Corneal Infections

[944fan]

A couple of weeks ago I got a corneal abrasion and infection. The eye clinic gave me antibiotic eye drops. It seemed to clear up really quick and I went back to the clinic last Tuesday. I was given the all clear and discharged. The Dr told me to keep using the drops 4 times a day till end of week to make sure the infection doesn't return.

Everything was fine for a couple of days but this weekend my eye has become painful and watery again. Although the eyeball isn't red under my eye lids (esp. bottom) are very red. Eye feels very stingy.

I phoned the eye clinic and I have an appointment for tomorrow evening. I am just stting myself that it is some awful complication. I am hoping it is some simple infection or just the eye drops that have aggravated my eye.

Anyone have any experience of this, or some comforting words other than "Don't worry you have another eye", which is the best my work colleagues could come up with.

[944fan]

Been back to the eye clinic. It would appear the infection has returned. Got given the same drops and some additional ones. Only problem is the drops I had before now make my eye sting like hell. Have no idea if my eye is healing as it hurts so much.

Got to take them for 2 weeks. Worried about taking them for two weeks and being in all that pain not knowing if it is healing.

[throt]

No experience here.

My guess is that its a infection that needs clearing up..

All the very best, sure it will work out fine.

[944fan]

Yes seems to an infection that just wont quit.

Thankfully going back to the eye clinic on Friday to see another Dr. Hopefully get some antibiotic drops which don't feel like I am pouring acid in my eye.

[HelenT]

Hard to say without seeing you but preservative allergies with eye drops are fairly common maybe worth asking for single dose (non preserved drops), also very common to get recurrent corneal errosion syndrome . Basically with a corneal abrasion when you open your eyes in the morning you pull the "scab" away so almost like starting with a new injury again. Lacrilube ointment or similar last thing at night acts a a grease and helps the eye heal.

[944fan]

Thanks Helen. When I last saw the Dr he prescribed what I though he said was chloramphenicol ointment to use at night. The pharmacy gave me drops. Sounds like the ointment would have been better.

My eye is worse in the morning and seems to improve slightly in the afternoon.

Should I go back to the pharmacy and say the did it wrong?

[944fan]

Thanks again HelenT. I went to the late night pharmacy and got some Chlromphenicol ointment which is what I think I should have had. Can already feel an improvement this morning.

Thank you for explaining the recurrent corneal abrasion thing as well. The definitely sounds like what I have and its good to have an understanding of what the problem actually is. Shame the Dr couldn't have explained that to me.

[HelenT]

Good to hear it's improving, the course of treatment for chloramphenicol is normally 5 days, I would probably swap to lacrilube or similar for a couple of weeks after at night just to give the eye a chance to heal.

[944fan]

Today it seems a little worse. My eye looks redder. That might just be because I had a couple of nights of bad sleep.

Thankfully I have an appointment at the clinic at 14:15 today so might be able to change the drops

[944fan]

Got a nice Dr at the clinic yesterday who explained it all to me and reassured me it be ok. Pain for the last two days has been terrible.

Typical it would a really nice day today. Going have to sit inside with the curtains closed as the light hurts like hell.

[944fan]

Been up and down with this. Friday wasn't too bad, Dr said it was healing. Friday evening was quite sore (wonder if the fluorescent drops aggravated my eye?). Saturday was very painful, Sunday better, today painful again.

Back to the eye clinic on Thursday.

Really starting to get fed up of it now. When it first happened it cleared completely in a week. Since it came back it has been over a week and no improvement.

[HelenT]

Any better?

[944fan]

Yesterday it was a fair bit better. I waited a few hours before putting the drops in and they are definitely aggravating my eye. If they want me to continue with those kind (Ofloxacin) then I will see if I can get the preservative free ones. Don't care if I have to pay for a private prescription.

This morning I woke with a start and my eyes opened quickly and it was very painful for a bit. Calmed down in the afternoon and now is not so bad.

The pain is bad but the worse thing is not knowing what is going on. If the Drs said look it will hurt for a couple of weeks so suck it up I could, but they are just saying take the drops come back in a week.

See what they say tomorrow I guess. Think I might go prepared with some questions and make sure I get them answered.

[HelenT]

I'm an optician but are you being seen by an ophthalmologist in an eye department in a hospital or by a GP or normal A+E clinic?

[Chlorothalonil]

You are similar to me at the moment. I have keratoconus and cannot wear my lenses due to corneal abrasions, been several weeks now. Using Hylo drops and something else at night but not making much progress.

[944fan]

HelenT said:

I'm an optician but are you being seen by an ophthalmologist in an eye department in a hospital or by a GP or normal A+E clinic?

Yes opthalmologist at the eye clinic. Saw gp initially who referred me to them.

[J4CKO]

I had one, developed into a corneal ulcer, antibiotics and a darkened room, optician still mentions it now due to the scarring.

[69 coupe]

Sounds like RCE, Recurrent Corneal erosion/ dry eyes, when you wake up and open eyes quick the epithelium is sort of ripped off due to eyes sticking to eyelids during sleep thus exposing the painful rods underneath, causing infection.

I found the best stuff was clinitas-hydrate http://www.altacoreyeproducts.co.uk/index.php/clin... and to open my eyes very slowly every morning, using my fingers to control the rate of opening and waiting for tears to help re-lubricate, if not could be very painful lasting days.

I am not a Doctor just a sufferer

[TheEnd]

I had something like that, I kinda lost 4 months of my life wearing sunglasses full time and trying not to blink.

I had swaps and tests done, and I believe one of the last things tried was Zovirax and it did eventually clear up.
I'm fairly sure it ran its course rather than being a viral infection though.

[HelenT]

Hycosan Plus (or it is called HYLO Care if you get it on prescription) acts as a lubricant and also has dexpanthenol which helps with corneal healing. Some opticians stock it,or you can order it from amazon