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Minoxidil and Blurred Vision

M

Matt88

member
Hi everyone, hope you've been enjoying the holidays.

I was just wondering if anyone has experienced blurred vision while taking minoxidil foam. I've been using 5% Regaine foam for 2.5 weeks. I apply it once a day to the top of my scalp (I have diffuse loss there) and also a very small amount on the temples.

I've been noticing my vision becoming slightly blurred. My left eye seems totally fine, but my right eye is quite out of focus and I can't read anything if I close my good eye.

Has anyone experienced anything like this and what did you do to help it?

Thanks very much and all the best,
Matt
 
M

Matt88

member
I should also add that I've been on Finasteride for 6 weeks (1mg daily) and I've also read there could be blurred vision from that, too.
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
I've not experienced blurred vision before but when I used Minoxidil I did experience some headaches that I knew were caused by it.
I know people who experience brain off from Finasteride.
Maybe reduce or stop using it to see what happens.
Just in case it's not linked an eye test may be a good idea.
 
M

Matt88

member
Hi Bigmac, thanks very much for your reply. Definitely - an eye test is in order. Interestingly, when I woke up today, my vision was a bit improved, so it may be that I'm using too much Minoxidil at once. I'll reduce it and hopefully that'll help. I'll stop if there's no improvement and see about gradually reintroducing it. Thanks again!
 
M

Matt88

member
Hi Bigmac,

Thanks for checking in.

Well I reduced the Regaine amount by about half, but it doesn't seem to have helped my eye which is making it quite hard to work now. I stopped applying any about two days ago, so if that's what's causing my eye issues, then I wonder how long it'll take to notice any improvement. I'm beginning to wonder if it is the Regaine or Finasteride, Biotin or Vitamin D, or neither, to be honest. I've started taking all these medications since my HT, so I don't know if just reacting to it.
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Maybe go for the eye test just in case it's something else not related to your hair loss regimen. If your eyes are ok, then it'll be the elimination process.
 
M

Matt88

member
I think you're right, Bigmac. Actually, Dr Arshad has very kindly put me in touch with a colleague who is an eye specialist and who can see me on Thursday. I'll let you know what they say.
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
That's good to hear you're able to have an appointment quickly. Hopefully, they can get to the bottom of it.
Good luck.
 
M

Matt88

member
Thank you, Bigmac. Hopefully I'll be able to see the specialist tomorrow and they might have an idea of what's going on. It may not be related to the medication at all, but we'll see.
 
M

Matt88

member
Hi again, i went to the specialist and my eye issue doesn't seem to be related to the hair loss meds. They told me I have very dry eyes and inflamed eyelids, so a strict regime for that should go some way to managing it. Good news is I can go back to using Minoxidil.
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
That’s good to hear. Did they say what possibly has caused this and what treatment have they put you on?
I get dry eyes, especially in the colder months.
 
M

Matt88

member
Thanks, Bigmac. They didn't say what has caused it, but I was assuming the winter months might have been a catalyst. For years, people have told me that my eyes look tired and quite rough, so I suppose this was at risk of happening.

They've prescribed me Hylo-Forte eye drops during the day (six times) and Hylo-Night ointment before bed. I also have blepharitis, so I'll need to do warm compresses twice a day. Essentially, the specialist made it clear that I need to be strict in managing this and that, if I stop, I'll have issues again. I don't mind - I'd like to have my sight back.
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
I know it`s not long since you got your Hylo-Forte eye drops but has there been any improvement?
 
M

Matt88

member
Hi Bigmac, hope you're doing well and thank you very much for this.

It's hard to tell if there's been much improvement. I'd like to think there's something, but it's variable throughout the day, so I think I just need to wait a month or two. I think my cornea was a bit damaged from all the dryness, so (although I'm not an expert) I guess it just needs some time to recover.

