hot stabbing burning deep in one eye

[working dog]

this started a couple weeks ago....only once in a while...now pretty much every day..it doesn't last long..maybe a minute...but it is scary when it comes on...feels like its in my eye...not on the surface...it seems to be one eye...when it first happened i thought a blood vessel was breaking..i thought my eye was all bloody but it wasn't at all...anyone else get this sx? it started at about week 17.....thanks....billy

[TripleCrown]

Be sure to let us know how you are doing...I hope you feel better. My mom, who was a doctor , says an ice pack is good for everything. It may reduce some inflammation til you get thee to your doctor.
Take care Billy.
TC

[beeblessed]

Hi Billy.  I agree you should go get it checked out but....you can try some artifical tears (I use Refresh Plus), as it could be 'dry eye', which is not uncommon with this tx.  I have pre-exisiting issues in one eye, but also had that stabbing pain last month, but it only lasted a couple of days.  Was just about to go to the doc but it stopped.  Felt like someone hit me in the eye with a baseball bat.

Your Opthmalogist will check the pressure in your eyes to see if there are any changes (i.e., Glaucoma, cataracts).  If there are, they may give you Steroid drops (if so, you may want to run it by your pharmacy to make sure it's okay to take with tx meds).  Your eyes also tell the story of your blood pressure, to some degree.  Considering your vision was impacted too, it makes it more concerning.  Let the doc know if you are also suddenly sensitive to light.

All the best.  Please let us know what happens.

[working dog]

thanks guys...i did get an eye exam before tx...had very slight cataracts ..he said nothing to worry about...i'll call on this tomorrow...i did lose almost all my vision in that eye one day maybe 6 weeks ago for about a half hour...i thought it was from being tired...but no real pain...this eye pain is very sharp feeling...but goes away quickly..maybe the worse of it for 15 seconds ...i'll call asap...thanks...billy

[working dog]

thanks guys...i did get an eye exam before tx...had very slight cataracts ..he said nothing to worry about...i'll call on this tomorrow...i did lose almost all my vision in that eye one day maybe 6 weeks ago for about a half hour...i thought it was from being tired...but no real pain...this eye pain is very sharp feeling...but goes away quickly..maybe the worse of it for 15 seconds ...i'll call asap...thanks...billy

[belle19]

billy, sounds serious but hopefully not.  please see an opthamologist for peace of mind.  good luck and best wishes.  belle

[pooh55811]

Billy,

Call the opthamologist or eye doctor who did your baseline exam and request to be seen on an emergency basis. Tell the receptionist that you are on Interferon and Ribavirin and, because of the possible severe side effects from those drugs, including loss of vision, you need to be seen today.

Best of luck.

[nygirl7]

This is the type question that someone should ask an opthamologist not folks on the internet...what do we know about this, not too much!

[orphanedhawk]

Yes, do see someone and call your doctor. This is not one side to ignore.

[Bill1954]

Billy, see an ophthalmologist--

"...Decrease or loss of vision, retinopathy including macular edema, retinal artery or vein thrombosis, retinal hemorrhages and cotton wool spots, optic neuritis, and papilledema may be induced or aggravated by treatment with peg-intron alpha 2b or other alpha interferons. All patients should receive an eye examination at baseline. Patients with preexisting disorders (e.g. diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy) should receive periodic ophthalmologic exams during interferon alpha treatment. Any patient who develops ocular symptoms should receive a prompt and complete eye examination. Pegintron alpha 2b should be discontinued in patients who develop new or worsening ophthalmologic disorders..."

www.spfiles.com/pipeg-intron.pdf