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Hi, Doctor. Approx Once A Month Or So, I Wake

Posted on Mon, 8 Jun 2020

Question: Hi, doctor. Approx once a month or so, I wake up to my left eye tearing profusely, some stabbing pain in it and can barely open it. It takes about an hour dabbing it with a cool paper towel to get it to simmer down. I have tried a bacterial eye drop my regular doctor gave me and it's been around 2 years since last eye exam where all was normal except for some floaters. This always happens upon getting up from sleep, not during normal hours. Just wanted to get your thoughts.

Answered by Dr. Harshita (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It can be an infection as secretions pool up overnight

Detailed Answer:
Hi thanks for the question .

It could be an infection as secretions accumulate overnight and can cause morning stickiness and pain . Did the eye drop prescribed to you help you ? How is your eye now? Awaiting your response.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Harshita (6 hours later)

Dr. Harshita: First, thank u for your reply. Good timing for this inquiry since today was one of the mornings I awoke to this eye issue. I also meant to mention I have very sensitive eyes. Thru the day after one of these morning episodes, the eye feels odd. Tearing has dissipated but just feels like a dull ache still there. I have two eye drop meds the general doctor gave me some time ago (he is not an eye dr) One is Ciprofloxacin and the other Neomycin/Polymyxin/Hydrocortisone suspension. I only did one or two drops from each at the time of last episode like this (approx. one month ago) I do not notice any undue redness in the eye. Can this still be an infection? Any advice u can give will be very appreciated.

Follow up: Dr. Harshita (4 minutes later)

Just wanted to clarify one more point in your answer. In the morning with the pain, it does not seem like stickiness but more like an stream of unrelenting tears and of course, that stabbing pain. But no stickiness that I noticed. However, with all the tears flowing, hard to tell. Thanks again, doctor

Answered by Dr. Harshita (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
If there is no redness but just a dull ache chances of infection are less

Detailed Answer:
Hey thanks for the follow up . If you dont have any redness or any stickiness presently chances of it being an infection are less . The fact that hydrocortisone eye drops were given points towards an inflammation and inflammation can also follow infection . Secondly the tearing and dull pain can also be due to allergy as you mentioned you have sensitive eyes . If it is an allergy we should also take antihistamincs along with the rest of the eye drops . Do you have any record of your eye examination? Please upload it so that I can go through it . Awaiting your reesponse . Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Harshita (46 minutes later)

Hi, doctor. No record of eye exam. Just a quick question. Going on the premise this may be allergy related vs infection, would the symptoms described match that and only occur once in a while upon waking up in morning, affect only one eye and if so, what type of an antihistamine would u recommend? Is this something found in an eye drop, a pill, ? Thanks so much.

Answered by Dr. Harshita (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes one eye can be affected more or earlier than the other

Detailed Answer:
Hey thanks for the follow up . An antihistamine is an antiallergic like olopatadine / bepotastine . Usually localised eye problems dont require a pill . Hope my answer helps you . Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana