Eye problem, maybe allergy? On FML, Advice please....

[Impreza19]

I wear soft contacts and my main symptoms are slightly sore, puffy, watery and red eyes/eyelids.
Also, if i keep my eyes open for longer than 2 or 3 seconds, my vision starts to go cloudy (as in the contact lens goes cloudy not my eyeball, so it must be some kind of substance on the contact lens?)

The weird thing is these symptoms are 90% in my left eye, and very rarely in the right eye. I clean my contact lens with peroxide, i have also used traditional multisolution bt symptoms didnt change. I use a protein remover tablet once a week, still hasnt helped.
Doctors gave me FML steroid drops which have helped, but havnt resolved the problem completely. If i cut the dose down the symptoms get worse.
I have been on them 5 weeks now, eye pressures are fine.

Any idea what the cause is? Ive been told it could be hayfever or other allergy, but ive had this on and off since around April, so i doubt its hayfever?
One doctor said it could be a contact lens allergy to the protein build up on the lens. But if thats the case, using a protein remover would in theory help, also the symptoms are only in 1 eye, so that doesnt really make sense. I do drink a lot of diet coke, could the caffeine be causing it?
Any help please?

[unicorn]

When I was still wearing contacts, I'd noticed that the vision in my right eye would go blurry - resolved by frequent blinking. Turns out my right eye is quite a bit drier than the left - I think the 'cloudiness' you're getting could well be dryness rather that a substance on the lens.

Do you know if your eyes are dry when not wearing your lenses? Has your optometrist checked for dry spots, blepharitis, or meibomian gland problems?

If you are worried about allergies, it should be fairly simple to get blood tests or skin prick tests done through your GP, although you could be allergic or sensitive to a lot of things other than the usual 'hayfever' things like pollen and grass.

I wonder also if you've considered switching to daily contact lenses? This way you'd know there was no possibility of allergies to solutions or protein build-up.

[Impreza19]

When I was still wearing contacts, I'd noticed that the vision in my right eye would go blurry - resolved by frequent blinking. Turns out my right eye is quite a bit drier than the left - I think the 'cloudiness' you're getting could well be dryness rather that a substance on the lens.

Do you know if your eyes are dry when not wearing your lenses? Has your optometrist checked for dry spots, blepharitis, or meibomian gland problems?

If you are worried about allergies, it should be fairly simple to get blood tests or skin prick tests done through your GP, although you could be allergic or sensitive to a lot of things other than the usual 'hayfever' things like pollen and grass.

I wonder also if you've considered switching to daily contact lenses? This way you'd know there was no possibility of allergies to solutions or protein build-up.

Doctor said my eyes arent very dry, this was only a week ago. I find rewetting drops help to an extent. My eyes can sometimes feel sore and puffy even if i dont wear my contacts for a day or 2.
Used to have blepharitis but thanks to regular cleaning it has gone, my glands are not blocked either. There is some dryness on the offending eye but not severe, i was given Celluvisc for this.
Had a blood test but not had a skin prick, they found no sign of allergies, but they also said an eye allergy due to hayfever wouldnt show on a blood or skin test anyway.
Prescription is too complex for dailies, my contacts are 3 monthly.

[unicorn]

Another thing that just occurred to me is that I'm pretty sure you shouldn't be using FML drops whilst continuing to wear your contact lenses. FML has a preservative in it which can be absorbed by your lenses potentially causing problems.

But you should speak to your optometrist about this.

[Impreza19]

I dont, i apply the drops about an hour before putting lenses in, and i put drops in again at night before sleep.
the drops dont seem that good, are there any stronger steroid drops you would recommend?

[Impreza19]

Ive managed to take some photos of the problem:






Right eye is similar but not as red, any ideas?

[unicorn]

Which sort of 'doctor' is it you've seen - your GP, an optometrist (at the opticians), or an ophthalmologist (specialist eye doctor)? If you haven't been seen by an ophthalmologist it sounds like it is time to try and get a referral.