I've been using the Minoxidil foam again for the last two weeks and I assume it was just a coincidence that my eye developed those issues when it did. I'll absolutely let you know at the two-month mark how it's going. Thanks again.
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Sounds good. Hopefully it gets better soon. One thing I thought about was, could you have rubbed your eyes with the minoxidil on your fingers?
 
bullitnut

bullitnut

4 awesome repairs with SMG
Just for reference and it could be totally coincidental but I used to get very itchy eyelids when I was using Rogaine foam. Personally I think Rogaine is over rated and have found that the Finasteride is the most important part of a hairloss regime.....if your like me then the Rogaine could be effecting your eye lids?......obviously everyones different and I stayed on the stuff for a long time and it was tolerable and more of a nuisance than a real issue....but I found when I stopped the stuff it made no real difference as I never gained any growth from the stuff and the Finasteride was my real hair loss saviour.

What I did find though was that if I put it on at night and went to bed then the eyes would be more itchy than if I just used it throughout the day and not at night.....I'm guessing it could be due to my eyes and head touching the pillow and my face coming into contact with the rogaine?

Try using it just through the day and showering before bed that way your face/eyes dont come in contact on the pillow dude.
 
M

Matt88

member
Sounds good. Hopefully it gets better soon. One thing I thought about was, could you have rubbed your eyes with the minoxidil on your fingers?
Thanks for this, Bigmac. I know exactly what you mean about rubbing my eyes after minoxidil. I've definitely been careful about washing my hands thoroughly after morning use (I only do it once a day in the morning) and not touching my eyes. I accept I may subconsciously touch them on occasion, though. I guess when the two months are up, I might have more insight into what's causing this.

Just for reference and it could be totally coincidental but I used to get very itchy eyelids when I was using Rogaine foam. Personally I think Rogaine is over rated and have found that the Finasteride is the most important part of a hairloss regime.....if your like me then the Rogaine could be effecting your eye lids?......obviously everyones different and I stayed on the stuff for a long time and it was tolerable and more of a nuisance than a real issue....but I found when I stopped the stuff it made no real difference as I never gained any growth from the stuff and the Finasteride was my real hair loss saviour.

What I did find though was that if I put it on at night and went to bed then the eyes would be more itchy than if I just used it throughout the day and not at night.....I'm guessing it could be due to my eyes and head touching the pillow and my face coming into contact with the rogaine?

Try using it just through the day and showering before bed that way your face/eyes dont come in contact on the pillow dude.
Hi bullitnut, thank you for insight here. From what I've read, there are a lot of people who would agree with your sentiment about minoxidil being overrated. I'm not sure what kind of hair loss profile yours is, but in my case, it seems my diffuse thinning might well benefit from it. However, as I'm also on Finasteride, it's going to be hard to tell which one is really doing the work or whether they're both having a positive impact.

In any case, I appreciate your advice about applying it during the day. I would definitely agree and tend to apply it just after I wake up. Honestly, I hadn't thought about transfer on to a pillow and then on to my face or eyes, so I'll definitely think twice if I'm ever considering applying it at night.

Thank you again for your help,
Matt
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
I was reading about side effects associated with "Morr F" It's a topical Finasteride solution, one side listed was vision problems.

Side effects of Morr F 5% Solution 60ml​

  • Scalp itching, irritation or flaking and redness
  • Feeling dizzy or light-headed, fainting, vision problems
  • Irritation, burning sensation of the eyes, mouth, ear or nose
  • Excessive hair growth on other body parts
  • Rapid heartbeats, chest pain
  • Pain in the shoulder or arms, swelling (puffiness) of hands, feet, face or belly
  • Impotence or problems with ejaculation, decreased libido, pain, enlargement or rashes of the breast
 
M

Matt88

member
I was reading about side effects associated with "Morr F" It's a topical Finasteride solution, one side listed was vision problems.

Side effects of Morr F 5% Solution 60ml​

  • Scalp itching, irritation or flaking and redness
  • Feeling dizzy or light-headed, fainting, vision problems
  • Irritation, burning sensation of the eyes, mouth, ear or nose
  • Excessive hair growth on other body parts
  • Rapid heartbeats, chest pain
  • Pain in the shoulder or arms, swelling (puffiness) of hands, feet, face or belly
  • Impotence or problems with ejaculation, decreased libido, pain, enlargement or rashes of the breast
Hi Bigmac, thanks for sharing this. These side effects look pretty similar to minoxidil, to be honest :/.
 
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