Allergic conjunctivitis/ dry eyes

Eye care
1

Hi

I'm atopic (asthma, hayfever, skin allergies)

About 10 years ago, I was self conscious that my eyes didn't look white. Used cosmetic whitening drops, which probably kick started issues as I guess I reacted with the preservatives in them. Saw opthalmologist who gave me sodium cromoglicate, a mast cell stabiliser.

8 years ago, noticed swelling under the eye. Referred to opthalmologist who said it was blepharitis (though no crust lids, recommend lid hygiene)

Had ongoing issues, with watery eyes and slightly red eye for a few years.

So fast forward recently. My eyes have felt ok, rarely used drops or hygiene.

Had real mad inflammation and sticky discharge in eyes . Thought it was bacterial conjunctivitis, so used chloramphenicol and restarted cromoglicate and lid wipes.

Didn't do much.

Went to opthalmologist who gave me

Opatanol (olaptadine), 6 weeks

Prednisolone 0.5% , 3 weeks

Hyabak lubricant, ongoing

The steroids helped immediately, my eyes never looked so white or felt so good.

Once they stopped, the opatanol worked a bit.

So now I'm back to lid care, hyabak and when needed, cromoglicate.

6 week follow up they said my eyes were better, still a little inflammation and to continue with lubricant.

Tiday, I wake with red eyes again, slight discharge of mucus. Really upset and frustrated . Have booked another opthalmologist

The eyes have calmed a little in last 6 hours with cromoglicate and lubricate. They don't feel itchy, they're not watery, no pain, no blurred vision, no photophobia, etc

I don't know what else to do

2

OK i had similar issues, i took alergy (antihistamines) medication for a week and the symtoms cleared.  When i got them i thought these wont work but they did honestly.  Give them a try. 

3

Hi,

What drops did you use?

4

Hi. It's beyond and more problematic than that.

5

Hi

Prednisolone 0.5%

Olaptadine drops

Hyabak lubricant drops

Currently on

Sodium cromoglicate 2%

Hyabak

Lid routines

6

Honestly i had the exactly the same problems, my eyes were continually itchy and red, blurred vision and white stringy muscus continually coming out of both eyes.  I would rub my eyes in the night without realising and wake up to red eyes permanently.   This happened on and off for years (i have had steriod drops etc) but the probelms kept coming back, by complete accident i started taking antihistamines for another problem and relaised that my eyes didnt itch over the next few days they cleared.  I then stopped the antihistamines and the problem came back after a few days so now i take one tablet every other day and it cleared the problem.  Give it a try for a week you have othing to lose..

7

oh i still use Sodium cromoglicate 2% once a day when i wake up

8

I have mentioned I'm already using them (cetirizine)

9

I'm still waking with red eyes.

I was ok til 2 months ago, with odd flare up and rubbing eyes.

3 weeks of steroid sorted it.

Since stopped using those, I haven't recovered.

I'm not even rubbing my eyes for 2 months.

I'm using wipes, lubricant and antihistamine.

I saw the opthalmologist on Monday but they were fine then, but ive had flare up last 2 days again.

Totally fed up.

I think the steroids should have been for 6 weeks to calm the underlying inflammation

10

Have you considered that it depends on what food you have ?  Maybe you have a alergy to a certain food ?  Or maybe i is the washing powder that you wash bedding in ?, could be lots of triggers ?

11

no because 1) I know what foods allergic to and avoid those anyway (nuts, fish etc) and 2) I use the same non bio wash powder for clothes 3) hypoallergenic non soap cleaners and 4) I'd be getting a reaction everywhere not just my eyes and 5) this seems an acute not chronic issue

12

OK, ask for the strongest antihistamies from your doctor, explain that you only want them for a few days to test the outcome.

13

Ok thanks will try.