I sawed some metal; there was metal dust everywhere. I wore goggles, but later it felt like something was in there. It hurt the next day. After another day an ophthalmologist found no foreign bodies and no corneal abrasion, but conjunctivitis, and she couldn't say why. She said 7 days of Xanternet drops 3x/day. Today is day 7. It hurts a lot. There is a bump on my inner lower eyelid, that to me looks like healing skin or a scratch. Visible to the naked eye.
Yesterday ophthalmologist #2 said there's no object in my eye. I asked about the bump on my inner lower eyelid, if it might not be from a splinter of metal (I had one in my finger, as well, that came out after a few days). She denied being able to see any bump and assured me there is no foreign object there, and that she is a trained doctor, blah blah. She said to use Tobradex for 5-7 days and see how it goes.
Online I read that Tobradex should only be used for bacterial infections; no one has done any sort of test nor told me that this could be a bacterial infection vs. any other cause. I have no secretions but normal tears. My eye hurts all over every day, and sometimes that little bump irritates it, sometimes not.
Is it possible for some foreign body to have entered under the skin of my inner eyelid? No doctor is willing to consider this possibility, but also no doctor has been able to make my eye hurt less in the last 10 days. So question 1: Is it possible - yes or no?
2. Should I follow her advice and take this antibiotic that specifically says not to take it if it's a viral infection? Xanternet, which I've just been taking for 7 days, also contains antibiotics. Doctors in this country give out antibiotics like candy, btw.
3. Will any ophthalmologist be willing to send me for X-rays? I have seen X-rays online of foreign bodies in eyes, but these doctors all just say they don't see anything and to go home. Would an X-ray make any sense? This isn't me thinking something may have gone in; this is me doing a high-risk activity that regularly causes foreign objects to enter people's eyes and eyelids, feeling like something entered, and suddenly having an apparent eye infection. Is it a coincidence that I have conjunctivitis for a week?
Please don't just tell me to see my doctor. I have seen 2 who have done nothing. I *will* see another soon, but I'd like to be armed with information and know what to expect, that's what I'm hoping to find here!
Thank you!!