3 year old complains of eye pain, but no crusting, no redness

My son is 3 years and 3 months old.  He has been complaining here and there for about 2 months about eye pain only in his left eye.  He has extremely long eyelashes, as do I, and I know that them getting into his eye can be the cause.  But his mention of the eye pain and rubbing has become more frequent, a couple of times a day, sometimes causing him to cry, but it seems to go away pretty quickly.  He complains the most when he lays down for a nap.  But there is no swelling, no conjunctivitis/crust.  Any ideas?  I am thinking a sty?  But it has been going on for so long, is it possible that he would have an infection for that long without showing more ill effects???

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I'm thinking see a pediatric ophthalmologist. Find one at www.aao.org

JCHI IMD

[amj314]

Did you ever find out what it was? My 2yr old little girl is doing exactly the same thing. We took her to the GP a few months ago and they made a referral to a pediatric opthalmologist but we still haven't heard about an appointment being scheduled. It seems to be getting worse, she starts crying and clutching her eye at least 5 times a day now. She says her eye is 'sharp' but I don't know if she understands what sharp is. She also has very long eyelashes and I wondered if it could be as simple as them going in her eye but as far as I can see there is nothing in her eye. Also it would be a huge co-incidence if it were exclusively the left eye that always got eyelashes in it - and it always is the left eye she complains of. No outward visible signs of a problem, no redness, no discharge, nothing in the eye that we can see. The only other ideas I have are that it could be related to her being born with narrow tearducts and having goopy eyes as a baby or (hopefully not) migraine related. We are very migrainey people in my family and I started with it as a young child. It does seem to be slightly linked with nap times or tiredness but it really seems to be a pain judging by her reaction rather than bleary-eyed-tired-rubbing. We are taking her to an optician this afternoon since the opthalmologist referral is taking so long.

[mlafren9]

Well, this is very weird. My almost 4yr old started complaining of this last night and again today.  Just the left eye and she DOES NOT have long eyelashes.  Her eyes look perfectly fine...no redness or anything to speak of.  She rarely complains of any sickness.  I know sometimes when I have been sick my eyes would ache, but I feel like this is different for some reason...and again, what is the coincidence of the left eye?  Let me know if you find anything. I will take her to doctor in two days if still ongoing.

[RFrgs5]

My son will 3 in 3 months and he has been waking up in the middle of the night off and on for a few months now crying almost screaming in pain and saying his eye hurts and it is alwyas his left eye.  I took him to an optometrist and they said they didn't see any problems with his eyes so I am no going to take him to the pediatrician to see where we go from here.  Please update if anybody finds out anything!!!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

-

[mommakiki]

This is very strange my three year old daughter periodically wakes up and complaining about her left eye.  She eyelashes aren't super longer but she did wake up one day and they had closed in her eye and it was obvious bothering her.  That never happened again but she does wake up cupping her eye.  I think I am going to take her to the pedi asap.  I find it alarming that its always the left eye.  does anyone think it could be sinus'?

[thenad]

that is so bizarre, my son that is also 3 years and 3 months (weird) has being complaining that is left eyes hurt...(always have his hand touching the left side of his head close to  his eyes).  He woke up about 3 times in 2 months screaming that his eyes hurt...It happens also mostly when lying down (morning or nigth) pretty much everyday (2 times)...I thought of fatigue at first but why did he wake up at night and why in the morning. I'm hoping it nothing serious...I pust eyes drop but he sreams that it hurt..he told me when he cried it help and it stop hurting that why i think maybe it's because his eyes are dry  It alsoseam that a wet towell on his eyes help. but if it is dry eyes why only on the left side and why does he touch his left head side also. He says no not the head but his eyes....It is dry at our place. I nerve racking to hear your son screams like that when it happens.  He is also very sensitive to light (hates the sun ect..) and had jaundice when he was born but seems like a healthy boys (except for diarrhea quite often).

