Dry eyes or blepharitis - will I damage my cornea not getting appointment til after lockdown?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

I am dealing with a lot of health issues right now. I think I may have some dry eyes or blepharitis, but am self isolating as in a vulnerable group. My eye is blurred when I get up, then (so far) resolves by the afternoon. I see two ophthalmologists who specialise in the retina for diabetic eye problems, have been in with both in the last month/ 6 weeks to monitor a macular swelling and both do not think my retina is causing this blurring that waxes and wanes.

If I can't get to a (different, I assume I need a more general eye doctor?) ophthalmologist for another month or two is my cornea going to be damaged permanently?

Are there any safe eye drops i could try in the meantime over the counter from the pharmacy?

I am so worried about this, normally I'd be in straightaway and don't know what to do.

I suffer both. Blephasol duo is available over the counter or online, just wipe over eyelid. Its very effective. Also a heated eye mask helps with both.

My optician recommends baby shampoo for blepharitis.

over the counter Blephasol plus heated eye masks (either microwaveable or USB pluggin) for 10minutes twice a day should keep it from getting worse at least. however the nhs is still functioning fine for non-cv19 issues and it isn't like the ophthalmologists can do much on a cv19 ward so you should be able to get an appointment. when you get the appointment letter you will be able to phone up and ask how you can attend safely given your additional vulnerability - they may be able to make a side-room available for you to wait in for example.

Ring a pharmacist and ask what would help. I have dry eyes (diagnosed at moorfields eye hospital) and I asked if not treating it would cause long term damage and I am pretty sure I was told no! But best to ring your optometrist and ask.

I agree a hot eye mask and then gently massaging the eye helps. Any kind if hot compress works if you dont have a proper eye mask- eg grains in some kind of material like a pouch or sock in the microwave. You can get over the counter eye drop for day and also some thicker ones like vaseline to put in just before you go to sleep. You can also wipe the eyelashes with a wet cotton bud, I find this works as well as the eye wipes and is cheaper. If you dont do all this you are at risk of irritation and are more likely to pick up infections.

What I dont know is if you have any other suspected eye conditions, if these treatments like the heat, will affect that, you would need a professional to advise

I have dry eye and blepharitis. As someone else already said, clean the eye lids with gentle baby shampoo and I use an eye drop called Hyco San Extra, available in Boots. It's about £13 but the best I've come across. It's the one in the red box.

If you don't have a heat mask, boil some water, leave it until it's at a temperature where you are able to hold a soaked cotton wool pad or a cloth against your eyes for a minute or so. The hotter the better. Once done massage lightly along your top and bottom lash line. Boiling water with some baby shampoo and use a cotton bud to clean along your lash line. Hycosan or Systane drops can help too.

For dry eyes I use hycosan extra recommended by my optician

Hycosan is what my optician recommends for day time for dry eyes. They sell a few different types but I think they are all preservative free which is what you need. You can buy them in Boots or other pharmacies.

I was told any artificial tears drop would do the job. Use once or twice a day alongside eyelid wipes, I use the lumecare ones. If you don't have a heated eye mask, a flannel in hot water would do. I would definitely seek advice first if you're experiencing blurred vision. Do you have a contact number for the ophthalmologists? I'm sure someone must be working remotely to give you a phone consultation.

If it’s dry eye get Hyabak and Cellusan. They are over the counter. 4 times a day of each.

Not wanting to scare you but my undiagnosed dry eye condition caused my epithelium to break down and I had to have it removed (it grows back!) which was hideous. My first symptom was waking up with blurred vision which did not go away.

I think it depends how badly scratched you think your cornea is? Can you phone an optician for advice? They may then decide to see you and/or they can then refer you (I think) without you having to go to a GP.

My mother had very bad dry eye and scratched corneas - she was having to wash out her eyes several times a day pp's have described. After treatment, her eyesight is better now than it was 3 years ago. Her specialist said that it is rare for someone of her age (late 70s at the time)'s sight to improve!