Cinco Vidas

Know that feeling of walking on the beach on a really windy day? You squint, blink, rub. Tears wet your skin. If you’re wearing contacts, they burn, like crazy. Eyeliner and mascara bleed and run, and eye shadow disappears or settles into lines.

If you’re going through treatment for cancer, this may sound like a normal day. Drugs like isotretinoin and tretinoin, cytarabine, fluorouracil (Adrucil, 5-FU, 5-Fluorouracil, Efudex); radiation; and medications to reduce side effects can all cause dry, gritty, sensitive eyes that water and itch, and often create blurry vision. Not a horrible side effect, but certainly one that can interfere with your daily activities, restrict your use of contact lenses, and screw up your makeup in a big hurry. (more…)