eye very sore

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Last night I took out my contact lenses and thought that I'd got grit in one of my eyes afterwards, but after much eyelid lifting etc no sign of anything in there - there were specks of flaked off mascara on my fingers, so I wondered if maybe they'd irritated the eye - wpould it be as uncomfortable as it is today (it still feels as if there's something rubbing on my eye) Optician isn't in until tomorrow or next day, so am wearing my specs but a bit worried as I've been wearing lenses for about 18 years and everything is usually fine.
Have bought new mascara today though !

Could be your mascara. They say one should dispose of mascara after 3 months or it can develop harmful bacteria. Or you might have scratched your eye. Is it swollen or red?

I did something similar about two weeks ago - bloody painful but I had managed to get a small infection and that was the main problem. Local chemist recommended eye drops with anti-biotic ingredient over the counter and they worked within 24 hours

thanks Tanee and pagwatch - my mascara was only a few months old, I do change it often but the dry bits can be quite sharp and I think some may have got under my lid - my eye itself isn't red or anythin -it just feels like the eye lid - weird !

I've been wearing contact lenses for a long time as well, and the only time I had what you describe here, it turned out to be an infection. There are different kinds of infections, though, so I wouldn't start self-medicating until you've been seen by a doctor.

No lenses during treatment (about a week) and then remember to throw away the old lenses AND the lens box so as not to contaminate your eyes again.

eek - these are brand new lenses though ! there's no obvious soreness, no redness or weeping or gunge so I'm inclined to think that I've scratched my eye/lid - at least I hope that's all it is.

When I first had lenses I scratched my eye when putting them in, and it was more painful than giving birth - plus my eye swelled up shut. Sounds like a mild infection. Hope your optician sorts it out. And yes, keep the lenses out (though as an old hand you'll know this. To be honest, I didn't even wear mascara for the 25 odd years I wore lenses. Only eyeliner round the outside of the eye. Last year I bit the bullet and had laser surgery and wow! Whole new world!

Tanee - laser surgery - how was it ?

It took me years to make up my mind to it - but it was absolutely fine. I was so shortsighted I couldn't focus more than four inches, and thought I had too strong a prescription for it to work. They said I was certainly at the upper limit, but that surgery has improved so that it's possible. I was horribly scared, absolutely shaking on the operating table, well, the thought of all that being done to your eye, and under a local - but it was fine. A bit uncomfortable when the eye was put under pressure - like something pressing hard on it - for a few seconds - but no pain at all and interesting Jackson Pollock lighting effects while the laser did its work. The worst bit was afterwards when my eyes started watering. Felt like I had really bad hayfever and tears were streaming down my face. I must have looked like someone had died. That lasted about an hour. Went to bed, lay in the dark all evening, next day I was fine, though I couldn't bear strong sunlight for about 2 months. That was 8 months ago and I'll never regret it. Goodbye to nearly 40 years of specs and contacts, hooray !!!

I'd worry about being able to keep still on the operating table !

I had to take several deep breaths and clench my hands together! But they put a sort of brace on your head to keep it still - and it was quite comfortable . The staff and surgeon were really nice and very reassuring. Are you thinking of having it done?

And how's the eye today?