Help me figure out this eye pain!

I've had severe eye pain in one eye for many weeks now. This is accompanied by brief flashes of blurry vision upon focusing (delayed focusing). The pain appears to get worse during accommodation (focusing up close) and in bright light. The eye is also slightly more watery than usual. There is no sign of redness on the eye or lids. I have visited several optomologists who have all said the eye looks healthy, the only physical difference is that the affected eye has a slightly *larger* pupil.

Local anesthetic eye drops (to check pressure) numb the pain significantly. Due to this the optos suggested blepharitis and I am following a lid cleaning routine (which hasn't made much difference).

I googled my symptoms and iritis came up, so I went back to the opto and asked if it could be this, they said that as the iris is inside the eye local anesthetic would not numb the pain. (?)

Any ideas?

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear missyeye,

It is possible that corneal dryness, surface disease from the meibomitis, inflammation inside the eye can cause the symptoms you describe.  Speak with your eyeMD about whether the surface of your eye is rough or dry.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California