Dry Itchy Eyes DH desperate!

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For about the last three months DH has been suffering with dry, itchy, swollen eyes and it is driving him mad. We've tried everything, thoroughly de dusting the house, all manner of drops, steroid drops which helped for a while, new washing powder shower gel etc etc. Nothing seems to help and he is really struggling as it both looks and feels awful. He had Covid for the first time three months ago and we were wondering if this was the cause. Any advice or recommendations would be gratefully received!

@Tilllly thanks for asking. Appointment got cancelled and rebooked for Monday but he's currently talking to a Dr from Moorfields on a virtual appointment as he's really been struggling and they have given him an emergency appointment 🤞🤞

@Daffodilsandtuplips thank you your experience and treatment are very useful to know. It's the itchiness and grittiness that are driving him mad

Oh that's good then

It seems a bit bonkers that Moorfields sent him off with steroid eye drops and no follow-up, but it's good he's getting an emergency appointment.

@AutumnCrow It was bonkers! Luckily they have said to come in so we are on our way, luckily we live in London so not too far to travel!

I would investigate food allergies as well as conventional treatment. I developed a number of food allergies as I got older though they have probably been lurking around in the background for years. Can eat small amounts of the offending foods but too much and my eyes are sore, irritated. feel pressured and itchy. I also come out in cold sores. The culprits are tomatoes, citrus fruits and juices, dairy, especially yoghurt and certain fermented foods such as sourdough. Most of these were confirmed by my local hospital.
Hooe things improve soon.

I have a variety of eye conditions including dry eye, and I have prescription wetting drops to use 4 times daily. That might be worth investigating as it's made a massive difference to the irritation I otherwise experience.

I've been getting b12 injections recently and my dry eyes have magically cleared up. Not the reason for the b12, just a nice side effect

I had something like this years ago, got nowhere with the doctors and went to the optician. He diagnosed allergic conjunctivitis, told me to get some chloramphenicol ointment from the pharmacy. The culprit was a new feather pillow and it all magically cleared up when I went back to the old foam one! It wasn't the feathers though as I have a feather pillow now but maybe something they'd used in manufacture. I'll never really know...

My optician told me I had very poor quality tears. Plenty of them, but poor quality and advised that I took Omega 3 oil. It does actually feel to have made a difference

Ha she tried taking a regular anti histamine?

Good, I'm glad they are seeing him. Any update?

I had terrible eye problems (dry, painful swollen eyes) following my covid vaccine and then when I had covid (only realised the link after I'd had covid and read about covid eye problems in an ophthalmology journal). Lasted 2-3 months each time. Spoke to pharmacists, opticians and doctors. I tried chloramphenicol and one other prescribed, neither worked. Fusidic Acid eye drops sorted mine out eventually. Hope he gets it sorted soon.

Thank you much for all who have posted since we've been in Moorfields, so helpful and interesting. We have a diagnosis of Blepharitis and dry eye. Coming home with steroids, oral tablets and a cleansing solution. Hope it works, and I hope all of you who struggle with eye problems get well soon x

Nasty combination

I have dry eye, once you get on top of it, it's manageable so long as you keep up to your regime

I’m pleased he’s got a diagnosis at last. I buy my wipes etc from Amazon. except the Hyloforte lubricating drops, I get these on repeat prescription. I also have drops to reduce the inner ocular pressures to keep the glaucoma stable.
A tip: The eyelid wipes are quite big so I cut the unopened sachets in half, one half per eye. I wrap the wipe around my index finger, wiping once from inner to outer corner, I then move my finger to an another part of the wipe and repeat.

Fish oils help my dry eyes. I use the strong mor epa ones 3 for 2 from boots

@Tilllly I will be making sure he keeps up the regime, the drs said he had to or it will come back

@Daffodilsandtuplips which wipes do you get, the Dr recommended Tea Tree wipes

@Eloisedublin123 I'm going to get us both some fish oils

Thanks again and big thanks from DH!

Yes, I have dry eyes and once you have it, it's there for good

I was in a right state initially but once I got my routine down, it's fine

I use celluvisk 0.5% drops in the day, usually 5 or 6 times
Xaillin ointment at night, and if I wake in the night, celluvisk 1% drops
I use the Dr Hillary jones eye bag every 5 days or so, and the eye wipes that come with it, and the eye massage routine
And I take flaxseed oil twice a day (also good for menopause, probably no help to your DH😁)

I've only had blepharitis once but I think once he's got rid of it, it'll be just managing the dry eye

Give it time, there are other drops if the ones he's got are not ideal for him, but they probably will be fine

I've suffered mildly with dry eyes and have suspected mast cell. Waiting for an appointment.

I'd had a look around on Dr Google and discovered that mites are very common in the eyelashes, especially as you get older. You might have to dig around a bit but there's quite a bit about using tea tree oil wipes (published studies). I found a few on Amazon but didn't buy as drops, a spray and using a heated mask and massage have helped.

I wish him luck getting it sorted.

I’m using Noveha tea tree cleansing textured wipes. From Amazon, 60 wipes to a box, 13.99. Optase eye wipes are good too.
When I heat the mask I put it onto a clean plate in the microwave to keep it clean and then a clean tissue over my eyes under the mask, to stop cross contamination. It’ll feel hot at first but it’s bearable.

Forgot to add I clean my eyelids first before using any drops. Just in case the drops flush any bacteria into my eyes.

Many thanks for the advice @Tilllly,@agent765 and @Daffodilsandtuplips . It's a whole new world to me!

Trust the process with this one but go buy some Johnsons baby shampoo, the original yellow one. Tell him to wash his face with it twice a day, paying special attention to his eye area (eyes closed obviously) I suffer from blepharitis and this keeps it at bay.

Thanks @Jinpur will add to shopping list!