Itching skin around eye

[Lacrima]

I have had burning and redness on my eyeballs for months now. But more recently I have a lot of itching in the nasal corners of my eyes. I just want to scratch them but instead add a preservative free drop onto the area and this seems to dull the itching. My eyelids look fine apart from being very puffy in the morning. The part of the eyelids which is exposed (inner side of eyelash border) look a healthy pale pink colour, however I constantly have a thin film of white gunk there.

I am definitely sure it is the skin around the eyes which is itching, and not the eyeball itself.

Is anyone else experiencing this? And do you have any idea what is causing the itching and buildup?

Thank you

[LisaLis]

Hi Lacrima, What are you diagnosed with? I'm diagnosed with ocular rosacea. Sometimes my eyes get this bone dry inflamed feeling that I have to keep blinking and blinking. Then it will change and my eyes will get wet,watering and kind of burning and sometimes itchy. It seems to change back and forth from bone dry to wet and burning. but my eyes haven't felt normal in a few months. I think I did a number on my eyes when I kept wearing the damn makeup that was bothering me. That will teach me not to be vain again.
It could be allergies as to why your eyes feel itchy or just being dry.

[Lacrima]

Hi LisaLis, Thanks for your answer. Hope you have been feeling better. I haven't been diagnosed with anything yet. I 've been using FML drops and preservative free eyedrops, and my optho will insert some plugs next week. Your symptoms sound similar to mine except I never get the wet, watering that you mention. I also think I did a number on my eyes at one point, using this stupid sun cream that kept sliding off my face, into my eyes. I recently noticed that when I hold my lower eyelid down, the parts that are itchy are actually more red than the ones which aren't, and there are small clusters of little red veins which weren't there before. Do you have this, too?

[LisaLis]

Hi Lacrima,
I was actually feeling a little better the other day so I thought hmmm let me try my mascara and see what happens. Well that did it back to painful lids again. I miss my mascara. I guess since I was feeling better so I thought maybe there would be a chance my eyes could handle it. I also think its my concealer too, its not just the mascara. It's really strange because I was able to wear these brands right before this happened. The thing that set my eyes off was I bought some different brands of makeup (mascara and eyeshadow) and they started bothering me because I kept on using them like a dummy because I thought wow my lashes look good. Now I think, why couldn't I just be happy with what I was using. I did myself in. My eyes just couldn't take it anymore and I had an all out reaction that is just lingering now and I can't even use what normally never bothered me in the past. I went out and bought a whole bunch of different makeup brands because I'm thinking now I prob developed an allergy to whatever I was using. Those will probably bother me too. I think I have to totally get rid of this thing in order for the makeup not to bother me. Its so hard for me to be patient.
I don't look inside my lid when my eyes itch so I dont really know about that. I hope you are feeling better too!

[MaryVa61]

Sounds very similar to the symptoms I had. I don't remember whether I've ever posted my story to you, but you can find it (over and over) if you search this site for "formaldehyde allergy". You could also read my profile for what I do now.

After many years of eye trouble, and a huge flare up that lasted a year, chemical allergies turned out to be my primary problem. Being in a constant state of an allergic reaction to those chemicals caused me to also be sensitive to certain other chemicals in cosmetics, a lot of brands of lubricating drops, and also BAK in my medicated drops. I had to eliminate all the chemicals that I'm allergic to from my environment in order to get better. But now, on a scale of 1 to 10, my eyes have gone from an 8 or 9 to around 2 or 3. It was really difficult finding and replacing all the sources of my chemical allergies, but well worth it.

When I was reacting a lot, the inner corner of my eye often itched, the inside of the lower lids were redder than normal, veins were more prominent there and in the eye, there was a lot of mucus discharge and dryness and some filaments which were very painful. None of that is going on now except dryness. Eye doctors never did figure out that my problem was skin allergies. But one suggested allergies, then an allergist suggested maybe skin allergies and that I see a dermatologist. Tests for skin allergies (type IV hypersensitivities) with a dermatologist is what provided answers for me. To test, they tape substances to your back and then read results 2-4 days later. There's no needles.

