Am I experiencing starbursts? Going insane

[hypochondriac349]

I've been going insane over this and I don't know if even posting here and getting a positive feedback will relieve me of any fear.

I had a very acute sinus infection almost two weeks back and went to this medical specialist, who I don't know, for some reason gave me cromozil sterile eye drops and a nasal spray for it. I had no infection or anything eye related.

After using five days of the eye drops, my eyes became red (as far as I can remember then, no vision abnormality whatsoever). I called the doctor immediately and she said I might be having an allergic reaction to the drops and asked me to stop them and see if the red eyes clear up. And so I did.

Three days later, my eyes seemed to have come back to their normal position, however, now I see very bad starbursts. I don't know if that is even the word for it. Always at night, even with eyes closed, I see this very annoying colorful static that is not going away. At daytime it is not so noticeable but is still there. I went to an eye specialist and He said it could be a follow up to the allergic reaction and prescribed me these steroidal eye drops to use for 15 days. It's been three days and I really don't see much of a difference. My eyesight was fine during the eye exam and He said there is literally no eye sight problems.

Is this a starburst or do you think it's just temporary and will go away? I have had no problems of eyes before this. Has anyone else experienced the same thing? Please help!

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

It seems  possible that you developed some swelling or irritation of the corneal surface - but that would be seen easily by the eye doctor.  Perhaps you don't have it or it was missed.  I don't really see any  other way the drops would give you starbursts.  Perhaps just a few more days of the steroid drops then a recheck by your ophthlamologist. Final thought - perhaps you have astigmantism or cataract - c ompletely unrelated to the drops.

Michael J Kutryb, MD
Board-Certified Ophthalmologist

[hypochondriac349]

I did some research over cataract and it seems to be a disease that doesn't flare up that easily. It says it mostly occurs during infancy or at old age. I'm 19 years old.

When you see a colorful static vision in the dark, is that suppose to be a starburst? Or is starburst another word for photophobia?

[nancygrace]

Did you go to an eye MD? a doctor?

Hypochondriac#1

[hypochondriac349]

Okay, this morning I woke up and my eyes seem to be turning red again. Pretty sure another allergy due to the eye drops the doc gave me.

Yes I did go to an eye specialist who said what I just wrote up there. He said it was an allergy to the previous eye drops.

This sucks. I think they're all just poking sticks in it with their own medication. Going in three hours hopefully He can do better this time.