Aa
Red eyes
Here's the symptoms:
Very red eyes most of the time. Eye pain, but not what I would call "itching" as in allergies. But the RIGHT eye tends to be red way more than the other. VERY bad in the morning--bright red, takes 45 minutes or so for them to settle down. Gets very red again at night after about 10pm. Other odd things: when riding a bike, the right eye seems to be more sensitive to the wind.
I have tried wetting drops but am allergic to propylene glycol, which i think is the main ingredient in a lot of these.
Patanol and Claritin-D together do not help, whicih makes me think it is not allergies.
I suspect blepharitis and have started using dandruff shampoo on hair, beard, eyebrows, and also washing eyelids per instructions I've found on internet...no real luck thus far.
Any other conditions that might cause eye pain/redness? This is seriously psychologically taxing. Eye doctors have all said "allergy" but again, I don't have many other allergic symptoms and the redness is generally isolated in the right eye...also it's red in the morning and at night, no matter whether i've been spending the day in a field or in an office. This problem has come and gone for years...the newest "round" began last September, again leading me to think it is not allergies...
Any thoughts??
Very red eyes most of the time. Eye pain, but not what I would call "itching" as in allergies. But the RIGHT eye tends to be red way more than the other. VERY bad in the morning--bright red, takes 45 minutes or so for them to settle down. Gets very red again at night after about 10pm. Other odd things: when riding a bike, the right eye seems to be more sensitive to the wind.
I have tried wetting drops but am allergic to propylene glycol, which i think is the main ingredient in a lot of these.
Patanol and Claritin-D together do not help, whicih makes me think it is not allergies.
I suspect blepharitis and have started using dandruff shampoo on hair, beard, eyebrows, and also washing eyelids per instructions I've found on internet...no real luck thus far.
Any other conditions that might cause eye pain/redness? This is seriously psychologically taxing. Eye doctors have all said "allergy" but again, I don't have many other allergic symptoms and the redness is generally isolated in the right eye...also it's red in the morning and at night, no matter whether i've been spending the day in a field or in an office. This problem has come and gone for years...the newest "round" began last September, again leading me to think it is not allergies...
Any thoughts??
@bigmonkeycar, it seems like I may have the same red eye symptoms as you. Do you still have this problem, or did you find a solution/way to relieve the redness?
I have red eyes more than I would like, a lot. I have been dealing with this issue for awhile, over 10 years or so. My RIGHT eye, especially the inside of my right eye, tends to be red more often and redder than my left eye. I wake up every single morning with red eyes, regardless of the amount of hours of sleep. It would take anywhere from 30 minutes to never for the redness to reside without any help. My eyes also very often get red at night; the more strenuous of a day, earlier they may get red.
Examples of things that may or have been causing my red eyes include dry eyes, wind, being outside, eye strain (computers, sun, wind), tiredness, salt water, exercising, etc. I am not going to name everything. My eyes may get red during exercise and stay red after exercise without relief.
The redness may or may not coincide with a little eye discomfort, water eyes, or off non-painful feeling. I, for the most part, have never deal with "eye pain." My eyes can be red without any other noticeable symptoms. Eye redness can vary from barely noticeable (glazed) to RED, and the level of redness can change within minutes or not change.
I have done the puncture test for allergies twice; last time several years ago. Both times, I tested negative for everything that was tested. Therefore, it does not seem likely that allergies could be causing my red eyes problem. Just to give it try, I used Bepreve for awhile. However, I did not notice any change in symptoms.
I used a few different types of over-the-counter artificial tears such as Systane and Refresh, which provided some relief but not enough of the time and not super long-lasting. I took a steroid recently, and currently have been taking Xiidra twice a day for about a month. I have found that it seems to help with redness after a few minutes short term. However, it makes my eyes extra watery a lot of the time. My eyes have still generally been red. I hear it can take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks to start before seeing significant relief. I am keeping my hopes up that I will start to see some relief soon!
I have red eyes more than I would like, a lot. I have been dealing with this issue for awhile, over 10 years or so. My RIGHT eye, especially the inside of my right eye, tends to be red more often and redder than my left eye. I wake up every single morning with red eyes, regardless of the amount of hours of sleep. It would take anywhere from 30 minutes to never for the redness to reside without any help. My eyes also very often get red at night; the more strenuous of a day, earlier they may get red.
Examples of things that may or have been causing my red eyes include dry eyes, wind, being outside, eye strain (computers, sun, wind), tiredness, salt water, exercising, etc. I am not going to name everything. My eyes may get red during exercise and stay red after exercise without relief.
The redness may or may not coincide with a little eye discomfort, water eyes, or off non-painful feeling. I, for the most part, have never deal with "eye pain." My eyes can be red without any other noticeable symptoms. Eye redness can vary from barely noticeable (glazed) to RED, and the level of redness can change within minutes or not change.
I have done the puncture test for allergies twice; last time several years ago. Both times, I tested negative for everything that was tested. Therefore, it does not seem likely that allergies could be causing my red eyes problem. Just to give it try, I used Bepreve for awhile. However, I did not notice any change in symptoms.
