Dry eyes or what?

[ShaneA655]

suffering from red eyes and burning mainly. When i wake up, they are the worse. Little discharge....red on the inside of my eyes ....like blood vessels etc...They get a little better once i rinse my eyes out before i leave the house. I get in my car and drive off, and they get worse. Even with no A/c blowing. They also get worse if i workout. I start to lift and look in mirror and my eyes are reddish again. I am only 28 years old..... Also suffer from hot flushes. Face gets hot alot. did alot of blood work and nothing seems to come back irregular? I think this hot flushing goes with the eye problem. Eye doc said dry eyes....but nothing serious wrong. Could be something else causing this. I am thinking it could be allergies...but it doesnt get puffy nor itch alot which it wouldnt be allergies but i also am real sensitivie to products like lotions, etc...so could be just bad allergies? I did test for allergies back last spring and they said i needed to be on shots. I know when i drink a beer or what not or around smoke, eyes get worse as well.

[Gretchen]

Ocular Rosacea

Shane -

As you described that you have "hot flashes", I assume that you mean that your face gets flushed? If so, I would go to a derm to be assessed for rosacea. Ocular complications (often referred to as ocular rosacea) frequently accompany this condition. I would get a diagnosis from a derm first as getting systemic control of the disease is the first step.

If you do have rosacea, you need to take this diagnosis to your eye doctor and tell him that you suspect ocular rosacea. He should be able to put you on a course of treatment.

I would also educate myself. Google rosacea and there are many good sites and forums that will help you.

Best luck to you.
Gretchen

[ShaneA655]

derm said no rosacea...that was like 3 different ones. Eye doc said no ocular rosacea either although i have same symptoms as rosacea but no visible signs of other than reddish eyes. who knows.

[Gretchen]

Hmmm. Not convinced.

Did you tell your derm that you are having flushes? Also, sometimes ocular rosacea shows up first. This is what happened to me. Also, I have almost no facial signs but only sometimes get one or two TINY red spots.

In addition, eye docs can't "see" ocular rosacea. They often deduce it as the underlying cause of MGD and blepharitis. Signs are burning, stinging, redness, visible vessels on eyelids and the eye surface. I am always wary of docs that tell you you have "dry eyes". Dry eye is a symptom. You need to understand the underlying cause before you will be able to get the help you need. I would look for a second opinion.

HTH.
Gretchen

[Gretchen]

Also meant to add...

That the fact that you are sensitive to lotions also makes me think that your underlying condition is rosacea. This as well as "flushing" are cardinal symptoms.

[bernmee]

Hi,

just to jump in here. I had no problems wit my eyes until I had lasik in one eye. After the lasik I had terrible pain.

My new and great eye Dr. told me that I have rosacea, ocular rosacea and MGD in both eyes, one had Lasik and the other didn't. The thing is they look fine, and I never had any eye problems until lasik. I went to many many Dr.'s as a teenager and when I was in my 20's because my facial skin was painfully sensitive, and not once was I told the obvious, that I had rosacea, even though I am irish and my mother had rosacea. To be honest I made the connection because of a posting I saw on this site

The point I am making here is that you need to keep an open mind when it comes to your treatment. My lasik surgeon still believes there is nothing wrong with my eyes, and he has a qualification from Stanford.

Keep researching, and looking around for a Dr. who seems to know a whole load about the eyes and who takes and interest in YOU.

good luck,

bernadette

[ShaneA655]

been to 3 different eye docs and 4 different derms. All told them i have symptoms of flushing face, red eyes and no rosacea from any of them. So that tells me i dont really have it. It could very well be because all my symptoms point towards that. However, you woudl think one out of 4 of them would say i had rosacea. I am not fair skinned really, dark hair, not your typical rosacea patient. No signes of pustles, etc...u get with facial rosacea. Just sensitive skin. it might be a product i am sensitive to that is causing all of this. I am going to get a patch test done to rule out allergies etc...Who knows. have an appt with eye doc in louisville....dr foust??read about him on here. So will see what happens when i see him. I want to know exactly the reason why my eyes are dry? Could it be allergies?

[bernmee]

Please let us know how you get on with him.

Best of luck,

Bernadette

[GinaJ]

I developed my dry eye at the same age. We are still not sure the cause of mine and I have been to every specialty from rheumatolgists,allergists etc and 8 eye specialists. Anyhow they thought I had rosacea but it turned out I had seborrehic dermititis and though that was treated it did nothing for the eye condition as I am worse off now then when it started a year plus ago. If you have not been for a general physical with your gp I would. Have him or her run an extensive blood work to test for any auto immune or other problems. Good luck

[sazy123]

My obvious thought to what your describing is rosacea.

I also have hardly any facial rosacea, and severe dry eye/ ocular rosacea. You can have one with out the other because one doesnt cause the other but you will be prone to both if you are susceptible to rosacea.

Do you have pale skin?

I have had no diagnosis of rosacea or ocular, but i know i have it. Docs just arent good at diagnosing ocular rosacea.

[ShaneA655]

no rosacea. You people are funny on here. I am not pale by any means. I know high BP causes red eyes. Could that be it? I have been to 4 difffernet derms who all said no way i have rosacea. what are treatments for ocular rosacea??

[alisonW]

Hi Shane...

I honestly don't think anyone is trying to be funny. I think we're all trying to save you some grief by helping you out actually. From all of your posts, rosacea seems to be the obvious answer. One of my good friends has it too and is hispanic - you do not have to be pale to have it - although it shows up more often in fair skinned folks. Flushing is a key symptom and exercising is a classic trigger. As others have mentioned, you do not need to have pustules or pimples, nor do you have to have a constantly red or pink face. Many with ocular rosacea have no facial symptoms at all and no flushing. It is also very under-diagnosed because many derms are reluctant to treat it unless it is *very* apparent on the face (with papules/pustules) because unfortunately there is no universal treatment and no cure - topical treatments may lessen its severity but generally do not help the eye symptoms. I have also had three derms tell me I don't have it but I know I do based upon my extreme sensitivity, flushing during exercise, stress, or extreme temperatures + my persistently red, dry, & burning eyes. (Keep in mind the photos on rosacea sites show the worst cases. I am often told what beautiful skin I have...) As GinaJ mentions, seborrehic dermititis is closely related to rosacea and often goes hand-in-hand with it. Most with seb derm suffer from blepharitis. Blepharitis is not always visible to the naked eye and may only be visible under the slit lamp. It can cause, red, dry eyes. Lid massage and compresses will help greatly. I have had high BP for many years and never had eye problems until a few years ago, when my BP was completely under control and treated with Rx meds. I seriously doubt that it (high BP) alone is causing your eye problems. Definitely research rosacea, ocular rosacea, and seborrehic dermititis you may only be in the very beginning stages of these, and if you are, you may be able to help prevent it from worsening if you treat it now. If not, allergies may be your enemy and you should definitely have the skin prick test done. My advice is not to rule anything out no matter what the derms say - as we all know, docs do not know everything and in fact have caused many on this board to be in severe pain because of their advice. Good luck.

[Lucy]

Well said, Alison. I hope your post helps Shane and others to understand rosacea and ocular rosacea. I do not have it, and only know a little about the facial rash of rosacea. Lucy