blepharo-conjunctivitis....driving me insane!

[greekeye]

Greetings from London!!! I'm hoping someone can advise me on my eye condition which is driving me insane!

For the past year (since last January), my left eye has been constantly red. The redness can be severe on some days - but it NEVER goes away. My vision in that eye is also blurry occasionally but I put this down to water in the eye rather than my vision.

I don't have crusts in the mornings, just a tiny bit of yellow puss sometimes.

To cut a long story short, I was diagnosed with 'recurrent blepharo-conjunctivitis' in October after visiting a specialist eye hospital (I was examined using slit lamp). I was told I also had blepharitis in my right eye, which is never red.

I was told to clean the eye morning and night using the hot compress technique and to use a chloramphenicol ointment (1 per cent) to treat the conjunctivitis symptoms.

However, NOTHING seems to do the trick.

My left eye is still red and, if anything, the ointment just makes the redness worse by irritating the eye!

I am at my wits' end and I don't know what to do. Can anyone help? Can I have this condition for SO long? Could it be anything else? What other medication can I use?

I was prescribed other medications prior to the blepharo-conjunctivitis diagnosis, none of which helped in any way.

These included viscotears gel (contains 2mg of Carbomer), ophthalmic suspension eye drops (contains Flurometholone USP 0.1%), hypromellose eye drops and chloramphenicol eye drops (BP 0.5%).

At the mo, I'm using a chloramphenicol eye ointment (1 %), as prescribed by my GP.

[advocate]

You might want to consider reading my guide to treatments for Blepharitis (which current appears immediately below your message). Your condition may well be allergy. Read my guide, and consult an allergist.

[irish eyes]

Greekeye

Do you mind me asking if your GP referred you to the specialist eye hospital?

And have you just had the one visit or have they asked to see you again?

You don't mention discomfort; is that an issue?

[greekeye]

yes, GP did refer me - I had originally attended the hospital as a walk-in patient (they have an A+E dept just for eyes!). On my sixth or seventh visit they said I should see one of the specialist consultants! The only way to do this was through my GP - they sent him a letter, he replied and I was booked in for an appointment a month later. The appointment with the consultant lasted 10 minutes, with a diagnosis of blepharo-conjunctivitis. I was discharged the same day after being advised to do the cleaning technique morning and night. Since my appointment, I have been to the A+E dept again as the symptoms persist. I don't have discomfort in terms of pain but my vision in the affected eye is blurry because of all the water. I have read the allergy thread but I think it's very easy to say 'it's an allergic reaction' just because none of the treatments I've tried works. Maybe it's because I haven't been given the correct diagnosis or medication?

Greekeye

Do you mind me asking if your GP referred you to the specialist eye hospital?

And have you just had the one visit or have they asked to see you again?

You don't mention discomfort; is that an issue?

[eva b]

Hello greekeye,

I'm in London too, and your story sounds all too familiar I'm afraid.

Was it Moorfields or the Western Eye Hosp you went to?

I've been to both countless times, been prescribed all sorts of drops and ointments, all of which actually made the situation worse.

In the end I've given up and treat myself with warm compresses and lid cleaning with water, and plain saline preservative free drops.

I can't tolerate any brand or type of eye drops, they all seem to aggravate my eyes, but every specialist I've seen says they can't find enything wrong other than blepharitis and MGD.

You may be one of the few people on this forum who can't tolerate ANY kind of medication...there are a few of us around.

Sorry, hope you find some relief soon.

[sazy123]

i have chronic conjuctivitis, are your inner eyelids inflammed.

lately, i feel like my left is getting worse. im sure it is worse than 4 years ago.

nothing helps this, ive tried everything. and im not allergic ive tried everything for allergies, had tests, all the drops, nothing helped. More likely ocular rosacea related, but im screwed because nothing treats that. Hot compresses make my eyelids sore now, so u cant even do that anymore.

[advocate]

What type of allergy tests did you have? Many doctors use RAST blood tests, which are not very effective at finding allergy. Make sure your allergist uses prick tests and follows up with intradermal tests for all negative pricks. An intradermal test is a test where they use a syringe to inject a small amount of antigen into your skin.

Finally, there are millions of allergens. No allergist tests for everything. No allergist tests for allergies to cosmetics, soaps, and detergents. You could be allergic to something that's not being tested. If you can try changing your environment completely. If you live inland, go the beach for a couple of days. If you live at the beach, go to the desert. If anything changes, it's probably allergies.

i have chronic conjuctivitis, are your inner eyelids inflammed.

lately, i feel like my left is getting worse. im sure it is worse than 4 years ago.

nothing helps this, ive tried everything. and im not allergic ive tried everything for allergies, had tests, all the drops, nothing helped. More likely ocular rosacea related, but im screwed because nothing treats that. Hot compresses make my eyelids sore now, so u cant even do that anymore.

[sazy123]

What type of allergy tests did you have? Many doctors use RAST blood tests, which are not very effective at finding allergy. Make sure your allergist uses prick tests and follows up with intradermal tests for all negative pricks. An intradermal test is a test where they use a syringe to inject a small amount of antigen into your skin.

Finally, there are millions of allergens. No allergist tests for everything. No allergist tests for allergies to cosmetics, soaps, and detergents. You could be allergic to something that's not being tested. If you can try changing your environment completely. If you live inland, go the beach for a couple of days. If you live at the beach, go to the desert. If anything changes, it's probably allergies.

Hi i missed this.