I used a few different types of over-the-counter artificial tears such as Systane and Refresh, which provided some relief but not enough of the time and not super long-lasting. I took a steroid recently, and currently have been taking Xiidra twice a day for about a month. I have found that it seems to help with redness after a few minutes short term. However, it makes my eyes extra watery a lot of the time. My eyes have still generally been red. I hear it can take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks to start before seeing significant relief. I am keeping my hopes up that I will start to see some relief soon!
5 Comments
Many people on xiidra are clueless. It's a top of the line medication for severe dry eyes unresponsive to other treatment or those requiring artificial tears 4 or more times/day without relief. It is twice/day the rest of your life and takes 4 months to fully kick it. It does not have any 'short time' indication. For most people it is outrageously more expensive than its rival Restasis.
Hello Dr. Hagan,
Sorry I was not clear in my previous response. I know Xiidra is for severe dry eyes and the symptoms associated with DES. I know that it does not indicate 'short-term' relief, like over-the-coutner artificial tears. It's a prescription eye drop that you take twice a day indefinitely that is supposed to help relieve the symptoms eventually and indefinitely as long as you continue to use it. Good to hear from you that it is supposed to take 4 months before it fully kick in. Xiidra ended up being less expensive than Restasis for me somehow.
What I meant earlier was that when I use the Xiidra drops in the morning right after I wake up, it seems to reduce the redness within minutes. This was just an observation I had unrelated to the long-term relief expected from longer use.
However, I have not seen much redness relief throughout the day yet. Given that I have only been using it for a month, it has not been long enough for me to say that it is not working. I've been told by my optometrist that it could take as long as 12 weeks (or as short as 4 weeks) before 'any' noticeable relief. So I hope to see some progress in the near future.
I haven't been wearing contacts as much recently, because contacts tend to make my symptoms a tad worse and more likely. What is your take on wearing contacts while using Xiidra/Restasis?
Sorry I was not clear in my previous response. I know Xiidra is for severe dry eyes and the symptoms associated with DES. I know that it does not indicate 'short-term' relief, like over-the-coutner artificial tears. It's a prescription eye drop that you take twice a day indefinitely that is supposed to help relieve the symptoms eventually and indefinitely as long as you continue to use it. Good to hear from you that it is supposed to take 4 months before it fully kick in. Xiidra ended up being less expensive than Restasis for me somehow.
What I meant earlier was that when I use the Xiidra drops in the morning right after I wake up, it seems to reduce the redness within minutes. This was just an observation I had unrelated to the long-term relief expected from longer use.
However, I have not seen much redness relief throughout the day yet. Given that I have only been using it for a month, it has not been long enough for me to say that it is not working. I've been told by my optometrist that it could take as long as 12 weeks (or as short as 4 weeks) before 'any' noticeable relief. So I hope to see some progress in the near future.
I haven't been wearing contacts as much recently, because contacts tend to make my symptoms a tad worse and more likely. What is your take on wearing contacts while using Xiidra/Restasis?
It's not xiidra or restatis that is the problem its the severe dry eyes they are prescribed for. Not a good idea. If you do wear contacts perhaps daily wear disposable and when you get home in evening and/or when you can take them out and wear glasses to reduce wearing time. If you can live with glasses so much the better.
I know Xiidra isn't the problem, it's my eyes that are the problem. I haven't been 'diagnosed' with dry eyes, but it's either dry eyes or something other issue. Xiidra 'is' however causing my eyes to be extra watery through out the day.
Let me rephrase the 'working' part...
I'm solely trying Xiidra to see if it will help relieve the repetitive eye redness in the long run, whether my condition is caused by dry eyes or not. If I don't notice any significant redness relief (morning/day/night) for example by the 4 month mark, Xiidra could be 'working', but may not be the proper solution to my red eyes problem. In that case, there would be no point for me to continue taking Xiidra and search for other solutions.
Would 4 months be the recommended amount of time I take it for, before deciding if it's not right for me?
Let me rephrase the 'working' part...
I'm solely trying Xiidra to see if it will help relieve the repetitive eye redness in the long run, whether my condition is caused by dry eyes or not. If I don't notice any significant redness relief (morning/day/night) for example by the 4 month mark, Xiidra could be 'working', but may not be the proper solution to my red eyes problem. In that case, there would be no point for me to continue taking Xiidra and search for other solutions.
Would 4 months be the recommended amount of time I take it for, before deciding if it's not right for me?
Read the package insert and visit their website. 4 months is what the drug reps are saying.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Red eyes is one of the leading reasons for making eye examinations. The causes are legion and include common problems like dry eyes, allergies, infection, contact lens irriation and systemic problems like over active thyroid, alcohol abuse, fatigue, overuse of eye drops, etc.
Anything I said based on your symptoms would be a guess something that we don't do on this forum
I suggest your see an ophthalmologist (Eye MD) preferably one that subspecializes in cornea and external eye disease for a proper diagnosis.
JCH MD
Anything I said based on your symptoms would be a guess something that we don't do on this forum
I suggest your see an ophthalmologist (Eye MD) preferably one that subspecializes in cornea and external eye disease for a proper diagnosis.
JCH MD
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Eye Care Community
Top General Health Answerers
Kansas City, MO
Grand Prairie, TX
San Diego, CA
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.
