To ask what could be wrong with my eyes?

[HeyGirlHeyBoy]

I have an optician's appointment but not for 6 weeks, 10 day wait for GP in meantime. Wondering if anyone else experienced similar. First off, I have blepharitis and eyes are generally sensitive and can be irritated easily enough, spf, not taking off eye makeup properly etc.
Over the last four weeks however I habe had an almost constant red shadow around my iris, particularly on one eye and both eyes are very red and irritated, streaming stinging tears at random times. I thought sanitiser was bothering them, getting close to eyes at mask changes and I also thought tiredness and screen time but without these things, the same symptoms are there. Any ideas would be great. It's not dreadfully painful but does worsen as the day goes on. I don't wear glasses or contact lenses and sight has always been fairly good. TIA.

Slightly better pic!

Important questions:

Can you see? Has it affected your vision?

Is it painful? On a scale to 1-10 how painful?

Is it painful to look at lights?

Is it itchy?

Is it gritty?

Is there sticky discharge?

No effect to vision, that I have noticed.
The streaming is 8 put of 10 painful but stingy more than daggers, otherwise not so much painful as irritated, I can feel that left eye slightly throbby, not actually throbbing, but heavy. Not itchy or gritty but more like I need to squeeze my eyes every now and then, like I say I thought it was the sanitiser bothering them, that type of sensation. No discharge.

That's typical meibomian gland blepharitis OP. The condition blocks production of the fats that are needed in the tear layer to stop the water part evaporating.
You need to do the eye bags or hot compresses once a day. Please you tube how to massage the tear ducts.

Also use some dry eye drops regularly, there are lots of different ones, I like thealoz duo for meibomitis, but I'm not sure they're available in Ireland. But you can ask your pharmacist for an alternative. TBH most things will help, especialy before you go to sleep.
Keep the appointment with the GP, as a course of tetracyclines can really help if you're getting no-where. But you can't take these if you're pregnant/breastfeeding (long term dose).
Obviosuly keep the appointment with the optometrist as well.

Thank you so so much, I could cry you've been so kind. Not sure if crying would help!! You can't see the redness around iris really, do you think that's connected. I'm off to the pharmacy now with your suggestion and I will keep the planned appointments. for you.

Have you called round to different opticians and explained you need an eye health check rather than a vision check?

Are you in Northern Ireland?

No I have called a recommended optician, as I said above I had a bad experience with SS so only go with a recommendation. I did explain symptoms and that not a sight iasue. Not in NI.

Hope you ok op. I take artelac gel. Mine was blocked tear ducts. Gel has helped. Can optician not do it sooner? Im in Ireland too

No, a crazy wait I agree Mary. I may try the new man in the old highly renowned place.

@HeyGirlHeyBoy

No I have called a recommended optician, as I said above I had a bad experience with SS so only go with a recommendation. I did explain symptoms and that not a sight iasue. Not in NI.

I’m I’m island and had a not great experience with SS but when I went to a different SS in another town they were SO much better and I’ve never been anywhere else since x 6 weeks seems a very long time to have to wait for an appointment- I would really consider trying somewhere else as they need to be looked at properly. Either that or go back to your gp - tell them you can’t wait ten days as you are in pain! Can I ask, did this start after you had a cold/virus? I had similar a few years ago after a torn cold and the dry eye drops helped but it took quite a long time x There are some great soothing eye wipes you can get from the opticians begins with a b might be beplanthen or something like that. Hope some of that helps x Ps I tried the optrex spray you spray into your closed eyelids and that made it much worse x

*im IN IRELAND that should say xx

It could be anterior uveitis or iritis. The symptoms of iritis usually appear suddenly and develop rapidly over a few hours or days. Iritis commonly causes pain, tearing, light sensitivity and blurred vision. A red eye often occurs as a result of iritis. Some patients may experience floaters, small specks or dots moving in the field of vision. In addition, the pupil may become smaller in the eye affected by iritis.

Could be episcleritis - I use to get this too when my blepharitis had been bad.

Optase was the only drop pharmacist had.

Interesting powerpotpie as I have rosacea which I see is linked to that also. Link to blepharitis also.

@HeyGirlHeyBoy

Optase was the only drop pharmacist had.

That looks fine. Although there are lots of dry eye products. If it stings after 2 uses ask for something else. Your eyes are quite irritated, so you may need something basic first that you apply more frequently.

Ok. I have a closer chemist but it closed at 6pm , I'll try them tomorrow.

Is it worth maybe ringing the optician explaining the problem for their advice? They may even fit you in for a sooner appt?

Could it be Iritis? Xx

It's only one side rather than all the way round but thank you, and all of you, I will keep an eye!
Already feels a little soothed after the optase and compresses. Hopefully a decent sleep and a weekend away from masks and sanitiser will help.

If you have rosacea, look up ocular rosacea. I had this for ages without realising. Hope you get it sorted, it's no fun having sore eyes.

@NotaCoolMum

Could it be Iritis? Xx

No, the pupil would have been affected by now.

You can’t diagnose your own eye problems and you can’t mess with eyes either.
If you can’t get to an eye casualty dept try an optician, though the chances are he/ she will send you to eye casualty!
If you have blepharitis stop make up and clean your eyes with alcohol free miscellar water ( nothing oily) and apply warm compresses. I found the baby shampoo recommendation made mine worse.

Go and speak to your optician. IME they are absolutely the best people to give advice and they can refer you to A and E. My local optician is fantastic. He saw dh immediately when he got an eye injury while gardening, examined him and gave him antibiotic drops. £10.
Saw me and sent me to the eye hospital emergency dept same day as I developed symptoms.
They are experts and way better than gps or pharmacists.