New member, hope to get some insight

[SandyinTexas]

Hello, I'm Sandy and I am 53 years old. About five years ago, I began experiencing periodic SEVERE eye pain, in one eye at a time only, in the morning when I first open my eyes. I have never experienced such intense concentrated pain, and it made me actually cry out it hurt so much. It also makes the eyelid on the affected eye slightly swollen, and it is very painful to move the eye. The eye positvely POURS tears after an episode. It takes an hour or more before I can normally move the eye again without pain.

I have had episodes over the intervening years, but have learned to lightly massage my eyelids before opening my eyes to try to avoid it. I also use GenTeal ointment before I go to sleep and again in the morning.

At 4 am this morning my dog woke me up and I lightly touched my eyelid and had a terrible episode of the pain. I thought I had interrupted its severity by the massaging, but it lasted for over an hour. Then the all-day watering began. This also made my nose run and the OTHER eye watered as well.I was lovely at work today, let me tell you! My eye is sensitive even tonight.

I have had other symptoms as well, the HEAVY eyelids (feels like someone is pushing them with their fingers) and sensitivity to light.

My husband was laid off and we not only lost our insurance but his income of course, and I am afraid eye doctors just don't figure into the budget right now. I guess what I am looking for is anyone else who has experienced this level of stabbing, intense pain in the morning like I do. I have searched online and cannot find anything mentioning it, only gritty irritation.

This makes me dread mornings!

Thank you so much in advance.

Sandy

[Shogan]

SandyinTexas,

It sounds as though you are experiencing Corneal Erosions, referred to as Recurrent Corneal Erosions (RCEs) after mutiple occurrences. I'm not highly knowledgeable about this condition, but there are a number of members that have had these and some that still have them. Try searching for them on this board and I think you'll share many similarities.

It will also be best to consult an opthamologist if anyway possible.

Wish you well!

[Rebecca Petris]

I agree with Shogan, sounds like classic RCE. Baby erosions from the duration maybe.

When you are able to get to a corneal specialist... which I say with some hesitation knowing how many people are not diagnosed properly till their 3rd or 4th.... you'll want to maximize your chances of accurate diagnosis by typing up a really good succinct history of your symptoms and fax it in before the appointment.

Meantime, some things that may give you significant help with this IF it's RCE and at any rate can't hurt you (barring unusual allergies etc) if it's not:

- Maybe a warm compress just before bed. Homemade rice baggy works good.
- Plastic wrap over the eyes at night may be helpful until you can get something that works better. The idea is a moisture barrier plus (later when you can get something better) something to help immobilize your lids - as you've already noticed probably, sudden eyelid movements precipicate those erosions.
- If you can manage about $14.50 (make sure to select first class shipping) invest in a bottle of Dwelle at the shop here. Sounds self serving but it's not... so many people with RCE get their epitheliums better healed up with Dwelle. Lot cheaper than what an ophthamologist is going to prescribe anyway.

You're going to be OK - this is a known problem - but it's going to take some babying and real patience. DON'T let it escalate! Save up for a dr. exam and when you are able to get it, try to get the earliest morning appointment possible so that if there are any signs left from your erosion they'll be able to see them. One of the reasons this is often poorly diagnosed is that the cornea heals so fast, by the time you get in to the doctor it's gone.