle movement rather than forcing a stretch, you’re giving your nervous system new, safer input—helping it to calm down and reducing pain that might be referring to the eyes.
Even the most basic of everyday activities can become a source of excruciating pain for people with fibromyalgia, a complicated and frequently frustrating condition. Even though dry eyes, light sensitivity, and pain are common, you don’t have to put up with them.
You can regain some control over your eye symptoms by learning how nerve dysfunction, muscle tension, and inflammation are involved. Whether it’s picking out the correct eye drops, making some minor adjustments to your surroundings, or practicing mild mobilisation exercises, baby steps can add up to big results.
The Fibro Guy
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