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Hello, About Three Weeks Ago, I Developed A Redness On The Inner Part Of The Skin Of My Right Eye And Constant Tearing
Question: Hello,
About three weeks ago, I developed a redness on the inner part of the skin of my right eye, as well as constant tearing, but no actual eye pain. I was given Tobramycin and it did not work. Went to an ophthalmologist and he prescribed Tobradex (Tobramycin & Dexamethasone) and it seemingly worked. However, as of last night (three weeks after being treated and thinking it was cured), it came back pretty hard (inner eye skin redness and perpetual tearing; website is not allowing me to upload an picture).
My fear is that I have some sort of antibiotic-resistant infection and I fear losing my sight (despite having no sight issues or actual eye pain right now).
What could this be, if it comes back/returns three weeks later?
Thank you,
Chase
About three weeks ago, I developed a redness on the inner part of the skin of my right eye, as well as constant tearing, but no actual eye pain. I was given Tobramycin and it did not work. Went to an ophthalmologist and he prescribed Tobradex (Tobramycin & Dexamethasone) and it seemingly worked. However, as of last night (three weeks after being treated and thinking it was cured), it came back pretty hard (inner eye skin redness and perpetual tearing; website is not allowing me to upload an picture).
My fear is that I have some sort of antibiotic-resistant infection and I fear losing my sight (despite having no sight issues or actual eye pain right now).
What could this be, if it comes back/returns three weeks later?
Thank you,
Chase
Brief Answer:
Tear duct blockage or allergy (conjuctivitis) can be the cause- explained in detail below how to distinguish and needed treatment.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Very likely you are having a blocked tear duct. It causes redness and swelling of the skin in the inner area between the eye and the nose and tearing. It generally tends to come back and that is why you probably had the recurrence.
Treatment involves massage of the tear duct to help it unblock and local antibiotics (tobramicine) to treat any possible secondary infection with or without steroids (dexamathasone) which reduce swelling and help improve quicker.
If you have only redness in the eye (not effecting the outside the skin) and tearing than allergic conjuctivitis can be the cause and in this case only eye drops or ointment (with antihistamine) or oral antihistamines like Cetirizine 10 mg at night are needed. Continuous use of steroids in the eye is not recommended due to potential side effects. Sometimes artificial tear drops might be helpful if dry eye is a likely cause of the symptoms.
As long as you have no pain in the eye and no visual changes there is no risk to your eye and the condition causing the symptoms is self limiting and not serious.
I would recommend you to go back to your doctor and have another visit and discuss the possible diagnosis and needed treatment and if the doctor thinks you are having blocked tear duct than he might prescribe you again some eye drops or ointment and might advise you on tear duct massage.
If you have any pain in the eye or any changes in vision these indicate an urgent condition and you should go to your doctor as soon as possible.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Antoneta Zotaj, MD
Tear duct blockage or allergy (conjuctivitis) can be the cause- explained in detail below how to distinguish and needed treatment.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Very likely you are having a blocked tear duct. It causes redness and swelling of the skin in the inner area between the eye and the nose and tearing. It generally tends to come back and that is why you probably had the recurrence.
Treatment involves massage of the tear duct to help it unblock and local antibiotics (tobramicine) to treat any possible secondary infection with or without steroids (dexamathasone) which reduce swelling and help improve quicker.
If you have only redness in the eye (not effecting the outside the skin) and tearing than allergic conjuctivitis can be the cause and in this case only eye drops or ointment (with antihistamine) or oral antihistamines like Cetirizine 10 mg at night are needed. Continuous use of steroids in the eye is not recommended due to potential side effects. Sometimes artificial tear drops might be helpful if dry eye is a likely cause of the symptoms.
As long as you have no pain in the eye and no visual changes there is no risk to your eye and the condition causing the symptoms is self limiting and not serious.
I would recommend you to go back to your doctor and have another visit and discuss the possible diagnosis and needed treatment and if the doctor thinks you are having blocked tear duct than he might prescribe you again some eye drops or ointment and might advise you on tear duct massage.
If you have any pain in the eye or any changes in vision these indicate an urgent condition and you should go to your doctor as soon as possible.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Antoneta Zotaj, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you doctor.
The pain and redness is only on the skin around the eye (the corner between the eye and the nose, as well as the lower eye lid). There is a bit of blurryness but I’m assuming that that’s due to the amount of tears that build up, because when I do a forced blink and close the “good eye”, I can see fine out of the affected eye.
