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Irritated eyes

I am currently dealing with a cold...runny nose, previous sore throat, drainage, etc.  However, my eyes are really bothering me right now too.  They are a little blood-shot, not too bad.  They feel like something is irritating them.  Almost like I have something in each eye.  Sometimes it feels like my eye lids are sticking a bit.  I do feel a burning sensation at times too.  

In addition, I have been going through a stressful preiod in my life.  Without going into detail, I have been experience dry mouth too.  My GERD seems to be worse lately too even w/ Protonox.  My doc ordered an ANA, Sjorgen's antibody, ESR, and IGG, IGA, IGM blood work.  Everything was neg and normal.  I should mention that I am a 30 yr old male.  My mother has recently been diagnosed with Sjorgens even though her blood work is normal.

Is it possible that these symptoms in my eyes and mouth are related to Sjorgens?  Even w/ normal blood work?  My mouth isn't always dry but seems to bother me the most when I talk.  Could it just be from stress and anxiety?

Lastly, could my eyes be bothering me from the current virus that I have or could it be a separate virus effecting my eyes?

Thx
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Avatar universal
I love to hear your thoughts, please
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My eyes continue to bother me a lot.  I saw another eye doc because my father-in-law wanted me to see the guy he goes to.  This doc didn't know for sure what is causing my problem.  I did take a Shirmers test and scored very low, barely producing.  I didn't close my eyes during the test and read online that the eyes should be closed for 5 mins.  He didn't really give me any instructuctions.  Just put a tiny portion in my eye and left the room.  I don't know how much this would affect the test.

I guess I'm just really scrared that I have Sjogrens.  My GERD seems to be a little worse, I have been tired with some achiness in my legs and knees.  I'm sure my level of stress isn't helping either.  From what I have read it would seem fairly odd to see a 3o yr old male get Sjogrens but certainly not impossible.  I do experience dry mouth too, but it is all very hard to put together.

If someone actually had Sjogrens, would it present this way.  All of a sudden getting irritated eyes that don't produce adequate tears in a couple weeks.  Dry mouth for 3 mos and GERD, Fatigue, aches, etc.  I feel like a lot of symptoms have hit me in a 3 mo window.  Yet, my bloodwork is neg at this time.  I would apprecaite any further info you can share.  What would cause it to all of sudden show...I was sick a few times this winter and wonder if it set my body off.

The first doc I saw said colds can cause dry eyes and persist for awhile, but the other doc said he has never heard of a cold causing dry eyes.  I'm confused...

Lastly, is it possible to get anything infectious from a eye doc if there hands aren't clean?  One of the docs washed his hands and used a q-tip and tissue to hold my lids, etc.  The other didn't and I don't know if he washed his hands before touching my lids and it felt like he touched the inside a little.  I would imagine he did this with other patients before me...could there be anything infectious (HIV, Hep C, etc) on his hands that I would need to worry about.  I just don't need any new worries and went through a very stressful period 4 mos ago from a work exposure.  I wont bore you w/ those details but it seems I'm ok.
Helpful - 0
233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Stick with this Eye MD.

Good luck

JCH III MD
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well, I saw an eye doctor today.  He said my eyes are a little dry.  I guess the would dry in 6-8 secs and anything less than 10 sec is dry.  He isn't absolutely sure what is the cause.  I do not have an infection.  Sjorgen's isn't high on his list of concerns but we will have to monitor things.  He also looked at the underside of my eyelids and said they are not entirely smooth.  I don't recall what he called it but said that are a couple small bumps that are usually causes by contacts or allergies.  I don't wear contacts, so maybe an allergy is causing that problem.  Lastly, he mentioned that my lids flipped over fairly easily which means I may have a slight mechanical problem too.  This way contribute to the tears not being distributed as well.

I certainly hope this irritation is simply due to a virus and will pass.  I'm a little nervous that I could have Sjorgen's syndrome.  Especially because I get a dry mouth sometimes.  It just seems odd w/ normal blood work.  Anyway, I'd appreciate any further thoughts you may have.  Just thought I give you an update.  Thanks again
Helpful - 0
233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your probably DO NOT have Sjorgren's.

JCH III MD
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
OK, thank you. I will contact an eye doc on Monday to see if they can get me in.  It is strange scratchy feeling.  I certainly hope I don't have Sjorgen's syndrome.  

I will not hold you to your thoughts, but do you think it is possible that I could have Sjorgen's with negative ANA, neg SS-A, neg SS-B, ESR of 2, and IGA=198, IGG=941, IGM=86.  I had this blood work completed about a week ago, right around the time I just started getting a sore throat with my cold.

Like I mentioned before, I am 30 yr old male.  I have read that Sjorgen's usually (over 90%) effects women in 40's+.  I suppose anything is possible, but would it just pop up like this with scratch irritated eyes?

Once again, thank you for any additional thoughts.  I will follow up w/ an eye doc too.
Helpful - 0
233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Many of the virus and bacteria that acause colds, URIs, respiratory infections can cause eye infections "cold settled in eye".

On Monday see your GP or an Eye MD if still a problem.

JCH III MD
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Also, I don't know if my eyes are dry, they look moist...yet they are a little red and definitely feel like something is irritating them,  How would I know if they are dry.  Again they don't look dry to me.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I will look into this more.  I'm just wondering if all my negative tests would be a good indication that I don't have Sjorgen's syndrome.  In addition, I seem young to get the disease, yet I know it is possible.

Could this irritation be associated with the virus I have working on me right now?
Helpful - 0
233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Dry, red, irritated eyes that sometimes water a lot is usually a part of Sjorgren's syndrome. See an Eye MD physician for an evaluation. Find one at www.aao.org

JCH III MD
Helpful - 0
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