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

-

[thenad]

He just develop under his eyes a yellow bruise under his left eyes since 2 weeks and now looks like a excema on the yellow. Anyone else?  I went to see my doctor and he says that he looks healthy and headaches can happen in children and because it doesn't last long 2 minutes average it usually not serious...maybe structural bones in his jaws..and  under his eyes he thinks it's just look like excema the same crust you see on the baby heads...Hoping he's right because find it strange that the same sides has 2 different meanings. conincidence?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

=

[angelaem]

My daughter is 3.75 years old.  She has been having this for almost a year now...  She seemed to have pain when she had fevers, or was sick (predominantly right eye, but seems to occur in both at times).  It also seems to have been triggered in some cases, or made worse, by light - sensitivity.  Howevery, in the dimmest light, she will still get upset if there is an episode. She has long eye lashes as well, but she is able to tell us if there is something in her eye, as opposed to this issue, which she cannot quite explain, but is quite frantic about the level of pain.  

Since her last cold end of January 2012 when she had a fever and eye pain, it has continued past the cold.  She will rub her eyes and scream, telling us to turn off her nightlight (which is a clear sign to us something is up as she will not normally tolerate going to bed without it - has a fear of the dark).  That all said, when she is fine (no episode), the sunniest days do not bother her.  She is now resorted to licking her hands and then rubbing her eyes to try and help it - which it doesn't.  From this, we thought it might be lack of moisture in her eyes, but the optometrist said her levels were fine.  We have tried giving her eye drops when she does complain, but it does not help.  I thought with the colds, that perhaps it was sinus pressure (esp if lying down, pressure may distribute differently), but her pain/episodes have carried on beyond her cold, as mentioned above, and bending over with head below hips does not bother her (as sinus cold/infection would probably build pressure and make the pain worse).  

Just last week, after seeing the optometrist twice, our GP, we got in to see a pediatric ophthalmologist.  He has chalked it up to "Blonde Retina".  From the very little I can find out about it, it doesn't match.  I am of Japanese decent, and my husband is Caucasian. She is fair (light brown hair, but has brown eyes, brown hair etc.)  Still, I guess she could have it, but everything I have read says she would consistently be sensitive to light.  She is not.  

Family, who are in the medical field are suggesting that we see a neurologist.  If her eyes are fine, then we probably should rule out that there are no impairments neurologically.  Kind of scary sometimes because it is ongoing and if it isn't the eyes, then what is going on?  .. will definitely stay tuned to this post if anyone has any answers...  

[baoer]

My son is 3 year and 8 month old. Recently he began to complain his left eye is painful. I took him to see his general doctor today. There is no redness or infection in his eye. The nurse checked his version by using that shape table.It seems he can not see the small shapes clearly. The doctor suggest us to take him to see a pediatric ophthalmologist. I will make an apointment tomorrow. I remember he always be afraid of bright sunshine.
Is there anybody who got an answer?

[Laurenrg]

What was the outcome?  My son has the same issue.

[kawallabear]

i would like to know as well because my son is doin the same. i didnt think it would be happening with so many ppl. wow. my son too has always been afraid of bright sunlight. now his left eye is irritating him. it turns a bit red after he has rubbed it but then clears up. i was gonna take him to the doctor but then it cleared and he said it was fine. he did good for a few days and then all of a sudden tonite he woke up screaming that it hurt. cried for about five minutes then went right back to sleep. i would love to know what the outcome was if anyone got answers. i will still take him to the doc but it may take a while to get to the ophthalmologist and i hate seein my baby like this.

[Byrdamus]

So this thread is going on for over 5 years now, but no answers??  Can I ask, has everyone's kids turned out ok this far down the road?  My son, 3 yr 2 mo., has been having same issues. Doesn't like sudden bright light, freaks out occasionally screaming that his left eye hurts, is more tired than usual. GP's don't have any idea, being referred to Paediatrician (appointment on monday) but I'm not feeling very confident that they'll find anything if non of you have gotten any answers.