I can't believe it....

[gja1000]

YUK! I know it was awful. My g-daughter had to have that done too, for a sty - she said it hurt like heck!

[JJJ]

Originally Posted by Lindsey

I'm glad I went too because I really want this to be done. Oh I didn't even mention the worst part... turning my eyelids inside out! That was sooooo uncomfortable!

My boy's do that, they know they look hideous but they have outgrown it.

I'm glad they took samples, that should narrow thing down. I hope it's just something simple that they missed. Crossing my fingers for you.

[Lindsey]

Well, this is my first day of putting NOTHING in my eyes! Scott said they weren't as red this morning, just very veiny. And they are super itchy! I'm trying not to touch or rub them.

[DianaB]

Hopefully the itching is a sign that they're healing. I hope this goes away and you don't have any more problems. I curious to hear that they find out from the scrapings.

[Lindsey]

Diana, they're not feeling so itchy anymore. I just checked in the bathroom mirror and they are still very very veiny, but in between it is white instead of pink. I think that's a good sign!

I got a call this morning and I have an appointment next Wednesday around noon. I am betting they'll do the same things as yesterday to check for changes, so I'll get Scott to take some time off to drive me there because they'll probably dilate my eyes again. I needed him to get a ride to pick me up yesterday because I couldn't even open my eyes if I was looking towards sunlight. I probably wouldn't be safe on the roads

[Lindsey]

Well, the specialists have NO IDEA what's wrong My eyes are still red and sore and there is no explanation. I got a prescription for a steroid eye drop to take for a week, and I go back to see them in 2 weeks. I started the eye drops yesterday and there has been NO improvement at all yet.

For over a month now, every day I look like I've been crying or had a late night or whatever, and I'm just so sick of looking like this. I am so frustrated.

[judy]

That sucks!!!

Is there another type of specialist you could go to? An allergist maybe?

Gayle, what do you think?

[Lindsey]

I guesss if there's no improvement when I go back in two weeks they'll have to figure out where else to send me. Scott said this morning that it doesn't look like anything has changed.

[JJJ]

Gosh I'm sorry Lindsey.

[gja1000]

I don't know a thing about eyes - but I would say you do need to go to some sort of specialist. I don't know what kind though......

[DianaB]

Have you told them that you're on the computer a lot? Hopefully, you're still just getting over the drops that bothered you and in time your eyes will heal. I hope you have good news in a couple of weeks.

[Lindsey]

I did let them know I'm a drafter, but if it were computer related it should clear up somewhat on weekends, and definitely when I was on vacation for a week...

The specialists I'm seeing now are opthamologists, and they seem to think it looks like follicular conjuctivitis. This is basically what I found online:

Clinical features:
May present as an acute or chronic disease
Symptoms: hyperemia, chemosis, watery discharge, photophobia and periorbital pain.
Signs:
The follicles appear as gray-white, round to oval elevations which measuring between 0.5 to 1.5 mm in diameter
Smaller follicles may produce a slightly irregular and velvety appearance
Follicles can be seen in the inferior and superior tarsal conjunctiva, and less often, on bulbar or limbal conjunctiva

Acute follicular conjunctivitis is usually associated with viral (epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, Herpes zoster keratoconjunctivitis, infectious mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus infection) or chlamydial infections (Inclusion conjunctivitis), while chronic disease may be caused by chronic chlamydial infection (trachoma, lymphogranuloma venereum) or as a toxic or reactive inflammaytroy response to topical medications and molluscum contagiosum infection.
Treatment is directed to the causative agents.

The eye scraping ruled out a chlamydial infection. I got so worried when he brought that up the first time saying "You can get it from touching door handles or anything touched by someone who has an infection" I use hand sanitizer CONSTANTLY but now I will even more! But anyways, that was ruled out and they can't figure out what is causing it. They said it can also be caused by viruses that cause cold sores, but I've never had a cold sore in my life. I just don't know!

[DianaB]

At least they have some idea of what's wrong. It doesn't sound very good but now they'll know how to treat it. Hugs, Lindsey.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by Lindsey

They said it can also be caused by viruses that cause cold sores, but I've never had a cold sore in my life. I just don't know!

That is a really serious problem and I hope that is NOT what you have (I don't think that is it). Did you ever have chicken pox as a child? If not, then I don't think you carry the virus that can cause it. If you did have chicken pox, then it is possible, but again, I really don't think so. That type of eye infection is VERY painful.

[Lindsey]

I did have the chicken pox... TWICE actually! I had a mild case when I was a baby, and then I got it full-blown again when I was 4 or 5. My mom was sure I wouldn't catch it from my brother because I had it once already, but I sure did!

My eyes aren't in a lot of pain. They get sore a lot faster than before, and it seems to be a pain kind of around my eye sockets and between my eyes. It's not severe pain, just a dull ache. At the start of all this the pain was a lot worse and I got pounding headaches from it. That may have been from the drops I was using though.