That may not be what your problem is, but your reaction to cosmetics sure sounds suspicious. Good luck finding answers!

Mary in VA

[LisaLis]

Sounds very similar to the symptoms I had. I don't remember whether I've ever posted my story to you, but you can find it (over and over) if you search this site for "formaldehyde allergy". You could also read my profile for what I do now.

After many years of eye trouble, and a huge flare up that lasted a year, chemical allergies turned out to be my primary problem. Being in a constant state of an allergic reaction to those chemicals caused me to also be sensitive to certain other chemicals in cosmetics, a lot of brands of lubricating drops, and also BAK in my medicated drops. I had to eliminate all the chemicals that I'm allergic to from my environment in order to get better. But now, on a scale of 1 to 10, my eyes have gone from an 8 or 9 to around 2 or 3. It was really difficult finding and replacing all the sources of my chemical allergies, but well worth it.

When I was reacting a lot, the inner corner of my eye often itched, the inside of the lower lids were redder than normal, veins were more prominent there and in the eye, there was a lot of mucus discharge and dryness and some filaments which were very painful. None of that is going on now except dryness. Eye doctors never did figure out that my problem was skin allergies. But one suggested allergies, then an allergist suggested maybe skin allergies and that I see a dermatologist. Tests for skin allergies (type IV hypersensitivities) with a dermatologist is what provided answers for me. To test, they tape substances to your back and then read results 2-4 days later. There's no needles.

That may not be what your problem is, but your reaction to cosmetics sure sounds suspicious. Good luck finding answers!

Mary in VA

Hi Mary! Thanks for your input. It does sound like I may have that. I went to one allergist who tested me just for the everyday types of allergens. I was allergic to dogs,cats,guinea pigs,pollen,dust,dustmites,and mold spores. He didn't do the true testing. He prescribed cromolyn and veramyst,and allegra and said to see him in a week to see if it works. I started going to a acupuncturist and he told me no steriods while doing his treatment. That was why I didn't go back to the allergist because I wanted to try the acupuncture. Well I've given him 4 weeks and not much improvement. Today my eyes hurting just like they usually do. I'm done with this acupuncturist. Now I'm not sure if I'm going to go back to this allergist. My parents see him and love him but I don't think he does the T.R.U.E testing. They told me to give him another chance to see if he helps. I found another allergist who seems to have really good credentials who does the TRUE testing. I think I'm going to see him. Now I'm wondering if this is my problem. Do allergists usually do this type of TRUE test? It seems like just dermatologists do it.
Thanks, Lisa

[MaryVa61]

There are some allergists that do the TRUE tests, but some don't. Most all dermatologists do. My allergist is the type who just focuses on Type I allergies, not Type IV, which sounds like your allergist too. TRUE tests would be a good idea for you, but I think it's also possible that the type I allergies you have are affecting your eyes and as long as you are reacting to those allergens your eyes are going to be over-sensitive to chemical irritants even if you aren't allergic to chemicals. You may want to ask the allergist about that.

I don't see the dermatologist who did my TRUE tests on an ongoing basis. All she could do for me is identify the allergens by testing me. But now that my allergist knows I have those skin allergies, he considers that when making recommendations for sprays and drops and such for my rhinitis and mild asthma by trying to avoid preservatives or at least the BAK I'm sensitive to. But really avoiding the chemical allergens is up to me to do. Docs can't help with that. I just have to check ingredients of everything I buy and compare it to the TRUE test list of names for my allergen (formaldehyde). And I have to use bedding that's organic or Oeko standard certified not to contain certain chemicals.

It sounds like you're already on you way to finding answers, if the problem is allergy. It's a lot of work, takes time, but very worthwhile pursuing allergy tests and treatment/avoidance if you're like me.

Mary in VA