You can still have allergies, or sensitivities, to a lot of things other than what they can do blood tests for. Do you have signs of a papillary or follicular response on the underside of your eyelids, do you know? This would indicate an allergic reaction to something - in my case, it was to the contact lens solutions I was using, but I have since discovered I'm sensitive to a lot of chemicals including many eyedrops. For example when I used FML drops for just two days my eyes became terribly inflamed and sore.

Have you tried not wearing your lenses for a while, to see if this helps? Is this an option?

There are stronger steroids, but I think you need to try and identify what's causing the problems. Steroids will never be a long-term solution. Do you have any other skin conditions? Dietary factors could play a role but that's complex - I have no idea if your diet coke intake is causing the problem but to be honest it could only be a good thing to try and cut it out, if you can!

[zuzu70]

Wow, you have a good camera. I tried to have my husband take pics of my eye and they turned out all blurry. Anyway...I thought of a couple of things while I read your post.

The inside of your lower lid looks just like mine always looks. I thought they all looked like that?!? A previous eye doctor told me that that redness under my lower lid means I have mild seasonal allergies. My current doctor says I have meibomian gland dysfunction, a 2-3 on a 1-4 scale.

I know you said that you space out your FML far apart from wearing your contacts. I did have an experience once where I used artificial tears with glycerin in them while I had my glasses on, then a *couple hours* later put in my contacts and freaked out because my eye was cloudy and blinking didn't help. I even threw away the contact and started with a new one, and still cloudy. I went off the deep end because I thought my eye was so dry I'd never be able to wear my contacts again. Four days later, I tried my contacts again and things were fine (for the first 8 hours at least). I now think that there was some miniscule amount of glycerin left in my eye that made my contact blurry that day.

For me, if my contact blurs up a few seconds after a blink but blinking clears the vision up momentarily, it's *always* caused by eye dryness.

It appears your upper eyelid is a bit swollen? I remember wet compresses helping with that...I suppose cold would be better than warm. Cold compresses also helped me wean myself off a steroid drop when I had a red eye issue once.

Could I ask a favor from you? Seriously your eyes look just like mine, so if you find out a diagnosis or something that helps, could you kindly pass it along to me? Thanks.

[Impreza19]

Ive seen a GP who was useless, who referred me to a specialist in the eye department of a hospital.
Not wearing contacts isnt really an option for me, i need them for work, i work in sales and with glasses i lose all confidence. I can also see much clearly through contact lenses. I have always used the same solution, Peroxide and also multisolution to rinse them.
Also, i do get papillary type things under my upper lid when it is severe, i was getting this before i started the FML. I have some Alcon Supraclens on order to add to my solution every day to eliminate the possiblity that i am allergic to protein deposits.
My eyes dont look normal, i think the camera makes them look better than they are, im only 21 but my eyes look puffy, red and old like im in my 60's.
In terms of other symptoms, the skin around my nostrils has become a bit sore in the past week or so, but ive had this eye issue since around April so i think its unrelated.
Only other symptoms are tiredness, sometimes sneezing and itchy nose, however it seems at random times when this happens.

[unicorn]

Did the specialist mention GPC? (giant papillary conjunctivitis) http://vision.about.com/od/sportsvis...unctivitis.htm

This isn't exactly an allergy but is caused by the mechanical irritation on your eye from the contact lens.

Also I'm wondering if there is some kind of hypersensitivity - this sort of thing: read down to 'Type IV Hypersensitivity' http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1191467-overview

If it is GPC I'm afraid the only solution is really to discontinue your lens wear until it's totally cleared up.

[Impreza19]

Ive seen 3 specialists. Well one is my optician but she knows her stuff. No one has mentioned GPC to me. I get conflicting advice. One specialist was convinced its an outside allergy, another one is convinced its a protein allergy, and the other one isnt sure for certain, im at a loss to be honest.

