Blepharitis? Swollen/Heavy Right Eye (Pic Inside)

[PleaseHelpNJ]

I am desperately seeking help (and uninsured). I am battling to get Medicaid as we speak. For the past few years, I have been asked embarrassing questions about my right eye. I've been asked if I've been in a fight, have I had any sleep, etc.., This Morning, I woke up and my right eye (especially the bag underneath) was really straining to open. When I finally did get it open, my right temple started to have a shooting pain, as if it was the worst migraine ever. The pain lasted only a few seconds, but I had to curl up it was so bad. No eye doctors want to help me in my area with Charity Care. I have included a picture. I am embarrassed to take pictures with friends.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks I'm advance.

[PleaseHelpNJ]

Any other opinions would be much appreciated. Thank you.

[PleaseHelpNJ]

achillea,

Thank you for your well written reply. I am going to try some of your tips & keep this thread updated the best I can. It's just this darn right eye in which the bag is extremely swollen! Anyone else?

[achillea]

I'm not a doctor, but I do have a tendency towards puffy eyes.   I know that one cause is allergy, and if your eye swelling comes and goes with the seasons, allergy is a real possibility.

I know that another cause is that I chose my parents badly:  My mom had major eye bags, and she passed them on to me.  Thanks, Mom.

I also have a mild case of what's called 'Dry Eye ', which in my case means that the little oil glands at the base of the eyelashes do not work well, the result being irritated eyes that have a tendency to swell.

If you have an eye infection, you know, something that causes yellow goo in your eyes, the emergency room should be able to handle it.  That does not seem to be the case for you, though.

But I can offer you some tactics that have helped me:

1.  The fact that your eyes itch when you take out your contacts is a little suspicious.  What does your eye doc say about that?  I really *would* ask him about that.  Actually, since you have an eye doc (right?) you definitely should bring this up on your next visit.

2.  Use a bed wedge to raise your head a bit higher when you sleep.

3.  If there is NO infection, I have found an over-the-counter eyedrop antihistamine like 'Alaway'  remarkably helpful (Note: this is NOT the same thing as Visine, which can make it all worse).

4.  *Gently* (gently, gently) microwave-warmed eye packs--just a cup of plain white rice in a clean gym sock--placed over the eyes twice a day for a few minutes make me more comfortable.  The pack must NOT be hot, just comfortably warm.

5.  If the swelling is pretty bad, doing the reverse of a warm pack, that is, a cold pack composed of frozen peas in a ziplock bag--wrapped in a cloth napkin and placed over the eyes--can help bring the swelling down.

Good luck to you.

[PleaseHelpNJ]

Thanks for the replies. I have no cold or allergy like symptoms. I am a contact lens wearer, who uses them all day every day. But after 7 or 8 hours of sleep, I would think it would be fine to put them back on? I do experience some itching after I take them off for the night. Also, the county hospital here had no idea, or even seemed to care, to be honest. What could this be? I've even tried using a Mac cosmetic cream that has caffeine in it to help reduce puffiness - but no luck. I put concealer on, but that just covers the actual dark circle, and the swollen eye bag is still very visible.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

I photo is not clear enough.

Consider going to a county hospital.

Dr. O.

[achillea]

When you wake in the morning, are you having trouble breathing, as if you had a cold or a stuffy nose?

Do you have allergies?  Itchy eyes?

As the day goes on and you go about your regular activities, does the swelling tend to go away?

[PleaseHelpNJ]

[IMG]http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag143/migsteelo/423D6DDD-A5D3-40DB-A5F1-9135620F10D1-4565-000001F323D6D447_zpse75f3a43.jpg[/IMG]

[PleaseHelpNJ]

Here is the link for the photo:

http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag143/migsteelo/423D6DDD-A5D3-40DB-A5F1-9135620F10D1-4565-000001F323D6D447_zpse75f3a43.jpg