Eczema IN the eye

[cheekydevil]

Ok, so on my 6th diagnosis to what is wrong with my constantly running sore eyes. Latest consultant has said Eczema ( which I had been asking the last one about as I have had it appear on my lids even though my eyes have been bad for a year and the eczema has only appeared in last couple of months).
So he has written me a prescription for anti-histamine which I have tried 2 or 3 times already in past year but he assures me this one is different.
Have had too many steriods already so won't give me anymore, dry eyes drops, you name it I have had it.
What I am interested in is whether a gluten/diary free diet might help? The consultant said it is unlikely and I don't hold out much hope of the GP giving me the tests to see (pardon the pun) whether I am intolerant but:
I have had this condition for a year and it is chronic.
I have not been able to work and my business has gone down the pan.
I have completely run out of money and am spending a fortune on prescriptions for things that do not work.
Have a real problem with self-esteem now as people tend to stare at my vampire eyes or comment on me always wearing sunglasses.
Vision is vastly impaired as eyes always running and have to drive DD to school and back everyday.
Really need some reassurance or idea to try other than shoving more useless chemicals in my eyes.
Any ideas?
TIA

Probably penny but it is the expense of getting to London and childcare etc.
Yes Chip I think some of the meds definately irritated my eyes. The consultant I saw this week said the one I am hopefully picking up today will have no side effects.
Ohno I really hope yours clears up quicker than mine, some people only get it for a couple of months. I have seen 4 different GP's, Birmingham Eye Hospital who gave me a cocktail of steriod drops, serum and dry eye serum which was working but as soon as the steriods stop it comes back.
Kidderminster hospital who gave me Maxitol steriods which again were working so she signed me off and it came back.
Am now at Alex in Redditch who are refusing to give me anymore steriods as can blind you with overuse and I have had about 5 courses so they have been giving me dry eye serums which have been less than effective and aggravate my bloodshot eyes.
When I went this week I saw a different consultant who said 'eczema' and a different prescription to try.

If you can't get to Moorfields (you shouldn't have to pay - its NHS), my consultant in Swindon works there occasionally - perhaps you could be referred to him in Swindon? Mr Guy Smith.

Agree that preservatives can make a problem seem worse - all my drops are now preservative free.

I've had my tear ducts blocked (suffer from dry eyes, which causes other problems) - didn't hurt at all, so am surprised that you say the tear duct flushing was painful.

Ps - don't stop taking the steroids, if they control the problem. I've been using a very low dose for years - I just have to get checked out about once a year as they can cause high pressure in the eye. I put one drop in each eye every other day - having slowly dropped to this doseage from 6 times a day initially. This seems to control my problem most of the time - I have a flare up about once a year. Can you suggest to your doctor that you go on a low, long term maintenance dose of steriods?

Does anyone know whether the problem could be hormonal as the onset of the problem has coincided with the onset of bigtime menopausal symptoms?

Thank you for that info goch
ohno I have read it can be a problem with middle aged women who have worn make-up long term (which is me I guess)

Yup, all the other posters are right in that Moorfields is an NHS hospital, when I went with xbf, we went to the outpatients as he had been through an eye trauma in the past so any kind of damage/knock/bruise/apparent or made up knock on his eye needed to be seen by specialists.

Hth

St Thomas also has Eye A&E ( or always used to, as far as I know it still does) You can just turn up if they are that bad

Just been to GP and he is sending me for a blood test for celiac in case that is causing the eczema.
Also given me a mild steriod for use on eyelids.