Eczema IN the eye

[cheekydevil]

Ok, so on my 6th diagnosis to what is wrong with my constantly running sore eyes. Latest consultant has said Eczema ( which I had been asking the last one about as I have had it appear on my lids even though my eyes have been bad for a year and the eczema has only appeared in last couple of months).
So he has written me a prescription for anti-histamine which I have tried 2 or 3 times already in past year but he assures me this one is different.
Have had too many steriods already so won't give me anymore, dry eyes drops, you name it I have had it.
What I am interested in is whether a gluten/diary free diet might help? The consultant said it is unlikely and I don't hold out much hope of the GP giving me the tests to see (pardon the pun) whether I am intolerant but:
I have had this condition for a year and it is chronic.
I have not been able to work and my business has gone down the pan.
I have completely run out of money and am spending a fortune on prescriptions for things that do not work.
Have a real problem with self-esteem now as people tend to stare at my vampire eyes or comment on me always wearing sunglasses.
Vision is vastly impaired as eyes always running and have to drive DD to school and back everyday.
Really need some reassurance or idea to try other than shoving more useless chemicals in my eyes.
Any ideas?
TIA

[seoda24]

That is so miserable and I feel so sorry for you. I know everyone is different but I suffered from irritating, streaming itchy eyes for months last year. I nearly went crazy...Trip after trip to doctor. Anyway in my case it was the face cream that was causing a reaction. I discovered this through trial and error myself.By the way I also have eczema so you need to be very careful what you put close to your eyes in the line of cream.I also have the added misery of hayfever in summer---eyes streaming again... hope you get it sorted

[cheekydevil]

Thank you, have tried not using any products. Am going to try some hypoallergenic cosmetics because I really need to perk up my self esteem with a bit of slap occasionally.
Glad yours is under control atm.
Fingers crossed. :)

[nightcat]

I think the diet is likely to help.
To me it's either a dry eye or inflammation in the eye, both can be associated with gluten.
Just search celiac.com forum or pubmed medical papers.

[EldonAve]

what speciality does your consultant have?

[cheekydevil]

Opthamology. Have seen 5 different consultants in 3 different hospitals now and have had every diagnosis from conjunctivitis and virus to dry eye and allergy. Have just been going in circles for the past year. Each one disagreeing with the last.
I agree that diet has to be a link

[YDdraigGoch]

Google superior limbic keratitis. I have it - it's caused by not enough tears, and I get very bloodshot and itchy eyes. It's managed by a maintenance dose of steroid drops, one every other day, though it flares up about once a year (was a lot more often). Oh, and the drops, as well as the artificial tears I use must be preservative free.

[YDdraigGoch]

Are you anywhere near Swindon? My consultant is fab. Or you could ask for a referral to Moorfield Eye Hispital.

[SoyAllergic]

Your post has really rung bells with me. It sounds similar to eye problems I had when I was younger. I had repeated conjunctivitis which I couldn't shift. It was treated repeatedly as an infection or a virus but never cleared up. I also have hayfever but this conjuctivitis was not seasonal.

I also had excema on my face which, at the time, I put down to being caused by irritation from having permanently weepy eyes. Having read your post, it makes sense that I may have had excema actually in the eyes.

I eventually cured myself when I realised that I had had a change of diet at around the time that the problems had started. In my case, I had been eating soy products (soy milk/yogurt) on a daily basis. I cut out soy and stopped having eye problems. I am convinced that it was some sort of intolerance to soy that caused the problems. I have stayed off soy (not strictly, the odd meal with it in doesn't seem to be a problem) and other than hayfever and a few reactions to animals, I haven't had any eye problems for years. Interestingly enough, one of my dcs also has a proper food allergy (comes out in hives)to some legumes although I have never tried giving soya.

So basically, the short answer is that I reckon it is worth looking at diet, especially if you are getting nowhere with help from the doctors.

And good luck. It is absolutely miserable having sore eyes.

[fantagrape]

Could it be blepharitis? (Google it)
Or eyelash mites?

[PoshPenny]

I don't see what you have to lose by changing your diet. The worst that could happen is no change surely?

I hope you can sort this, I had something similar that turned out to be allergic conjunctivitis due to changing from feather pillows to synthetic ones. It was my optician that managed to put me on the right track, I had got nowhere for months with my GP. :( It is absolutely miserable, and I'm sorry you've been suffering for so long without any success.

