Blurry Vision

Back in February, I was experiencing blurry vision in right eye every 3 or 4 days. After a week, vision was worse with swollen eyelid and bloodshot eye.  I went to optometrist-told I had corneal abrasions and dry eye, given over the counter eyedrops (systane) and ointment (Refresh PM) at night, she said it would take about a week to heal. Over the course of the next week it became even worse: sharp pains, headaches, double vision and light sensitivity. I went to ophthalmologist and was diagnosed with keratitis resulting from a cold virus. He prescriped Pred Forte, which I used over the next 10 weeks, it helped with the vision and pain. I've been off the steroids for a month now and I am still experiencing problems. I have to use eye drops EVERY morning to open my eyes, if I don't, then my vision becomes extremely blurry. I sleep with a mask and use eye drops through out the day, I've tried different gels (no preservatives) at night but my eyelash area become very sore and red. I'm not sure what to do!  Do I go back to my doctor or do I get a second opinion? Is this something that I will have to live with?  It seems like my eye is drying at night and when I open my eye, I'm tearing my eye surface if I don't lubricate it.  This morning I drop the eyedrops and couldn't find them, so I had to open eyes without help, this is becoming so frustrating.

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

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JCH MD