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Original poster

What is going on with my eyes?

34 replies

Nowthereistwo · 21/12/2019 12:08

Apologises for the scary photo - not one of my best.

About a month ago my eyes started to get itchy and feel really dry. This has progressed to this - really red puffy, dry skin around the eyes.

And, potentially unrelated, the worst outbreak of spots that I have ever had. Normally I don't get spots.

The Dr prescribed stronger anti histamine as they thought it could be an allergic reaction to something. I do get a bit of hay fever but nothing that normal anti histamine can't handle and I've never reacted this bad.

I also can't work out what has changed in the last month to cause such a reaction on my eyes.

Went to the Drs again and they prescribed 3 days of oral steroids to sort it out - which worked whilst I took them (the relief of having normal eyes) but now I've finished I'm back to square one.

They are now referring me to a dermatologist but wondered if you have seen or experienced anything similar?

OP posts:

AlunWynsKnee · 21/12/2019 12:24

Is it blepharitis or impetigo? Not medical myself though.
Sounds horrible for you.

BusterGonad · 21/12/2019 12:28

Have you had a blood test Op, you need your CRP levels checked as it could be something totally unrelated to your eyes iyswim.

Original poster

Nowthereistwo · 21/12/2019 12:43

Thanks for your quick responses.

It does sound like blepharitis from google but I clean my eyes every day and that all it says should clear it up?

I haven't had a blood test recently- but don't have any historical conditions - except being over weight, lack of sleep and going through periods of stress at work.

OP posts:

littlebillie · 21/12/2019 22:12

It looks like contact dermatitis there is a cream call elicon cream which works differently than steroids

www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/78/pil

It is prescribed only - it's amazing

littlebillie · 21/12/2019 22:13

Look up contact dermatitis it's very common with eyes as skin so thin

Didyeaye · 21/12/2019 22:16

When you say your eyes felt itchy and dry do you mean your eye balls or the lids? Have you seen an optician? If it’s blepharitis then at that stage just cleaning wouldn’t clear it, you’d need to be doing what treatment and massages but they look too sore for that!

Didyeaye · 21/12/2019 22:17

Heat not what!

Lampan · 21/12/2019 22:20

Oh dear it looks uncomfortable! Blepharitis doesn’t look like this though, even in severe cases. I think it’s a skin or systemic issue rather than an eye problem. See you GP again and ask for a referral to dermatology if you can. Good luck!

askmeagainin5 · 21/12/2019 22:20

OP I honestly had the exact same problem - if I cropped your photo to just your eyes and showed it to DP he’d probably think it was me a few weeks ago! I really, really, REALLY sympathise. It was so painful and I started to not want to go outside because of it. Plus the various ‘have you tried E45 or sudocrem?’ comments were driving me mad!

Ended up going to a dermatologist who prescribed me Protopic. I’d never even heard of it. When I mentioned it to a few friends apparently there’d been some controversy over it being dangerous a few years back? But for me really it worked so well and so so quickly when nothing else would even touch it.

askmeagainin5 · 21/12/2019 22:22

As for what it was - as PPs have said, dermatitis. Could never find a cause. I’d not used any new products, any new fabrics, had any new foods, nothing really... But the cream really did work a treat! I hope you manage to get your hands on some

maryelizabeth71 · 22/12/2019 11:09

A friend of mine had a very similar thing and it was on her neck too. Turned out to be a contact dermatitis / allergy type thing from her gel nails

moreismore · 22/12/2019 11:13

Oh that looks awful! Until you see dermatologist I would approach a bit more holistically... take fish oils, vitamin D, C ans zinc and a probiotic to promote healing, gut and immune health.
Consider metal allergies- new glasses? Use lots of topical moisturisers-coconut oil is good as it’s also anti fungal.
If you can face it I’d trial cutting dairy and gluten but maybe wait until seen dermatologist as that’s a faff and may not be necessary.

underneaththeash · 22/12/2019 22:20

I can't see from your photo, but are the whites of your eyes affected (conjunctiva)?

I've seen a similar skin appearance on women who have roseacea. If it is roseacea you need a referral anyway for the best treatment anyway, but you need a ophthalmologist referral too if it's affected the inside of your eye.

Nat6999 · 22/12/2019 22:26

This may sound daft but make some warm water with a splash of baby shampoo, use cotton buds to gently wipe your eyelids, then use a clean bud dipped in the water & shampoo to wipe along your lash line. Finish with a clean flannel wring out in warm water to use as a compress over your eyes for about 10 minutes. If your actual eyes are dry, buy some artificial tears to use every 2-3 hours & gel ointment to put in at night last thing before you go to sleep. Massage your eyelids with a tiny blob of vaseline every night.

Original poster

Nowthereistwo · 23/12/2019 21:21

Thank you for all the replies. We've gone away for Christmas and it's got worse.

I didn't think the stronger antihistamines were doing anything but since I forget to take them today you can see how puffy my eyes are.

The whites of my eyes have fine red veins across.

I do have new born friendly child shampoo with me so I will wash them - will try anything.

Just called to arrange a private dermatologist through my husband's work.

OP posts:

QueenofPain · 23/12/2019 21:22

Was just going to mention Impetigo - sometimes you can get satellite spots which present quite like that.

QueenofPain · 23/12/2019 21:25

It isn’t Blepharitis which is what all the cleaning eyelids with baby shampoo and a cotton bud is all about. If Blepharitis had progressed to this extent the focus would be on treating the secondary cellulitis.

Any deep eye pain or throbbing?

PlanDeRaccordement · 23/12/2019 21:29

I agree it looks like conjunctivitis dermatitis. Which is an allergic reaction of the eyes. What are you cleaning your eyes with? It is very common for people to be allergic to preservatives in eye drops and eye washes. They make preservative free versions but those are usually prescription only.

PlanDeRaccordement · 23/12/2019 21:31

You need an ophthalmologist not a dermatologist. The allergic reaction is in the eyes and the puffy skin around is part of the same reaction.

jalopy · 23/12/2019 21:51

My bet is on ocular rosacea too.

KamikazeIdiot · 23/12/2019 23:22

there is a cream call elicon cream which works differently than steroids

The active ingredient in Elocon® cream is mometasone. It is a steroid. It works the same way as other steroids.

starfishmummy · 24/12/2019 01:22

Is there a dedicated eye casualty at a hospital near where you are staying? I would be heading there

justilou1 · 24/12/2019 01:32

I would say that it looks more like Perioral/periorbital dermatitis. Elidel cream fixed mine & my daughter’s. It is actually a response to using steroid cream for too long, and your body thinks that it can’t heal itself without the ointment. (Kind of like an addiction to the steroid cream). You need to immediately cease steroid cream. It will get worse before it gets better, unfortunately. It stings, is a dry, pimply rash. Gets tight and painful. I know this well. You do need to commit to not using steroid cream and see your GP for a prescription for Elidel cream, which is an immunosuppressant cream, not a steroid cream. Technically it is not supposed to go around eyes, but patted on carefully, it’s fine.

Naughty1205 · 24/12/2019 02:19

Not blepharitis, I also think contact dermatitis. Protopic was the only thing that worked for dd after 6 years of using everything on the market. Get some emollient on your lids, take Zirtek, don't put anything else near your eyes and hopefully you'll get consultant appt ASAP.

iMatter · 24/12/2019 14:18

You poor thing

That looks so sore

Is there a walk in clinic you can go to nearby so someone can take a look and prescribe something?

Wishing you better soon

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