[cheekydevil]

Wow, thanks for all your helpful replies. Already done the blepharitis one. No joy there but interesting diet being the only thing I haven't tackled. Will google that one goch thank you.
Sadly not near moorfields, bham/ worcs border.

[chipmonkey]

One of my patients was like this and it eventually turned out to be her cat causing the problem. She hadn't realised she was allergic to him. She rehomed him ( poor lady was gutted) and her eyes improved dramatically.

[kingbeat23]

My brother suffers with exzema and asthma and has found that changing his diet and living in a clean environment has helped. He tries to use non-bio and natural cleaning products in his home so that it is not corrosive to the environment or his air, whilst at the same time being able to stop any build-up of dirt etc to happen.

All of it combined has really helped him over the years

try and get a referal to Moorfields if you can, they really are amazing. I went with an old boyfriend to thier out-patients and they were truely brilliant!

[cheekydevil]

Thank you chipmonkey can't think of any environmental allergies as dd had chronic asthma and a touch of eczema as a baby/toddler so we have no pets/chemical cleaners/carpets etc but maybe could be my diet as I don't feel well after eating bread I have found and also have gerd?
Consultant did poo poo this suggestion though when I mentioned it so wasn't sure if I was being a bit 'woo hoo' iyswim?
You know what king so many peope have suggested moorfield, although we can't afford it I am beginning to think maybe we can't afford to not go there?

[laptopcomputer]

No advice on your poor eyes, but get a prescription pre-payment certificate. it is only £29 for 3 months of 3 prescriptions. About £100 for a whole year. You can pick up a leaflet at your chemist - I think you can even back date it for a while. hope you get your eyes sorted.

[geologygirl]

I had very sore, itchy eyes for about a year too. Had every eye drop and steroid going. Saw consultant at moorfields (dr barnes) and turns out I was allergic to the other drops and they were actually making it worse. So gave eyes a good break from meds for a while and then He gave me another type and it did the trick! Was literally the last one that we tried which was missing some ingredients. Wish I could recall the name of the drops now...sorry typing on phone so excuse spelling etc!

[geologygirl]

And just go to the a+e at moorfields if need be! Go in there and tell them you're in agony...they will see you that way without the referral.

[cheekydevil]

Ha ha geo that (although not funny) made me laugh with the irony of it all!
Consultant yesterday did say that although I have been given anti-his before that I had been prescribed the 'cheap' ones and that these new ones are much better with no side effects. Am having to wait to get them though as not readily available
Am thinking this is might be promising

[cheekydevil]

One thing that has puzzled me is that the previous consultant did the procedure where they put a tube down the tear ducts to clear them and it was extremely painful. Both the previous and current cons. said that shouldn't have been painful?
He hasn't asked me to go back until Feb which is bothering me so I think if New meds not having any effect by Christmas I might have to sell a kidney and try the moorfields
Thanks for all your helpful replies

[PoshPenny]

Can't you get a referral on the NHS? (It is a NHS hospital)

[Dontbesodramatic]

I've always cleared itchy eyes, conjunctivitis, stys and soreness with pure rose water. I know it sounds barnyard but in my parents culture it was used regularly as a natural cleaner/healer. We still use it and I use it on my DD.
hope you feel better soon.

[Dontbesodramatic]

*barmy. to Barnyard

[chipmonkey]

Well, in fairness, Don't it does sound a bit barnyard!

cheeky, do you think any of the drops have made it worse? Some people are allergic to the preservatives in the drops and have to have preservative-free drops, usually in little individual vials.

[crazy8]

My DS has Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis. Saw lots of consultants at Moorfields and eventually one diagnosed his problem within 30seconds of examining him. Uses Rapitil(antihistamine) and FML(steroid).

Apparently boys around 12ish who suffer from eczema, hayfever and asthma are more prone to the problem. Starts with raised areas and itchiness on the eye followed intense irritation

[ohnoherewego]

cheekydevil, I started with extreme watering of the eyes 6 weeks ago. Been to GP 6 times with no success. All the drops seem to make it worse and as yet they won't refer me. Also had check up at opticians. I live in the same area as you so would be interested to know which consultants you've seen and where as I am going to push for a referral (and may have to pay) so want to make sure I see one worth seeing.