Questions and intro

[robkjv]

For about the last 3 months or so, almost every night, I wake up after just a couple hours and my right eye only is in pain. It feels like the sheets are in my eye! And it waters non stop. I have to get up, usually run cold water over my face and eyes, put in eyedrops, wait for it all to stop, and then try to go back to sleep.

As long as I put in the eyedrops, just over the counter visine, I can usually make it thru the night ok. But should I be concerned using so much eye drops? Should I go to the eyedoctor? Does anyone else have this???

Thanks in advance for the help and welcome.

Rob

[Rebecca Petris]

Hi and welcome!

Should I go to the eyedoctor? Does anyone else have this???

Yes and yes!

Definitely go to the doctor. Sounds like you're getting corneal erosions and if so there are a number of possible causes. You don't want to let this get worse, you need to start getting proper treatment (eyedrops might make you feel better but they're not going to stop it happening). Find an ophthalmologist who is a corneal specialist, and if possible check them out to make sure it's somebody who takes an interest in corneal disease (sounds like a no-brainer but actually most corneal specialists are more interested in corneal surgeries than disease).

Meantime, till your appointment you may want to look into some better protection for your eye at night - sleep mask, goggle, even medical tape, and perhaps something thicker to put in your eye such as Genteal gel. Also note that sudden eyelid movements can trigger an erosion.

By the way, sheets in your eye actually is a possibility, i.e. 'floppy eyelid syndrome' where the lid's opening and the cornea's really hitting the sheets.

What happened 3 months ago?

p.s. VERY IMPORTANT: Check the label on your Visine bottle. If it is ANYTHING other than "Pure Tears", stop using it immediately. All their other products have benzalkonium chloride and are absolutely unsuitable for daily or frequent use. (in my opinion unsuitable for ANY use but that's another story )

[liz56]

I completely agree with Rebecca, especially the part about seeing your doctor. Be sure to ask about RCE's (recurrent corneal erosions) and possible causes.

If left untreated, this condition, if it is RCE's, can get really bad. I was misdiagnosed and / or under treated for too long, and I wound up with a severe problem that took a long time to get under control.

I wish you the best of luck. Let us know how you are doing.

--Liz

[sandra lee]

Hi Rob, Just wanted to tell you that I was told by my opthamologist to never use the visine or similar drops.He advised artificial tears and preferably the preservative free.I think you should seek professional advise.Good Luck!