eye pain, now shingles

I hope someone can help.  I've had horrible recurring pain in my right eye for over a year.  Went to Optho. multiple times and was told it was an infected oil gland.  I was put on low dose antibiotics for over 6 months and told to apply warm compresses and scrub eye with a baby shampoo/water solution.

I developed a rash on my buttocks months into this that my GP diagnosed as shingles and prescribed Famvir.  Now I'm having another shingles outbreak on my buttocks and have been fighting this eye "oil gland infection" for what seems like forever.    Is this shingles in my eye?  Will Famvir take care of it?

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear Bv2666,

There are many different causes of eye pain.  I would recommend that you see an eyeMD to find out the cause of your persistent eye pain.  Famvir is an antiviral medication aimed at treating the shingles.  

Dr. Feldman

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

[bv2666]

Sorry I wasn't clear with my last post.  

I think my recurrent eye pain may be viral and has been misdiagnosed in the past.


Q:  If my eye problems are viral (i.e. Shingles), would they be cleared up after the first dose of Famvir?

[bv2666]

I am sorry to sound ignorant.. but when you say to see an "eyeMD" - is that a different classification/degree than an Opthalmologist?  

My Shingles have cleared, but my eye pain has recurred.  The pain is terrible and I just want to know what I need to look for in a doctor for my eye.

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear bv2666,

Thank you for your post.  The severe,  9/10 pain that you describe in your earlier post, can indicate a condition known as postherpetic neuralgia.  As you mentioned, this can be quite disabling and extremely painful. I would recommend that you see an ophthalmologist, or medical doctor who specializes in the eye.  He/she should be able to assist you in getting you on medications to help your pain.  Regarding your post above, the second outbreak in a different area should also be warrant a visit to your medical doctor and you should be examined for systemic disease.  

Dr. Feldman

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