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Ripping Feeling in Eye - Stabbing Pain - Please Help

Hello, I am in desperate need of help. Allow me to start from the beginning, about a year ago Oct 2008. I began to have eye pain in my left eye, my infant at the time poked me in the eye therefore causing some pain about 2 days days later it felt like I was stabbed in the eye with an ice pick suddenly, I rushed to the emergency room and saw an eye doctor, they saw a scratch in cornia, I was then given treatment for the immediate pain and the next day saw a another doctor who gave antibacterial drops and eye pain control drops. This happened while I was out of town so a week later when I returned I saw another doctor who gave me some drops and eye cream (salt solution of some kind). After time it seemed to heal a bit but every now again I get a feeling like there is a rock in my eye (happens at night) followed by tears and a ripping feeling causing tremendous pain like before. I then saw another doctor and he told me that my cornia has separated from my pupil and that there is a gap and as it heals sometimes it gets dried out and tears back again, so i was given drops but then after a while it keeps tearing so he suggested surgery to fix it, I then got a second opinion and this doctor saw something else, he suspected that i have a cold sore virus in my eye that is preventing my eye from healing causing a re-tear. He put me on meds and drops, I took all of it for a month, then of course a while later it tore again so this time I figured it was me, maybe I was not keeping my eye wet enough so maybe that is why it is tearing. But then my vision changed I began to see double and blurred and I got so worried, the pain began regular now and I feel this burning and tearing feeling more often. He then said I'll give you muro drops and a drop for redness. I have been using these for months now. Then he said maybe we should do the surgery. Now after all of this here is why I am not convinced, about 3 months back or so I told him i have been feel a little bit weird in my right now (the other eye) a similar sensation, he looked saw nothing and said it'll go away i see nothing there, now today my right is doing the exact same thing, more so than my left eye now, all the tearing feeling the pain, and now some blurriness. So if I was to have a surgery in my right due to a scratched cornia that never healed then why is it happening to my right eye also that was never ever scratched. I am very scared because I was about to do surgery and now it seems it would've been false. Please help I don't know what to do anymore. I try using muro drops and now in both eyes, it burns but provide an teeny tiny bit of relief. I am afraid I may have a condition that will lead to me loosing my vision and no one know to help me. Please help me.
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Avatar universal
i got poked in the eye by a child. the pain in my eye is on the whole eye  ball and then i get a sharp pain to my forehead and back of the head. it hurts to blink and hurt to have it open or closed for a period of time what can it be?????
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Avatar universal
Mr. John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, can you please respond to my additional comments below? I realize you are busy, I would appreciate the help though for this last series of questions. In addition to this I am also seeing double in the one eye, is this a usual symptom? I had this issue about 6 weeks ago in the other eye and it seemed to go away after 2 days of using the muro 128 5% drop. Any more advise on this question and my below comments? Thanks so much in advance.

Repost:
Hello, Thank You so much for this information. Based on what I can gather here it looks like I have that corneal disease, basement membrane disorder maybe. After thinking about it, before my son poked my eye I did have irritation like a rock rolling around in my eye for a few months before the poke, I ignored it, I thought it was eyelash that was stuck, I think the poke just set it off and it became very painful, and now it has spread to my right eye, would you agree? I am going to try the method you mention above for 4 months by keeping my eyes wet and use the Muro drop 128 5%, do you think this will be enough or will I need medication to kill the disease all the while, I remember taking some pills for a month in the past, that was supposed to kill the virus he called it, obviously it did not work because I still have it, I was nursing at the time so maybe the meds given to me weren't as effective, I am not sure. Will something like this be needed again in your opinion? Thank you again I really appreciate all of the information you have provided.
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Avatar universal
ooooh ok. sorry at first i didnt see the "not" in the sentence. i just woke up...
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Avatar universal
me???
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Since your problem is new and is accompanied by severe pain you need to see an ophthalmologist Eye MD as soon as possible. tell you parents. find one near you at www.aao.org  its not likely you will need surgery

