Red Eyes

[mbhpjh]

I have had red eyes for almost a year now.   The specialist says it is allergic conjunctivitis with a little dry eye.   I use rewetting drops.   They have tried several different types of allergy drops and steroid drops.   The steroid drops both helped for about 3 days, my eyes looked great, and then after about 3 days got red again.   The drop I am using now is acular, it helps my eyes from being completely red like they were but they are still red.    I have not worn my contacts for about 9 months.
Some other background, about 2 years ago I went for a regular exam and contacts.    A few hours after putting in my new contacts, Softmeds, my right eye started to bother me.    I was pregnant at the time and the doctor said that it might be the cause.   So I had my baby the end of March and contacts still bothering me so I went back to doctor.    I told him my contacts were bothering me but he said I had allergies, he prescribed some drops.   I went back twice, the second time he said everything was fine, okay to wear my contacts again.   He said there wasn't a problem with them and I could use Zatidor if had any more problems so I did.   About 7 months later asked again he prescribed the softmed 55 because he said they would fit my eyes better.   A few months after that is when my eyes got really red.    Also, around that last time I had stopped breastfeeding and started taking birth control.  
No severe pain, there is some itching in both eyes and sometimes a little pain in the corner of my right eye.    I do get a lot of headaches though (about twice a week) but that has been for many years, not just recent.
I just found info about scleritis online and now I am so scared that I have that.    Also, must mention that my sister has Sjogren's syndrome.    I am 37 years old.  

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

It is very unlikely you have scleritis which is usually extremely painful and progressive. I would suggest seeing an Eye MD ideally a cornea/external disease specialist. You need to be checked carefully for dry eyes and may need to go on ReStasis one of the most helpful eye drops to come out in the last 10 years.

JCH MD

[mbhpjh]

I also want to add that my eyes get really, really red overnight and are at the worst when I wake up in the morning.