Dry eye or allergic conjunctitivits, or..?

Ok, I have had dry, red, sore eyes and eyelids for a while after a prolonged bout of bacterial conjunctivitis, and I don't think the antibiotics helped the dryness! Doctor gave me sodium cromoglicate, as he suspects I have allergic conjunctivitis, and it has helped with the soreness and dryness alot, which is nice. I live in London, and it is the smog and fumes that get me, especially in Tube stations, I look like I have been mourning for days. But the redness front has not improved, even though my eyes feel great, they are still red and tired, and even have a slightly yellowish hue which I'm not impressed with...I am a law student, so I spend most of my time reading or at a computer screen, which can't help, but if I want a degree, I have to do it. I have adjusted my computer screen, lighting, angle, have not worn eye makeup for weeks, and sleep as much as possible, even 14 hours a day! sleep helps my eyes, they are fresh in the morning, but at about 4pm they feel bad even with the drops.

My eyes feel fine, I can put up with discomfort, but I cannot put up with the bloodshot look - it's not attractive, and I'm fed up of people asking what I'm crying about. Has anyone got any suggestions as to a solution?

Thanks

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

I always start this by saying if you wear contact lens that's the asue 99% of the time. We have outlined many times the treatment of dry eyes and you can access them using the search and archives featues.

For recalcentrant dry eyes nothing works like ReStasis.

JCH MD

[pswpma]

Dry eye syndrome is very common in those using a computer for hours on end. We don't blink enough. That can also leave you more susceptible to infection.    There is an explosion of research now on Lactoferrin for many purposes: ulcers, gastrointestinal flora balance, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, osteoporosis,  autoimmune disorders such as arthritis, dry eye syndrome, et al.
Here is a url that might interest you re dry eye syndrome:
http://abstracts.iovs.org/cgi/content/abstract/46/5/2046
This particular study used 270 mg per day.

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

-