JCH MD
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Avatar universal
i've had something a little simaler to kiwi's eye problem. im 12 years old and a few days ago i started feeling incredible eye pain in the corner of my left eye. it hurts whenever i blink on that eye and the pain wont go away. my dad says he doesnt see any swelling or irritation and there's nothing wrong with it. and my mom doesnt know. please i'm realy scared. i dont want to go to eye surgery i never had surgery before and i know it will be painful. i go back to school in less than a week
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Avatar universal
Hello, Thank You so much for this information. Based on what I can gather here it looks like I have that corneal disease, basement membrane disorder maybe. After thinking about it, before my son poked my eye I did have irritation like a rock rolling around in my eye for a few months before the poke, I ignored it, I thought it was eyelash that was stuck, I think the poke just set it off and it became very painful, and now it has spread to my right eye, would you agree? I am going to try the method you mention above for 4 months by keeping my eyes wet and use the Muro drop 128 5%, do you think this will be enough or will I need medication to kill the disease all the while, I remember taking some pills for a month in the past, that was supposed to kill the virus he called it, obviously it did not work because I still have it, I was nursing at the time so maybe the meds given to me weren't as effective, I am not sure. Will something like this be needed again in your opinion? Thank you again I really appreciate all of the information you have provided.
Helpful - 0
233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your problem sounds like recurrent corneal erosions. Here's a recent post:

You likely have "recurrent corneal erosion syndrome". The condition is common and will not destroy your sight or cause serious loss of vision. It has been discussed in the past in the eye care forums. It usually starts after a scratched cornea that does not heal properly. In some instances it occurs due to a common disease of the outer layer of the cornea (basement membrane disorder). Use the search feature and type in "corneal erosions".

Here is part of a recent post on the problem:

Recurrent corneal erosions are the bane of the practice of ophthalmology for both the ophthalmologist (Eye MD) and the poor patient. I saw 2 of them in the office today. They can be very difficult and recalcitrant to treat. Not infrequently they are controlled with drops and ointments but reoccur if these medications are stopped. I'm sure you're well versed on the medical and preventive treatment of corneal erosions.

Treatment is to avoid anything that dries the eye. So keep it moist with artificial tears. At bedtime a lubricating drop with normal saline (Muro 128 ointment---available over the counter) is put in the eye.  Extreme care must be used in the morning on awakening as this is when the tissue usually tears. Avoid rubbing the eye. If the eye wants to stay shut from the ointment leave it shut, splash with warm water till it opens then put in an artificial tear or Muro 128 DROPS (available as 2% or 5% [which often stings] also available over the counter. If Muro 128 products are irritation try Refresh-PM ointment at bedtime and a good artificial tear on awakening and several times during the day (Systane, Opteve, Soothe, Refresh, Tears Naturale, etc).

Long plane and car trips are very stressing for corneal erosions. In the car, run the air conditioner or heater on the feet vents not into the face. Put artificial tears in the eye every couple of hours on a car trip and every hour on a plane trip.

You should go a minimum of 4 months without any pain from the erosion (usually during sleep or upon wakening) before trying to stop the ointment. Be aware that some people are never able to stop the medications and must use drops, ointments and precautions indefinitely (years and years).

The next step is often corneal stromal micro-punctures. This is an office procedure done with just eye drop anesthesia; a bandage contact lens is put in the eye for several days. You may return to normal physical activities immediately.  

If the problem persists then you may need to discuss these treatments with your ophthalmologist. He/she should be able to do the first method. The second he/she may or may not be able to do, sometimes referral to a cornea specialist is indicated.

1. There is a new method of treatment when all else fails. It involves taking oral tetracycline for a couple of weeks coupled with steroid eye drops. If your ophthalmologist is not familiar with the method he/she can do a literature search of the medical ophthalmology journals. The first time I read of it was in the journal "Ophthalmology". I have used this method on two patients that were "at their wits end and had tried everything else. In both cases it worked. I still have them use an ointment at bedtime such as Muro 128 or Genteal Gel but the severe pain has stopped.

2. The last technique would be to use the eximer laser to "resurface" the corneal epithelium and soft contact lens wear during the healing. This technique is most often used when the cornea has disease that keeps causing the erosions, the most common of these is corneal epithelial basement membrane disorder.

Keep trying and good luck.

JCH MD
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