Left eye problems

[Sancho84]

In early Oct. 08 it felt like something was in my eye. I flushed it, used drops that may have been expired for some time as we just moved & did not through out all meds. I then flushed it under the tub faucet and it burned for 15-20 secs. I did not feel anything after that, but it has never looked the same. The left eye is redder most of the time and burns & itches from time to time. I'm on Restasis and 50mg of Doxy. I'm 42 yr old male. I wanted to know if expired eye drops can cause damage or infection or can flushing it under a tub faucet hurt the eye surface. I appreciate any responses. It's cause me much anxiety. Thanks.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Use the search feature and read about dry eyes/blepharitis. Use Theratears/SteriLid or Occusoft foam eyelid cleaning, consider trying oral high quality fish oil 2 or 3 day (enteric coated). Compresses do help.

JCH MD

[Sancho84]

Also, can I ever come off the Restasis? When I stopped the Doxy, my left eye started to burn and itch more. Do warm compressess help??

[Sancho84]

I have recently seen Dr. Michael Callahan in Birmingham,AL. w/ the Callahan Eye foudation. I think I do have some blocked oil glands & I do not produce enough tears in either eye. I guess that can affect the way it looks. Some days are better then others, but it has caused me much anxiety over the way it looks. I appreciate your input. I'm on Restasis since Jan and on 50 mg of Doxy in the last week. It seems to help some. Can you have more problems in one eye then the other? Thanks so much for your response.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

1. expired eye drops are generally not a problem. Expiration dates are a inventory control device not when the drugs are no effective. We have a Eye MD that collects all of our out of date eye drops and uses them overseas in third world countries for mission work and they do just fine.
2. Theoretically if you ran enough tap water in your eye long enough you could damage the cornea but it would likely not be permanent.

Since you have an Eye MD (I hope and that its not an optometrist) why not go to see An Eye MD ophthalmologist.

JCH MD