Redness that isn't going!

[LJC123]

Hi everybody,

I hope someone can help me! Im 22years old and have been suffering with redness in my right eye that wont go away!

I've tried many different drops, hayfever/allergy anti-hestimine ones, moisturising tears, cold compressors. The only drops that semi work are the "reduce redness" ones but I know they are bad for your eyes but sometimes I just have no choice eg. work, social events etc..

I wear contact lenses and have done for many years and my opticians could not find anything wrong with my eye, they say it could be an allergy. I'm rarely wearing my contacts anymore. I've been to the doctors recently and he prescribed me some anti-hestimine drops but they don't seem to be working.

Its strange because it is only in my right eye, my left is fine! And sometimes it wont be as noticeable (but still faintly there) but say 1/2 hour later it will be extremely red again.

I'm getting really distressed about it now and it is effecting my life. Sorry to be dramatic. I hope someone can offer me some advice! Is it Dry eye? Can anyone suggest any treatments? Other eyedrops maybe preservative free ones? Could it be Rebound Hyperemia from using too many drops?

Heres an image of my eyes... http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...sc00481ev.jpg/

[ryanross]

happend to me over a year ago when I was 19. I wore contacts every day, no problems, then I switched solutions and it seemed to bother my eyes like there were bumps under my eyelids when I took out my contacts. I went to an optomotrist who gave me steroids/antibiotics and that problem went away. Following this, my left eye turned extremely red and veiny. I waited a few days, but it didnt go away. Went back, they gave me steroids which helped temporarily, but it didnt fully go away and was recurring and random (like your case, one moment it could be kinda red, an hour later extremely red). Went to a bunch of other doctors who all told me different things that could be causing it but nobody could give me concrete answers. After a few months an optomotrist told me that my eyes just looked really dry, which I never noticed until then (except upon waking in the morning). Thus began my dry eye...Currently redness is under good control now, not very noticeable, but I cant ware contacts due to the dryness which triggers redness.

Allergies are sometimes followed by itchiness and other symptoms that most people think of when they hear allergies. Do you have any of those? I was told my redness could have been allergies but other doctors told me no so I don't know what they are looking at when they diagnose the redness as allergies.
If its dryness they should be able to see it through simple tests so if it hasnt come up during your visit, ask about it.

Anyway, good luck, I hope you can get this under control. Your not being dramatic, if other people tell you otherwise its because they have never experienced what you are going through, even if its something as "simple" as red eyes.

[LJC123]

Thanks for the reply!!

I really don't know what it could be to be honest. Maybe dry eye? I'm fed up of putting all types of drops in my eye I really think its not doing it any good.

So I think I'm going to just buy some Clinitas Soothe (preservative free) drops store them in the fridge so they are cold and act as a natural constrictor! I've done my homework lol.

It could be allergies but wouldn't it effect both eyes? Its just my right eye that is getting red.

What do you use for our eye now to control the redness?

[Ahmed]

That is not an allergy in my opinion.

Is your eye painful?

[ryanross]

Restasis has helped keep my redness flare-ups under control tremendously (but hasn't done too much in terms of dryness). Other than that i used refrigerated pf lubricant eye drops. What ive noticed (not sure if this is how it goes with other people) is that when I was using drops VERY often to try to defeat this thing, my eyes were only getting dryer. When I began only using drops less, my eyes felt better. The best way to do it would be to put the chilled drops in your eye, keep it closed for two minutes and then leave it at that unless you really feel you need more. Cold compresses with like ice in a paper towel work pretty well too.

[ryanross]

and btw to me (not a doctor) based on what doctors have told me about my eyes, that looks like redness due to dryness (I've had redness that looked just like that and they said it was a dry spot)

[LJC123]

Yeah i'm pretty sure it's dryness too. It's not been to bad today I have not used any drops at all, I reckon your theory is right I got drops left right and centre and think thats what made it worse...

And Ahmed, no it's not painful... only slightly itchy at times but Im guessing thats due to dryness?

Thanks for your tips!

[LJC123]

anybody else have any thoughts?

[littlemermaid]

The problem is something mild can develop into something horrible if untreated or, particularly, as we all know, blitzing it with random eyedrops making the eye surface or sensitivity worse. The first hurdle is referral to an ophthalmologist on the NHS with what looks to an uninformed GP or optometrist like a minor complaint.

This is not minor because you have had it too long. It is unresolved on first line treatments for suspected allergy (plus it's one eye only) or blepharitis or mild dry eye (is it still one eye only?), and needs examination for other causes. Since you have used contact lenses, it needs a swab for undesirable wildlife.

GP NHS referral to ophth service is 3m after first presentation if unresolved (search NHS clinical guidelines). A proper ophthalmologist, preferably surface or anterior segment specialist, needs to examine for causes, even if to rule out other stuff (which cannot always be seen in a slit-lamp by the half-informed).

The NHS 'pathway' to ophthalmologists is GP or optometrist referral. Keep going till you find one who will do it - go in and ask for 'advice' on getting referral to hospital or local triage service, say 'if you don't know what it is and it's getting worse, then don't I need a referral to ophthalmology, couldn't it be eg fungal and need a swab' (exaggerate). If it is dry, you need to know eg what your tear film and eye surface are actually like, eg whether to pursue meibomian gland dysfunction treatments.

If you want to get private assessment by an anterior segment ophthalmologist current on surface disease, it'll be min £135, max £180 (book direct), but that's money wasted unless it's the right doc, although this is what set us on the right treatment path in the end.

You're very right not to accept GP or optometrist dismissal. This happened to my daughter on untreated bleph, random allergy, steroid and antibacterial drops, long follow-up - she's in a right state now - contact sensitivities, trashed eye surfaces. I assumed they knew what they were doing. OMG if I knew then what I know now... I would be straight to the anterior segment guys at the regional teaching hospital. All the treatments Ryanross has received would be available there, but you should be able to avoid worsening by prompt advice. You can Choose & Book this. The absolute minimum is to have this assessed properly by an ophthalmologist on the basis it's still unresolved and undiagnosed.

Keep us posted. Do you want to give us an idea of your region in case you are suffering NHS postcode lottery?

[LJC123]

Thanks for your reply littlemermaid!

I'm in the Berkshire/Reading area. I havn't seen anyone for a month now, its still there but some days its not so bad then it will flare up. It still very annoying!

Thanks for your guidance but most of it meant nothing to me... Very confusing! Lol sorry!

[sazy123]

If it comes and goes (flares up) allergy could be very possible. Best thing to do for that is get a skin patch test, and you can get a referal for that on the NHS.