Eye irritation after clinic appointment

[Longwalks3]

Good morning all! I recently had a clinic appointment 6 weeks after having an aqueous shunt removed from my right eye (it wouldn’t stop leaking.) Recovery has been going well and I was finally getting on top of managing my dry eye symptoms - mainly by using a shed load of Thealoz Duo dry eye drops. Anyway, since my clinic visit I have had a real blepharitis flare up. I have a feeling this may be something to do with the eye drops used in clinic during examinations. Does anyone else feel that the fluorescent yellow drops and the eye numbing drops cause them a problem too? Sorry, but I don’t know what these are called.

[Hidden]

Both the anaesthetic and the fluorescein dye cause me enormous problems. These problems arise a day or two after exposure and literally last for weeks or months.

I've done a lot of research and I think I only figured it out earlier this year - histamine. Both of these products can trigger mast cells and cause a histamine release. If your mast cells don't work properly, this becomes problematic. I get gut problems, nerve pain, joint pain, dry eyes and a number of other symptoms.

I've figured out that the dry eye is caused by an inflammation of my eyelids, so if I use a hot compress as suggested, it makes matters worse. So I keep my eye bag in the freezer now and use a cold compress, and after just a few minutes you can feel the oil flow return to the eyes.

This might not work for you but you might want to give it a try. I found the lubricant you're using made matters worse for me.

Hope this helps a bit.

[Longwalks3 in reply to Hidden]

Interesting. I might try the cold compress idea as Ive been dong hot compresses for several years now and have never been convinced that they make much difference. I do find the Thealoz Duo helpful however if I use it often enough.

[Hidden in reply to Longwalks3]

Let me know how you get on. During a bad spell of dry eye, I find a cold compress can offer me relief twice as long as the eye lubricant, with the added advantage of no crusty margin deposits.

[Totthi in reply to Hidden]

Hi SupafilI,too have suffered from dry eyes ,badly. As you mentioned about using cold compress that can help you,could you kindly let me know where I can buy it,please Much appreciated .

Thank you,Tot thi

[Hidden in reply to Totthi]

I've got one from Amazon from "The Eye Doctor". You can use it hot or cold. There are cheaper ones available, so I'd say any with beads or grains/seeds inside would work. I'm not sure about the ones with gel in them. I've also got a wheat bag designed to be microwaved and used on sore joints, which also works if you keep it in the freezer.

[Totthi in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much Supafil for a quick reply, i will try to buy it .

[muddledme in reply to Longwalks3]

So sorry to hear about the blepharitis. Most medicines can have allergies or side effects, although I find that some medics tend to dismiss this. The problem is finding the culprit !

Flourescien dye is used in all types of investigations, especially useful when it can highlight abnormal blood vessels, but I have a friend who had a bad reaction to it.

Years ago I had Patch testing which showed up all sorts of allergies and the list has been very useful. My husband has histamine sensitivities with oily fish and allergies to many artificial colours and some antibiotics. He 'specializes'in dramatic rashes!

It is worth keeping a careful list of dates and adverse events after medications and always asking the medics at your appointments if you are worried.

My dry eyes have improved so much that I hardly use the lubricants at the moment, I do tend to be outdoors a lot and the humidity is also high indoors. Still use the heated compress every night, almost afraid to stop it , but would be interested to hear if you find the cold version any help.

Best wishes

[Longwalks3 in reply to muddledme]

Thanks for this. The problem I have in identifying the cause of my blepharitis/dry eye symptoms is that there is always such a lot going on at the same time! For example, after this clinic visit I have started using Tiopex and Ikervis in my right eye (I have been using both of these in my left eye for several months). I would say that my right eye is more uncomfortable than my left so it is possible that some of the problems I have experienced recently are because my right eye is adjusting to the new drop regime. I would say that overall both eyes are calming down a little now so if it is a reaction to the fluoresceine it may be fairly short lived. I live in hope! Jury is out on the cold compresses at the moment. I have tried it a couple of times but it doesn’t really seem to help me. Also, I struggle to understand how a cold compress could release/melt solid oil blocking the meibomian glands??

[muddledme in reply to Longwalks3]

Interested that you think your eyes may be adjusting to the drops now. I wonder if my eyes have improved at last since all the post surgery eye drops.

The cold eye packs do sound odd, but perhaps it helps those whose eyelids are inflammed.

I do not like cold things so if things continue OK with the hot pads then I shall be happy. Hope your eyes continue to improve.

[Longwalks3 in reply to muddledme]

And yours! Had a call from the Eye Hospital this afternoon to say I’ve got an appointment with my consultant next Wednesday so will probably be back to square one comfortwise! Can’t complain though as I realise how lucky I am to be seen so frequently.