Eye has been bloodshot since august!

[1wokeuplikethis]

And I’ve got no idea why. It just happened one day, bright red and very noticeable. I went to specsavers and had them checked, they suggested (extremely expensive) drops for dry eyes. After two weeks, nothing had changed so I saw the pharmacist, who recommended sore eye drops. They did nothing, so I spoke to a dr who recommended tired eye drops. They did nothing, and when I say red I mean my eye is bright red and actually gets redder as the day goes on. I went back to the dr who then advised I do nothing. Just leave it, no drops or anything.

This was 2 months ago and my eye is still scarily red. With everything going on, I just forget about it but every now and then I’m like, why is my eye still so bloodshot and red. It looks horrific and everyone comments on it.

It’s not sore or itchy, doesn’t hurt and my vision is fine. I’m sick of asking the dr now and clearly any sort of hospital appointment wouldn’t be happening anyway. So I’ll just add it to the list along with an infected ear (that I’ve had for 2yrs) and never-ending BV/thrush/I don’t know what it is any more.

Just so fed up of it all and just get on with it, but then I think no! I shouldn’t just get on with it.

Seriously hoping someone has a magic solution!

Subconjunctival Haemorrhage may be caused by high blood pressure.

Also a symptom of something called Uveitis. Two of my children have this and it's not particularly common so lots of more general healthcare professionals don't seem to know much about it (in my experience!). Would expect some discomfort/light sensitivity too though but it is something that needs treatment if it's that.

Can you post a picture OP? What drops are you using at the moment? Has it changed at all during the last 3 months? Is it just in one part of the eye or all over. When it first happened, did a large area become red very quickly, or was it gradual.

A subconjunctival haemorrhage would have resolved by now.

Very occasionally a tumour can make part of the eye just look red.

Oh god. Right I’m definitely going back to the doctors. I’m not using any drops. Not used anything for 2 months. It’s just one part of the eye, the outer side so from my iris all the way out. It was a gradual thing and I assumed it’s from looking at a smaller screen than I’m used to due to working from home so bought some blue light glasses but they’ve not helped.

Thank you for your replies, think I ought to phone the quacks next week.

It is probably nothing OP.
From your second description it may just be a slightly inflamed pingeculae.
www.msdmanuals.com/-/media/manual/professional/images/m1550331-pinguecula-science-photo-library-high.jpg?mw=350&thn=0&sc_lang=en
If you can post a picture it would make it easier.
But, yes, it does need looking at.

Sorry they’re a bit blurry but this is what it looks like

underneaththeash are you clever with eyes? You sound like you know a bit.

Get an optician's appointment. They'll know if it's anything sinister.

I was going to say dry eyes too. It’s very common in women. It tends to be chronic so you have to constantly use eye drops and experiment with different products to ease it. There’s no quick or permanent fix unfortunately

I’m actually cringing at the fact you stopped using the drops! Why? It’s the best thing you can do to provide relief, you’re actually making it worse by not using eye drops.

I reckon it gradually got worse as you stopped using the eye drops

It's something called episcleritis. Keep using the drops - it can take a few months to resolve

Not exactly on the red eye topic but in case it helps anyone I had dry eye/blepharitis for years. I gave up gluten for other reasons and discovered a massive bonus in that my eyes stopped itching. If I accidentally eat gluten my eyes itch again.

I agree it looks like episcleritis - I had it a couple of years ago. Thought it was usual hayfever reaction but just wouldn't go away. Tried drs several times, prescribed various drops, none worked. Dr told me to go to an optician The optician diagnosed it immediately, prescribed steroidal eye drops, & it was cleared in a few weeks. Told it might return but hasn't since.
Go & see an optician - if you don't have one already you should have a local scheme that allows you to make an appointment with one for an urgent assessment. You may need your GP to refer you or sign it off, or at least supply you with the details. We have the ACES scheme in Somerset.

Oh hang on purplesquirrel you have just reminded me that the doctor did say ordinarily they would prescribe me steroid drops, but because of Covid they were not doing it at the moment. Reason being if you catch covid and you’re taking steroids you have a worse reaction. Can’t believe i forgot that, all the information and advice blurs into each other, but I wonder if he would reconsider seeing as we are now in tier 4 so not coming into contact with anyone anyway. Or perhaps I should just sit right and have a gammy eye for a few more months until it’s safer to take steroids.

I have exactly the same OP! Since about ... September?
It’s been dx by the optician as episcleritis after a couple of eye scans.
I’m shit at remembering the drops though so it’s not resolving.
Have been told will need a course of steroids under the hospital if using drops and it doesn’t respond in the NY.

Tried to post a pic but can’t for some reason. But it’s basically the same as yours.

Yes, it does look like a nodular episcleritis and that does fit in with the description, usually you'd recommend a dry eye drop initially as it often just goes away by itself.

Most optometrists can't prescribe steriods sadly, although there may be a scheme in your area - this is usually called MECS in England. If you google MECS and then your county, a list of local optometrists in the scheme will come up. I can't find any evidence that a small course of "eye drop" steroids has COVID implications.

I'd go and see the GP again anyway, especially if you've having other health issues too. About a third of people who get episcleritis have an underlying health problem (which also means 2/3rds don't). But he/she may be able to piece everything together, or can refer you to someone who can.

Oh and I'd try using the dry eye drops - they can stop the area of inflammation rubbing on the eye lid so much. Which can sometimes make the redness a little better.

In summary, it needs looking at.

Sounds like you have had some great advice from previous posters.... can I just add...

Can anyone who gets repeated bloodshot eyes please get their blood pressure checked. I had a heart attack at 53. It was one thing that I could have picked up on beforehand.

Thank you for the great advice, I am glad I asked

I’ve had a sore eye since February. Very dry - woke with intense pain at the back of my eye / round the socket. Still no further forward. I went from the GP to the optometrist to the eye hospital (I don’t live in the U.K.) The doctors occasionally try to tell me it’s my age but can’t explain why it would only be one eye (or the initial pain). I had steroid drops which helped a lot but now have dermatitis around the eye which drops make worse. I’ve been advised to keep trying drops till I find one i’m bot reacting to but at £25/pack (😩) for basic eye drops here it’s an expensive hobby...