Sore eyes

Hi all, woke up this morning with feeling like got something in my eye, I use dry eye drops as needed but don't seem to make any difference today. Any suggestions?

[Kendrew]

What sort of eyedrops are you using?....as in what make of dry eye drops? You may have developed a mild infection, causing conjunctivitis, which will make your eyes feel really sore and gritty. You may need antibacterial eyedrops if this is the case but you'd need to seek some medical advice first if you think this might be the case.

[Hidden in reply to Kendrew]

Sno tears for dry and irritated eyes prescribed off gp

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Were your eyes gungy this morning? Maybe some dried gunge irritated your eye?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Gunge being a medical term of course 😳

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

I'm sure there is a better term - escapes me though

[autumnlass in reply to PMRpro]

Exudate?! 😁

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to autumnlass]

Very likely - but how often would I have to explain what it meant?

[autumnlass in reply to PMRpro]

Yes quite so!! 😊

[Blearyeyed in reply to PMRpro]

Gunk !

😂😂😂

[Tahiri in reply to Blearyeyed]

Perfect description though…..

[Hidden]

No bottom eyelid bit pink last night but no just feels like something is in there and sore.

[diana1998 in reply to Hidden]

SPECSAVERS WILL PUT YOU RIGHT👌

[autumnlass]

Maybe you have an eye infection? A pharmacist would help you and suggest an antibacterial ointment like Chloramphenicol Eye ointment. Hope it’s soon better. ❤️‍🩹

[SheffieldJane]

Perhaps get an optician to take a look with their equipment. I had a scratch on my cornea once and it was agonising. I was given antibiotic ointment.

[Blearyeyed]

it could be an infection , a touch of red eye or conjunctivitus.

Did you do anything the day before that might have irritated it , like wind in your eyes or getting a bit of soap or make up in it.

try using an eye bath with cooled boiled water a few times through the day then add your gel tears after it.

Make sure you really rinse out the eye bath between eyes but do clean both . Tilt your head sideways so no water runs from one eye to the other over a bowl or sink. If it is an infection you don't want to spread it to the other eye.

Drink lots of water , your eyes need plenty of hydration from the inside to heal even from a bit of irritation or an allergy.

rest your eyes and try not to rub them , relax with a warm cloth over closed eyes a few times in the day when they are sore.

use your phone and computer less and dont read as much until the soreness reduces as these activities dry the eyes and can inflame them more.

if it continues to get worse and also starts swelling or getting gunky call a GP and remind them you are on steroids for PMR , if it is an infection or conjunctiva issue you may need antibiotics or steroid drops to clear it.

[Casia]

Any thyroid issues? I had thyroid eye disease some years ago. My eyes were extremely sensitive and felt as if there was grit in them. It did burn itself out eventually but is worth getting checked out. I got diagnosed by chance when I was in the US and my friend had an appointment with her eye doctor. My own GP hadn’t a clue even though I’d had hypothyroidism for years.

[Tahiri]

I had similar problems with pain in my eyes. It was diagnosed as Blepharitis, which I believe can occur with Prednisolone use. I use a heated mask daily , followed by massage and cleaning of my eyelids with wipes, designed for this purpose. I also use preservative free eye drops every few hours. The most helpful thing was prescribed ointment called ‘Hylo Night’. My salivary glands are not doing their job and I’ve been prescribed artificial saliva. I tested negative for Sjogren’s Syndrome so hopefully all the symptoms will go as I reduce the steroids ( currently at 2.5 mg) for GCA. I hope this helps as the eye discomfort is really annoying and worries me quite a bit. Best wishes, Tahiri

[Hidden in reply to Tahiri]

Same as me then and use the same as you

[Daffodilia]

I had tea tree wash from optician and warm eye mask - I find Thealoz Duo eye drops are best four times a day as much as you like

[Pixix]

I have similar problems, (as Tahiri above), & have a mask, too, as optician says I have blepharitis…not connected with Polymyalgia as I had it well before. You may want to check it out…also ‘sore eyes’ comes up frequently…I read lots of related posts, much info there! Oh, & I did have Sjögren’s syndrome symptoms but blood tests showed no sign!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

Then it is called sicca syndrome - dry syndrome. Identical to Sjoegrens apart from the blood/biopsy proof.

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks! I didn’t take it any further, as it was the Rheumatologist who said it’s so I assumed all OK, but the dentist said I had sjogrens symptoms, too. Will read it up! S x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

To all intents and purposes the same - and managed the same really, symptomatically.

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

I thought I had Sjogrens a few years and had all sorts of tests and investigations. I remember from reading forums that doctors often said 'can't be SS because bloods are negative' but that can happen with PMR and many people just don't show it in the bloods. The most helpful people were the dentists, I was referred to the dental hospital and given all sorts of things to help dry eyes and mouth. It went away after a year or so, possibily Mikulicz syndrome? Worth investigating if you have dry eyes and mouth, though in this ase as it's just one eye an optician might be the best bet

[Hidden]

Morning, I too have recently had an eye issues. Woke up with what I thought was a Stye under top left eyelid. I used Golden eye ointment for a couple of days, it went. However, I also have dry eyes and buy from Boots or opticians Hyco San Extra. It's good to use too Blephaclean wipes used daily for eyelids. Says on the box for: Blepharitis, dry eye and melbomian gland dysfunction. When opticians examine our eyes some of us suffer this condition. Like little white flecks in eyelashes. Wondering if Pred mess with our eyes too. Mine feel awful all day, heavy and just don't feel right. Recently went to opticians all good though and pressures were fine.

[Frewen1]

I have had an intermittent sore and watering eye ( just one) for a couple of weeks -it went, then came back. Seems better today. I have also recently had mild Covid , and apparently sore eyes can be a symptom. It’s accompanied by a very runny nose. I’ve been using special eye drops which seem to clear it up - called HycoSan dual. Hope that helps.

[S4ndy]

Please get your optician to check you out. I had weird things going on with my left eye. Thought it was blepharitis but turned out it was shingles. Luckily my optician spotted it and sent me to the hospital eye clinic in time to have antivirals. I have slight scarring on my left cornea now it could have been a lot worse. Get it checked out x

[diana1998]

I had that when I woke up a while back. Trief eye bath, drops etc all in vain. So rang specsavers for emergency appt. The manager saw me, turned the eyelid inside out and removed a piece of grit. Then gave me special eyedrops for the problem. Pain cleared up immediately. Wonderful service. Grit can scratch the eyeball.

[GinnyMa]

My eye was gritty and saw doc. Could you be developing a stye? I had one this year and never had one before. My ophthalmologist told me he has started to see so many styes this year that he thinks that wearing masks could be the cause.

[Twopies]

I get this every once in a while, feels like a grain of sand in my eye that I rub and make worse. Mine are chalazions, my eye doc removes them. Then I use eye drops and a heat pack that he had me buy from the pharmacy. They are due to pred drying out my eyes, he said, won’t go away on their own. Hope you get yours figured out.

[Hidden]

Thanks all