[littlemermaid]

Impreza, What about these Armanis for work? http://www.visionexpress.com/glasses...rmani-2-for-1/ My bro started in UK sales and he's an MD now in Toronto, major image-and success-conscious, and always wears light-rim designers eg tortoiseshell/gold which show his eyes, plus prescription sunglasses. He also likes D&G, all Italian styles, similar colouring to you. I think D&G overdo it sometimes though. 'Designer' glasses are seriously good for an image upgrade and reassure buyers.

Maybe look at diet, as well as allergens. I know it takes thinking about to eat healthy when you're so busy but looking at your eyes I'm getting the urge to give you beef and veg stew, lentil dhal, salmon/rice with salad+dressing, fish/veg risotto cooked with lots of oil, fresh salad/veg wraps, tons of water all day, and omega 3 supplements. Some of us are getting improvement on mgd going gluten-free or reduced wheat at least - esp if you are too much cereal/toast, sandwich/pasta/pizza, cheese/fake fats, corn sugar products. No idea why this helps. Do you take a multivit/mineral? Anyone else think the last photo inside lower lid looks a bit anaemic?

We're doing better on normal saline 0.9% Minims in frequent use (>6/day) than we did on Celluvisc (NHS standard) because of increasing sensitivities, plus Hylotears (or anything similar). I don't think there's much tear meniscus esp on the first photo so frequent dropping might help till you've got rid of the causes, whether it's bleph, allergy, contact lens probs. Using steroids to wear contacts for work not good. Unicorn is right, isn't she. People here have said previously that if they can get this sorted they can maybe wear compatible contacts but only a few times a week.

[Impreza19]

Glasses arent that simple, i have a high prescription, something like -18, so i tend to go for the smallest lens glasses to keep the thickness down.
I will clean my diet up though and regularly take fish oil/multivits. I find celluvisc is quite good, i prefer it to these other vials i had (cant remember the name).
Anyway i hope this Supraclens stuff works too, i guess you guys cant help me any more. Btw i had a blood test about 2 months ago and i was fine for everything, not anemic.
Thanks for the replies.

[littlemermaid]

Do you think there are >4 blocked glands from old chalazia on photo 4? White/grey spaces about 2/3 down the gland deeper under the eyelid, where chalazia may have been, healing now. Are you sure the mgd is gone? Press 2 fingers gently upwards under lower eyelash line, check for row of tiny 'baby oil' consistency dots along eyelid margin.

[unicorn]

^ Good advice from littlemermaid here, Impreza19, I would advise you to try this. Not all ophthalmologists are good at identifying MGD if it's not obvious.

I really feel for you in having a prescription of -18. That's tough, I find it hard enough to get attractive glasses at -6.5. But there are some really fashionable styles around now which might work for you - I'm thinking of a guy I saw working in an opticians who had a really, really cool pair of very small, round frames - they were in a clear acetate but you can get bang-on-trend tortoiseshells etc. This very small frame size coupled with a very high index double aspheric lens would give you a cosmetically good result even with your high prescription, I would have thought. Have you got an independent optician anywhere near you that specialises in really quirky, fashionable frames? Near me there is this place: http://www.nicheopticaltailor.co.uk/index.php Not the greatest website but I can vouch that they stock great frames you won't find in places like Vision Express etc. If you're near London you'll no doubt have a great choice.

I'm only saying this because I feel that if you want to continue to wear your lenses long term (and I can totally understand that your vision will be better in lenses at your prescription), you need to give your eyes the best chance possible to heal, and if that means wearing glasses for a while, it's got to be worth it in the long run! I worry that if you continue to wear your lenses the problem may get worse. Could you be allergic to the preservatives in the FML drops do you think?

Only other things that have occurred to me are: if the problem is mainly in one eye, have you had a swab taken for possible infection? Also has anyone mentioned non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drops, or anti-allergy drops?