Eye burning

I put my contacts in my eyes with desonate gel on my finger by accident.
Then I was told by the Eye doctor to put tobradex drops and save in both eyes. After
1 week it still wasn't better. Then the eye doctor told me to try acular pf in my eyes and that after 3 days made it
worse.
The result is now i am just trying for it to heal by itself and it is a little better but still my symptoms are drynees
and burning.
Is this from the desonate gel or is it an allergy? my nose passage is a luttle bit stuffy.

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

Is your 'eye doctor" an optometrist (non MD non-physician) or is he an Eye MD physician. If an optom you need to see a real physician. Find one at www.aao.org  If you eye doctor is an Eye MD you need to return for a repeat exam. I can't answer you question without an exam.

JCH MD

[Trev07]

he is an md and i went back to him but it still burns? what could it be?

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

If its only one eye it can be a chemical irritation but if you only got stuff in one eye and both eyes are a problem then its not likely that. It could be common old contact intolerance. If it persists go back to your eye md or get a second opinion.

JCH MD

[Trev07]

My eyes are extreemly dry and when I put hot water on them it helps for the moment but then it doesnt.
I am going to have a third opinion.
My other eye doctor MD looked at my eyes and he said that they are healthy after he dialated both of them.
So if my eyes are healthy and they still burn a what could it be?
1. a stye
2. allergy to desonate gel which I got in my eyes.
3 I use contacts which I throw away each day?
4. A sinus infection.
5. Just dry eyes( my mother has dry eyes)

What should I do ? When I go to the third opinion what questions should I ask?

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

1. stye-hot red tender spot on lid that gets much better or worse over a few days.
2. Not likely this long after it got in your eyes.
3. YES MOST LIKELY
4. Sinus not cause dry eye, sinus meds can dry eyes.
5. CERTAINLY

READ THIS:

General Information on Dry Eyes

a Schirmer test of zero indicates that you have severe dry eyes. I'm assuming from your posting that you have tried both preserved and unpreserved artifical tears, gels or lubricating ointments at bedtime, environmental modification, etc. Don't discount eye drops. There are over a 100 different brands of artificial tears and they can't all be lumped together. Sometimes one will find the perfect drop. Because the problem is so prevalent the pharmaceutical compies are coming out with new products all the time. Some of the newest are Systane preserved and unpreserved drops and Optive drops. Eye drops for dryness are classified as preserved drops (individual vials that must be used within 24 hrs), preserved drops, gels and ointments. The preserved drops are more expensive and usually only help the small percentage of people that are really allergic to preservatives. Gels and ointments are normally used at night since regular tears won’t last all night.   There is also an over the counter spray for dry eyes called “Tears Again”.  Tears may need to be used as often as 6 times/day.

If you took Restasis you have used the best prescription medication. A "trial" of Restasis is a minimum of 8 weeks of therapy using one drop in each eye twice/day. Because of the way Restasis works, it takes two months to "start working". I have found that many patients use it for a few weeks then conclude it won't help. The medication often stings when therapy is begun--it usually gets better by week three or your Ophthalmologist (EyeMD) can prescribe a mild steroid drop for a couple of weeks. If you did not take for 8 weeks you need to restart therapy. Improvement often continues for up to 6 months.

If you have tried tear duct plugs you should have had all for tear duct openings (puncta) plugged with a permanent plus (not a disolving one). Usually just the lower lids are done with mild dry eyes. If your problem is as bad as you say, you and your ophthalmologist should discuss permanent closure of some or all four of the tear duct openings with cautery.

Be sure to try Nature’s Tear’s Eyemist a spray for dry eyes that works for many people. It is available without a prescription.  http://www.naturestears.com/

Additional things that can help include a diet rich in fatty fish (eg salmon, sardines, etc). Fish oil taken by mouth usually 2 to 4/day has been show to help some patients. In addition there are non-prescription pills for dry eyes available at most major drug stores or by direct order from the companies. Thera-tears formula for dry eyes is probably the most widely used. You can use any search engine to pull up the websites of the companies that see these.

Ask your ophthalmologist (Eye MD) about Lacriserts. These were unavailable for several years and are now on the market by Aton Pharma. They are very tiny pellets of hydroxypropyl cellulose that are placed between the eye lid and the eye and slowly dissolve over 24 hours coating the eye with a moisturizing coat.  They are a prescription medication.

In dry eyes associated with corneal damage, moisture retaining goggles are used for sleeping. Be absolutely certain you do not sleep under a fan, heating outlet or situation where air moves over your face during sleep. Make certain you home is humidified in the winter, put a humidity gage in the bedroom. If you cannot maintain a 50-60% humidity put a room humidifier in the bedroom. Run the A/C or heater of your car through the vents on your feet not in your face. Long car or plane trips put your tears in every couple of hours.

If you are menopausal or post-menopausal be sure you and your gynecologist maintain optimal hormonal balance. (Many women with dry eyes have dry mouth and dry vaginal canal). If you have joint pain have that evaluated to be sure you don't have Sjorgren's syndrome. Many medications eg antihistamines can make dry eye worse. You might review your medications with your ophthalmologist.

If you reach a point of exhausting all the above see an ophthalmologist that specializes in "Cornea and External Disease". This is their special area of expertise. A final new treatment that they can often do is “Autologist Platelete-rich plasma” therapy. This uses eyedrops made out of your blood products. (reference Ocular Surgery News: November 1, 2007 page 46  lead author Jorge Alio MD.

Keep digging and moving forward. I suspect you have not exhausted all the ways you can be helped.

[Trev07]

DR Hagan
I will Try to hit some of the points
I am putting warm compresses on my eyes and it helps for the moment but tonight I will try Genteel gel
do you think it is a good gel?

[Trev07]

DR Hagan
I had something to add that might be  a usefull peice of information
1. When I work out my sweat from my forehead drips into eyes and it burns ?( Does that mean I have an inflammation?)
1. Also there is a white discharge sometimes coming from my eyes near my nose.( does that mean conjuctiva?0

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

Genteel is good
Sweat can irritate even health eyes wear a sweatband
No mucous does not mean infectious conjunctivitis.

JCH MD