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  • Could the diphenhydramine be causing sharp pains in the outer corner of my right eye?


    Question:

    I have been taking diphenhydramine as a sleep aid for a long period of time. I am also on a c-pap machine for sleep apnea. Some mornings I wake up with a very sharp pain in the outer corner of my right eye. It will go away after about an hour or two after using lubricating drops. Could the diphenhydramine be causing this problem?


    Answer:

    Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine, which typically does not affect tear production. This may be related to a mechanical effect of the CPAP mask. The fact that it gets better with topical lubricants suggests a surface irritation.


    Answered By:

    Dry Eye