Sudden Allergy (in Eyes) as an Adult??

[tellyaddict]

Hi All,

has anyone ever developed a sudden allergic reaction as an adult, even though they previously didn't have allergies to anything?

I have had sore, red eyes for 4 weeks now and started using witch hazel drops for sore eyes, when they continued to very slowly get worse I went for the over-the-counter infected eyes drops but still no success so I visited the Nurse at our GP surgery. She assumed a reaction to makeup but in case of infection I was given Fusidic Acid. When they continued to worsen (even though I stopped wearing makeup for a few days) I went back and the GP saw me and said it looked like viral conjunctivitis but had a swab sent off for analysis. It came back clear and so I was put on anti-allergy eyes drops. They are still no better so my next stop is eye casualty.

Sorry for long-winded explanation! Has anyone else suddenly developed an allergic reaction like this? I don't have asthma, eczema or any other allergies at all and never have. Can't think what else could be causng sore, red but not infected eyes for so long?!!

Any advice/informatio/exchange of experiences very welcome!!

Allergies can happen at any time of life. A friend recently developed a very bad allergy to a chemical that occurs in wall paper paste. Her eyes swell up very badly.

Mine were dry and weepy and really hurt. Worse in extremes of temperature, or warm air heating. Because I also had some achey joints they think it's connected to mild arthritis (autoimmune)but have been pg so symptoms have disappeared temporarily.

Thanks ladies. My eyes are definitely worse when outdoors, and we've had very hot weather (23 C) and cold weather (9 C) in the last few weeks since this all started, so can't say it's hot or cold that makes it worse. They were a little puffy when on the fusidic acid, and hardly at all when I stopped it, so was probably more of an irritant than help. They are very pink/red in the mornings and evenings, and slightly bloodshot and watery during the main part of the day.

Yes, my eyes became very allergic to something or other about 5 years ago. Me, fusidic acid and chloramphenicol are now very good mates. I have given up wearing contacts because of it.

BikeRunSki - did you ever find out what you were allergic to? Fusidic acid just made my eyes more sore, what is chloramphenicol?

Pleeeeeeaaaassssee don't tell me I'll have to give up wearing makeup!! I absolutely couldn't, would be like walking the streets topless if I did

I've posted on General Health too and someone has mentioned the possibility of an auto immune issue, there is thyroid dysfunction in the family so may need bloodtests to rule out anything like that and confirm allergy perhaps!

I'd suggest a visit to an opticians for starters.
Although they are unlikely to be able to supply any pharmaceutical treatment you require, it should be well within their ability to diagnose your red eye and tell you what you need.

If it is an allergic issue, neither witch hazel, fusidic acid or chloramephenicol (the latter are both anti-biotics) will help.

You have a choice of two types of anti-allergic eye drops available over the counter.
Anti-histamines or mast cell stabilisers.

As you already have symptoms, you need the first type, mast cell stabilisers are great for preventing problems but take a while to work.

Otrivine Antistin is a good bet, available from pharmacists without a prescription and likely to take effect pretty quickly and works on 2-3 installations a day.

All of this depends on you having an allergic problem. Again, you ought to got to an optician.

Oh, and on the subject of make up. You might want to give it a rest until your symptoms are under control and you should throw eye make up after about 6 weeks to reduce the risk of infection.

Does that make all make sense?

Telly I seem to be suceptible "uvitis" which is an autoimmune condition and and also an allergy which we can't work out (I don't wear eye make up or contacts, only use very simple shampoos etc). Because of these conditions, my eyes are also prone to picking up infections, and seem to react to a cold by coming out with an infection - hence the chloramphenicol and fusidine. Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic eye drop that you can buy over the counter. I think it is what is in Optrex "Red Eyes". I get attacks maybe 2 or 3 times a year, which is a bummer as I live in the countryside with patchy public transport and work 17 miles away, and can't drive when I am on uvitis meds.

My origianl referal to the eye specialist was prompted by a pharmacist when I went for conjunctivitis meds. She looked at me and said "That's not conjunctivitis" and sent me to A&E with a sugguestion that I needed to see an opthalmic consultant asap.

Dbennett - thanks for your input. The doc suggested eye casualty if the anti-allergy drops didn't work (sodium cromoglicate 2%), I've been using them since Monday and no change. Think eye casualty is only open office hours and involves a very long waits (4-6 hrs) and as I have a toddler this isn't going to be possible unless hubby gets some time off to look after little one. I think I'll try and see an optician, as you suggest, tomorrow and maybe try Otrivine Antistin.

BikeRunSki - sounds like you have it pretty tough! Have you had patch tests to determine which allergy/ies you have?

Thanks again for taking time to respond!

Sodium cromoglicate takes a couple of weeks to get full effect.
It's good but not if you already are struggling.

It does seem popular with G.P.s though.

OK, well that's good to know as it's only been 5 days (nurse said to give it 4 days and then visit eye casualty if not better). Can you overuse sodium cromoglicate? I feel that 4 times a day isn't enough, especially in the mornings and evenings where they feel very hot.

You can, or rather you increase the risk of adverse reactions relative to reducing extra effect.

A cold compress will give you some relief and help keep your eyes comfortable.

Are you an optician by any chance ?!!

I'll try a cold compress, but evenings really are the worst and I feel so miserable as they're so hot, I end up going to bed early and then the next morning they are stuck and crusty (but no pus) (and still hot!).

Won't over use them then!

On mumsnet we're all just, well, mums.

Stuck and crusty doesn't really fit with the allergy by the way.
Tends to be more watery.

Another reason to get them looked at I guess.

Yes we are all just Mums on here, I appreciate your input and you seem to know what you are talking about!

I think the crustiness comes from the night-time dose of drops drying and also tears drying as they are very watery.

I bought Otrivine Antistin this afternoon and it stung like mad when I put them in and they went very, very red for a while but feel a bit better this evening.

Anyway, thanks again for your input, and also the others. If no improvement this week I'll be off to eye casualty as soon as I can.

i had bad eyes for ages but ignored it till last weekend when the one eye suddenly became so painful, I had to go and sit in the dark. Was dreadful and runny and felt like I had been stabbed through the eye.

I went to the optician the week after and I had irits/uveitis (actually looks like I'd had it for ages). By the time I went there, it was already clearing up on its own. I've got a referral to the opthamologist (optician wrote to the GP, GP referred me). By the time that comes through, it will have cleared up but because I still have light sensitive eyes they want me to be seen. I haven't had any treatment yet as it's happily clearing up at the moment!

What made the optician suspicious was that I had had v watery eyes but no crustiness or pus at all. It was all in and behind the eye (and it was only one eye too!).

Can't your GP refer you rather than you just turning up to A&E? If you have an appointment, is easier then to get someone to look after the kids as you know what time the appointment will be iyswim.

(mine was only one eye but I thought it was an allergy for ages till the pain came!)

Telly Do you have an NHC walk in centre near you? They can do referals to consultants. I have been twice, and have been seen the same day both times.

Sorry, NHS!

Bikerunski - sorry, only just come back onto Mumsnet, I do have an NHS walk-in centre and was very tempted to visit, good to know that they are effective.

End result was another visit to GP, referral to eye casualty who immediately said that I had had a conjunctivitis, confirmed as viral. On predosol (sp?) steroid eyes drops plus an eye moisturiser. One eye has been watering the whole time, but today it has been dry up until an hour ago, so that's progress. Follow-up on Monday to check all clear.

Thanks all for input. Just glad that it didn't sweep round the family, as supposed to be highly contagious!