Went back to the eye doctor today and he prescribed the ointment version of tobradex, believing that it’s a skin infection and not the eye itself.
The pain and redness is only on the skin around the eye (the corner between the eye and the nose, as well as the lower eye lid). There is a bit of blurryness but I’m assuming that that’s due to the amount of tears that build up, because when I do a forced blink and close the “good eye”, I can see fine out of the affected eye.
Went back to the eye doctor today and he prescribed the ointment version of tobradex, believing that it’s a skin infection and not the eye itself.
Brief Answer:
Please continue the treatment as prescribed, some further information provided.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thank you for the reply and the extra information provided.
It is good you went to see your doctor and have an examination. The ointment will be able to better and longer effect if there is some bacterial infection in the area.
Did the doctor think the tear duct is normal and not blocked? This would be very good because tear duct problems tend to come back so if it is just a simple skin infection it should heal in a few days with the ointment and it should not come back.
I don't think the mild blurring you are experiencing is something to worry. It is normal because of the tearing that the vision might be a bit affected but as you explain it is fine when you force blink which means you clear the tears from the eye and you than notice you see well.
If the same symptoms with redness and swelling in the middle aspect of the eye come back than it is less likely it is a simple skin infection and than the tear duct should be considered.
I wish you quick healing and improvement and please let me know if i can further assist you.
Kind regards,
Antoneta Zotaj, MD
Please continue the treatment as prescribed, some further information provided.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thank you for the reply and the extra information provided.
It is good you went to see your doctor and have an examination. The ointment will be able to better and longer effect if there is some bacterial infection in the area.
Did the doctor think the tear duct is normal and not blocked? This would be very good because tear duct problems tend to come back so if it is just a simple skin infection it should heal in a few days with the ointment and it should not come back.
I don't think the mild blurring you are experiencing is something to worry. It is normal because of the tearing that the vision might be a bit affected but as you explain it is fine when you force blink which means you clear the tears from the eye and you than notice you see well.
If the same symptoms with redness and swelling in the middle aspect of the eye come back than it is less likely it is a simple skin infection and than the tear duct should be considered.
I wish you quick healing and improvement and please let me know if i can further assist you.
Kind regards,
Antoneta Zotaj, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
He did not rule out a blocked duct but he definitely seemed more convinced of a skin infection. But he said that if this doesn’t work, then doing a duct flushing would be a good idea.
Brief Answer:
It is important to follow the treatment and prescribed and follow up as advised.
Detailed Answer:
That's great that the doctor is considering the tear duct. It is important that you take the treatment as advised and follow up accordingly.
Regards.
It is important to follow the treatment and prescribed and follow up as advised.
Detailed Answer:
That's great that the doctor is considering the tear duct. It is important that you take the treatment as advised and follow up accordingly.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
I did ask him again (I also asked him the first time this showed up (weeks ago), and like then, now he thinks it's an infection over a blocked duct. But he isnt opposed to treating it/irrigating the duct if this ointment does not work. It's bizarre that the pain/redness is only in the corner of the eye skin and it hurts to blink, yet the eye itself is pain free.
Brief Answer:
It is normal for the eye to be pain free- explanations given
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It is normal for the eye to not be painful and the redness and pain be only in the corner of the eye. It is typical for tear duct problems. if there is pain in the eye than it is not tear duct problem and more serious conditions are considered.
Just follow the instructions of the doctor. Sometimes massage of the tear duct might help and might avoid the need to flush the duct.
If you have been using the ointment for at least 3 days now (so the infection should have settled down a little), when you apply the ointment on the area you can do massage from the corner of the eye downwards at the side of the nose (on the red area and below it) for a few times every time you apply the ointment.
Hope you will get better soon.
Kind regards,
Antoneta Zotaj
It is normal for the eye to be pain free- explanations given
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It is normal for the eye to not be painful and the redness and pain be only in the corner of the eye. It is typical for tear duct problems. if there is pain in the eye than it is not tear duct problem and more serious conditions are considered.
Just follow the instructions of the doctor. Sometimes massage of the tear duct might help and might avoid the need to flush the duct.
If you have been using the ointment for at least 3 days now (so the infection should have settled down a little), when you apply the ointment on the area you can do massage from the corner of the eye downwards at the side of the nose (on the red area and below it) for a few times every time you apply the ointment.
Hope you will get better soon.
Kind regards,
Antoneta Zotaj
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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