Painful eyeball

[EastMidsLass]

I have had a painful eyeball for a few days now. As I have polymyalgia rheumatica as well as fibromyalgia I went to GP pronto. He had a cursory look and said "your eye is slightly inflamed I will give you some antibiotic eye drops " I also went to see an optician who was very dismissive and couldn't understand why I had come to see her after seeing a doctor. I explained that she was able to give my eye a more thorough exam. She couldn't find any infection or problems with my actual eye, good news. My eye is still painful, like I have bumped into something. Any thoughts? Just to say my eyesight is fine. I don't have a headache and I don't have jaw pain or scalp pain. I wonder if it is a fibro thing. I am newly diagnosed.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

If the optometrist couldn't find anything wrong, then I'd go with her [they are eye experts] ..and she may well have suggested eye drops anyway.

See you have also post on Fibro forum, so you may get replies there.

When you say newly diagnosed - do you mean with fibro rather than PMR.. or visa versa?

...just to note, Pred in ophthalmic suspension (mixture) containing the active drug prednisolone acetate or ophthalmic solution containing the active drug prednisolone sodium phosphate is sometimes prescribed for inflamed eyes.

[EastMidsLass in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi,

Thanks for response. Newly diagnosed with fibro so that is all new to me. Diagnosed with PMR in 2018 and I have been on pred ever since. Just covering all bases.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to EastMidsLass]

Thought that what you meant - but profile confused me a bit -easily done. 😊

[EastMidsLass in reply to DorsetLady]

Your confused how do you think I feel 😅🤣😂 😜

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to EastMidsLass]

join the clan.. 🙈

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to EastMidsLass]

Think it is a common complaint!! (confusion I mean, not eye pain)

I did see something recently about eye pain - acute angle glaucoma I think it was. That is a medical emergency.

Is your optometrist on the CUES list for emergency services?

primaryeyecare.co.uk/servic...

If so, then I would hope they would have identified if anything serious was possible and sent you to the ED - not that they are much use if they don't have an eye department.

East Midlands is a LARGE area - even supposing that is where you live! Have you got a major hospital within easy reach? If the pain persists or worsens I'd say go there.

[EastMidsLass in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your input. We have several major hospitals here in the East Midlands. Having had 2 suspected GCA episodes during my PMR journey I take on board your advice. As I previously mentioned I have no GCA symptoms so I'm at a loss to rationalise this bizarre pain in my eyeball. Ah well us East Midlanders like to be different. 😅😜

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to EastMidsLass]

Plenty of potential causes that aren't GCA. You may have several major hospitals near you - but Lincolnshire is East Midlands too!!

[Blearyeyed]

I can understand we all get a bit more concerned when something happens to our eyes whether we have PMR or GCA because we get anxious it might be GCA.But eye issues are really common for various reasons if you take steroids and actually as part of fibromyalgia.

Eye infections and inflammation, red eye or severe dry eye are the most common. Steroids can cause the eyes and skin to become more dry over time , and lower immunity on higher doses can cause a greater risk of infections.

The antibiotic drops should help and the GP wouldn't have given them to you if they weren't convinced it was an infection.

You can help improve the recovery of the eye and prevent further infections and Dry Eye from Fibromyalgia by using good quality saline drops , like carmellose drops each day.

You can get these on prescription.

You put them in by leaning the head back , applying to the centre of the eye closing the eye lid gently then slowly rolling the eye from side to side for a minute before you lean your head back down again.

Luke warm compresses on natural cotton pads can help relieve the pain and also maintain eyelid moisture.

You can get gel eye pads to put in the fridge if you find cool compresses are more helpful to you.

Drink the recommended water each day and include foods with Vitamin C , A , E , D in your diet . This helps improve eye health from within. Animal source Vitamin A from things like eggs,oily fish and fish oils and dairy foods (including lactofree) is actually is metabolised better for use in managing eye health and eyelid oils than Betacarotene from vegetables.

Reduce screen time and keep eyes protected from the cold and wind, especially whilst you have the infection.

Often , the reason for many of the symptoms and syndromes that can affect various parts of the body with Fibromyalgia is because Fibromyalgia can cause the depletion and poor absorption of many vitamins and minerals , including B vitamins , Vitamin D , Iron and other trace metals.

The constant healing process the body undergoes as it copes with inflammation and pain, as well as metabolising medications for both PMR and Fibromyalgia can cause this reduction in nutrients and internal dehydration. This also has an impact on your immunity and general health.

Eye stuff can look and feel far worse than it often is , it can take a few weeks to clear as well.

Sometimes Eye Pain without other symptoms of infection is actually a type of Ocular Migraine.

You do not necessarily get pain in the head with ocular migraines.

It can also cause short intervals of sight disturbance or aura.

If you have had a cold recently , or are a bit bunged up your sinus can also cause pressure and a bruise like feeling in the eyes . This can still happen weeks after you've got over the main symptoms of a cold or flu.

If you keep getting it it's worth speaking to the GP again about the possibility of Migraines , another very common chronic condition for people whom have Fibromyalgia.

Hope you feel ok , soon , take care , Bee

[EastMidsLass in reply to Blearyeyed]

Hi Blearyeyed,

Thank you so much for your support. Your advice here is exactly what I needed to have. Clear, concise and helpful. You have really helped me. I think the sinusitis and ocular migraine is stop on. I have suffered with both for about 60 years but never had this type of eye pain before hence seeking medical and fellow PMR GCA Fibro warrior advice. Again many many thanks.