Eye irritation

[Hedgyhoggy]

For the past 6 years (since having my last child) I’ve suffered with eye irritation (stinging, aching - hard to describe but they drive me mad). There are a handful of make ups and moisturisers i can use, but I haven’t been able to pin down a particular ingredient but often it can occur when not even wearing any skin products. Been to the doctor but they haven’t been particularly helpful just say take anti histamine. I have sore eyes probably 50% of the time, they don’t look particularly bad but they are very distracting and I find it hard to concentrate! I’m also worried that my eyes might be getting damaged. Any ideas??

@Hedgyhoggy do you wear glasses? See my posts and reply above.

@Twinkly5588 no I don't and I've had a recent eye test.

Hedgy was the optician able to offer and advice?

Hayfever can make my eyes very sore but it night be a bit early for that. Do you have a dust or mould allergy?

#JiltedJohnsJulie she thought it was allergy related. I do have hay fever but wondering if I have other allergies as that doesn’t account for my sore eyes now. She’s given me some hydrating drops but they only soothe them a little. I don’t like the thought of taking antihistamine all year round.

Do your eye drops have preservatives in them?

Sounds like it could be blepharitis. I was diagnosed after complaining of my issues to my optician who wrote to my gp to request a referral to an ophthalmologist. Both optician and ophthalmologist could see the blepharitis, tears not properly moisturising my eyes, and hives inside my eyelids

It's a pain. The following help:-

Regular cleaning of lids either with a wipe you can buy in pharmacy, or making a solution of cooled boiled water and bicarbonate of soda and cleaning with a cotton bud

Regular use of preservative free eye drops

Antihistamine tablets

Avoid all eye makeup

Alomide eye drops (prescription only)

I have similar symptoms and have ocular rosacea - saw 3 different ophthalmologists before I found one who recognised it.. Cleaning routine as described above for blepharitis helps. Some people take a low dose antibiotic. I clean am and pm, have low dose steroid drops (need checks with ophthalmologist every 3-6 months as there's a glaucoma risk) and lubricating drops.

I have bothoccular rosacea and blepharitis. Do I win?