Help! My Eyes Are Killing Me?

Question

I'm having a problem with my eyes and needing some help. About 2 weeks ago I started having itchy eyes about once every 2 days or so. I would rub them or rinse them with saline and it would go away. Well, for the past week this problem has gotten worse. It begins feeling like something is in my eye, so I rub it (I shouldn't I know, but it itches). It just keeps getting worse to the point of my eye is red and hurts to even open it. If I lay down for 30-60 minutes, the pain goes away and I am fine.

I have looked online and seen that some women have dry eyes due to hormones when pregnant, but I was just wondering if any of you had experienced it firsthand. If so, PLEASE share any advice you have.

Another piece of info... I wear contacts, but have been using only my glasses for the past couple of days

Thanks!

I haven't changed anything. Wait... The only thing I changed was a drink thing. I stopped drinking Pepsi and started drinking decaf tea. I wonder if that has anything to do with it??

The itching is all day. It comes and goes. Usually only once (really bad) per day

Answer 1

Itching is usually allergy, at this time of year (if in North America), grass allergy is likely. See your family doctor for prescription allergy eye drops (the non prescription ones don't work very well)

Answer 2

The itching is a fairly consistent sign of allergy. Whatever it is that's causing this,...dust, pet dander, pet hair, pollens, molds, ....

when it gets in your eye, in your conjunctival sac, it causes the release of histamine. Histamine is located in the little granules of eosinophils. Eosin is a stain that stains things reddish or orange, and -phil means attracted to or affinity for, or likes it...(kinda).

When the stimulus triggers the release of histamine, it is taken up by sites on blood vessels. This causes a reaction, an inflammatory reaction where the blood vessels become dilated. That makes the conjunctiva look red as there's a lot more blood flowing through. As the blood vessels are dilated, they leak. That leakage makes things swollen, and that stretching of the tissues makes the pain receptors become stimulated....and you have a low grade pain...itching.

So, the way to stop this would be to not get any more allergen into the eye...air cleaners, vacuum the floor and furniture, close windows, used filters in the air conditioning that are clean and new, clean sheets and bed toppings or covers, or bedspread....use clean towels daily...

Then there's the washing the eyes out with cold water. The cold stabilizes the vessel dilation, decreases the leakage...therefore less swelling...therefore less stretching...therefore less itching...
(Professional athletes use ICE to stop the injury from swelling too much, lower pain...etc.)

There are topical drops you can use. The Patanol mentioned is great. Works by inhibiting the release of histamine, AND blocks the uptake. Sort of glues the baseball to the pitcher's hand, AND Glues a ball in the catcher's mitt so he can't catch anything that does get thrown his way.

Naphcon-A or Vasocon-A also is used for these symptoms, again against the histamine cycles. But it stings. Works fairly well for a lot of people, and is over the counter OTC.

There are other drops as well. You might ask our ophthalmologist which would be good for you, as you should know, so you can plan for this next year, and the next year, and the next year....(pollen?)

Topical steroids help as well. They have other side effects too, but to put the fire out, very helpful. See if you can get FML as it's a mild topical steroid and it doesn't penetrate into the eye very much...which would avoid steroid problems such as increased pressure or cataracts....And get the ointment. Most people squeeze the drops out, they run down the face...can't figure out why they don't work!

The ointments do blurr one's vision for a bit, but they stick around for hours, and help with fewer applications.

Whatever you use, don't squeeze it out.

Answer 3

It is not uncommon to have a case of itchy eyes during this time of year. Mine are caused by allergies and usually last only 1 or 2 weeks. A good allergy medicine can help.

Answer 4

I use contact lenses too and i think could be some corneal ulceration,because you feel pain. The best is to see your doctor as soon as possible , not using your contacts and try to have your eyes hydrated with some gel (far better than tears)

Answer 5

maybe you're eyes are used to wearing contacts. i know when I take mine out m eyes feel really itchy. Try going to your doctor or to your optometrist. Your eyes are so important and you NEED to keep them clean and healthy.





Good Luck :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Answer 6

It could be two things: allergies or something with your contacts. If you wear contacts try rewetting drops, or they may be old.

Answer 7

sounds like allergy-go to ur optometrist ask for elestat, patanol,or pataday for your itching it will help

Answer 8

have you changed washing powder,shampoo,hair gel/spray or make up type recently?
could be related to any of these things