The Hidden Dangers of ACCUTANE and RETINOL on the Eye
Learn about the potentially irreversible side effects of Accutane and retinol on the eye! While vitamin A is known for its beneficial …
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February 4, 2026
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Learn about the potentially irreversible side effects of Accutane and retinol on the eye! While vitamin A is known for its beneficial …
source
Have you ever used Retinol creams or products? Have you developed any dry eye issues from it?
I took Accutane in my late teens and again in my early 30's. I'm 61 now and my eyes have been getting very dry in the last year. My gut is ruined from the drug and my life has been badly altered.
The worst medication I have ever taken! 23 years later and side effects still persist. Dry eye, ruins the teeth bone! Eat right, lots of water. Put down the soda and ultra processed foods! It’s all about that God damned money! And if you wonder why I am so negative. Accutane has that effect. Just ask those who have killed them selves on this medication. Oh, I apologize. You can’t! Watch out for going bald as well! 😛
I was on Accutane in 1987. Yep, since then, VERY, dry eyes. I've applied lip balm and eye drops constantly, since then. Miebo & punctal plugs have helped me greatly. I just added lid scrubs to my routine, which seems to help as well. I may also be adding Vevye.
There should be study on this. Make up and skincare is in our lifes for sooo long. And now it is advertised and consumed in a big scale. Now it’s even a crime if you don’t use mascara lol. I hope every product will be studied how it effect the eye before they sell the product. It is essential because especially as women we use makeup and skincare all the time. We are more in risk so I hope there will be more studies on this subject.
Accutane was the worst thing that ever happened to me. I was left on it for 12 months and it didn’t help my skin at 20 but now at 35 I have the eye health of a 90 year old. I’ve been thru so many treatments with so many eye drs denying that it was the accutane. Finally have a dr who after 6 years of seeing him, he finally admitted that Accutane was the issue.
Is it alright to put retinol on your face BUT avoid the eye area?
I have been using retinol since last year. And around the same time I started to experience dry eye around the same time. I didn't know the retinol might be a cause to my dry eye until I found your video. Thanks for the info!
When me and my housband started to use retinol, we both got dry eyes! Yes, It is true if using retinol you can get dry eyes…so sad…
yupppp i got an eye ulcer from accutune
I have been using retinol since four months and whenever i try to apply them under my eyes i started to tear up and slowly my eyes started feeling dry so i completely stopped using retinol and even afraid to use it
While the possible eye issue from Accutane is not good, it's nothing compared to Post Accutane Syndrome, which there is no cure for. Exact same symptoms as on Post Finasteride Syndrome and Post SSRI Syndrome. As someone who has been suffering from Finasteride syndrome for over 3 years now, I would not touch Accutane or SSRi's with a ten foor pole. Got the PFS diagnosis 3 years ago, and they warned me about these two other medications.
I have severe acne that affects my quality of life. Permanent dry eye is something I am really worried about before I decide to pursue treatment. Is meibomian gland dysfunction due to isotretinoin very rare? Are there ways to prevent it?
My eyes get so dry it’s painful. It started a few weeks after I started on retinal. I was putting the retinal serum for eyes onto upper lid around brow bone and lower lids 1/2” away from lash line. I thought it would be ok but I developed very very painful dry eyes. So switched to a retinol alternative – Bakuchiol and the same thing happened.
I’m now only using retinal up to the orbital bone rim, and use a regular eye cream with peptides on my lids to protect the eye lid skin, it’s been a few weeks and there are small improvements. Hoping meibomian glands will recover in time and didn’t die off. Definitely learned my lesson. Retinal is toxic to meibomian glands and this is very real.
A week after using retinol i got blepharitis
I got cranial hypertension from trentinoin: pressure, headache, flashes, dizzy, pulsate tinnitus
Hi doctor. I have a semi-related question. I'm planning on getting lasik/prk and starting accutane as well. I know they can't be taken at the same time so ideally which one should I start first?
I've been using Accutane for a month and I got stye twice in a week, I mean what the heck
Hi, I have used on my eyelids only twice. And I have been an agonizing pain for eight years now. Unbearable, suicidal level pain.
Thanks for talking and warning about that risk.
Dermatologists like Dr Dray promoting those porducts on Youtube are IRRESPONSIBLE, and should be suied on justice.
anyone with finasteride had some problem?
I use the retinol on my face and under the eyes at night. The morning after my eyes are somewhat red and itchy even after washing my face. So now I think the reason is what you mentioned: my eyes are getting dry. Because when I don’t use the retinol I can see better and my eyes are not itchy.