Ive had 3 skin prick tests, and one intradermal test for dust and some others, all came up with nothing significant. Ive seen two allergists both said it was unlikely to be allergies.

Ive lived near the sea/beach several times, doesnt make any difference.

Ive used every drop under the sun and some more than once i (patonal) for allergies, no difference.

Ive avoided perfumed products, washed my clothes and bedding with natural soapnuts, and un perfumed products for over a month. Nothing.

Ive eliminated dust in my room anyway, got dust bedding, air purifyier. No difference. I know it cant be eliminated fully but there should be improvement if it was that.

Ive had food allergy tests/intolerance and avoided dairy and wheat, was on a strict diet for a while, had another problem at the time which made eyes better (any other acute illness does), other acute problem got better due to diet, dry eye came back just as bad. The inflammation of my inner eyelids is autoimmune (as it disapears with other illness), so allergies makes sense in that respect.

If theres other unknown allergies i would love to know what they are.

Yet still they (docs) blame it on allergies

[littlemermaid]

UK private ophthalmologists

Greekeye: huge sympathy. NHS waiting lists drove me frantic with worry for littlemermaid - 2 month waits for child with red streaming eyes, worsening neovascularisation, still undiagnosed after 3 ophthalmologists, 3 GPs, 2 optometrists, GP refused Moorfields referral for 'second' opinion, not one kept notes. Resorted to asking random opticians for NHS eye test/'health check' to get same day referrals until they started worrying about their reputation with the local consultants. Still refused by emergency eye service receptionists (can anyone explain how they are qualified to do triage?): 'it is chronic, unknown aetiology, not enough clinic time, his lordship has spoken' i.e. not an NHS priority quick fix. But How Do We Manage It? Who Can Help Monitor the Eyes?

Ease of access to UK private sector without insurance was a revelation: £180 first consultation, £140 thereafter. 'Phone secretary for private practice, get quote, if they are around, they see you. Yes, it's the same docs, maybe look who works at your nearest teaching hospital, but you can look up their research first online to see if they might know what they are looking at or not; also ask their secretaries, optometrists who treats what well, some are better informed than medics like to think! Ophth. consultants may well say the same things, hopefully more pleasantly without NHS constraints. Optometrist photos of cornea, under lids, retina very useful to take to consultations to show progression (they don't really like taking them, it's scary, but they like the cash - maybe ask for beautiful .jpg by email not their blurry printout). Also you can assess the state of your own eyeballs, which is useful because the docs often don't tell you what they see when they go hmmm... Take your own complete notes since onset, list treatments, keep log of how it's debilitating. At least our fella finally diagnosed blocked meibomian glands (MGD) (antibacterial ointment, steroid eyedrops, oral antibiotic, gland pressing technique) and made us feel a bit happier. However, please let us know if you do find a specialist dry eye ophth. and we'll hire a bus... Warm wishes, and maybe relaxing warm eye compresses - has anyone checked the meibomian glands and tear film (sounds like not, it's shocking they don't, even the 'corneal specialist')? There are alternatives to Chloramphenicol if you are reacting to it eg Fucithalmic. Have you had any progress since your last post?

[advocate]

You're allergist is committing malpractice. There are hundreds of allergens. You should have had a battery of prick tests and a battery of intradermals to each of the hundreds of allergens that are common in your area. There are dozens of mold allergens, tree allergens, pollen allergens, dogs, cats, and other animals, and the list goes on and on and on...

Hi i missed this.

Ive had 3 skin prick tests, and one intradermal test for dust and some others, all came up with nothing significant. Ive seen two allergists both said it was unlikely to be allergies.

Ive lived near the sea/beach several times, doesnt make any difference.

Ive used every drop under the sun and some more than once i (patonal) for allergies, no difference.

Ive avoided perfumed products, washed my clothes and bedding with natural soapnuts, and un perfumed products for over a month. Nothing.

Ive eliminated dust in my room anyway, got dust bedding, air purifyier. No difference. I know it cant be eliminated fully but there should be improvement if it was that.

Ive had food allergy tests/intolerance and avoided dairy and wheat, was on a strict diet for a while, had another problem at the time which made eyes better (any other acute illness does), other acute problem got better due to diet, dry eye came back just as bad. The inflammation of my inner eyelids is autoimmune (as it disapears with other illness), so allergies makes sense in that respect.

If theres other unknown allergies i would love to know what they are.

Yet still they (docs) blame it on allergies

[beatles116]

Hi i missed this.

Ive had 3 skin prick tests, and one intradermal test for dust and some others, all came up with nothing significant. Ive seen two allergists both said it was unlikely to be allergies.

Ive lived near the sea/beach several times, doesnt make any difference.

Ive used every drop under the sun and some more than once i (patonal) for allergies, no difference.

Ive avoided perfumed products, washed my clothes and bedding with natural soapnuts, and un perfumed products for over a month. Nothing.

Ive eliminated dust in my room anyway, got dust bedding, air purifyier. No difference. I know it cant be eliminated fully but there should be improvement if it was that.

Ive had food allergy tests/intolerance and avoided dairy and wheat, was on a strict diet for a while, had another problem at the time which made eyes better (any other acute illness does), other acute problem got better due to diet, dry eye came back just as bad. The inflammation of my inner eyelids is autoimmune (as it disapears with other illness), so allergies makes sense in that respect.

If theres other unknown allergies i would love to know what they are.

Yet still they (docs) blame it on allergies

have u tried asazite..i have an d like it