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Rubbed Eyes, Itching, Allergic Conjunctivitis, Trauma, Penetrative Injury

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Posted on Thu, 17 May 2012
Question: I rubbed my eyes pretty hard earlier today. They were itching like crazy. Now my left eye has a gelatin looking buckled place on it. What have I done and what do I need to do about it?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Prasad J (3 hours later)
Hi,

Thanks for your query.

Do you have redness of the eye?

Do you have excessive watering from the eye?

Allergic conjunctivitis / Viral conjunctivitis are the most common causes of itching of the eyes. The symptoms that you have are probably due to one of the above condition.

Both these are non concerning condition that resolve with time.

Antiallergy eye drops which are OTC at some locations may be used. Do not use these drops if you use contact lenses. You can install 1-2 drops of this into each eyes twice a day for 2 days.

Avoid rubbing the eyes.

You will need to watch out for few symptoms - such as excessive redness, burning pain, fever, sticky discharge. You will need to consult an ophthalmologist if these symptoms appear.

The symptoms that you currently have are non concerning now and as mentioned is likely to improve. You need now worry.

Hope I have answered your query.

If you have any more query, you can write back to me. I will be available to answer them as well.

Wish you speedy recovery.

Regards




Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Prasad J (4 hours later)
My concern is not so much with the itchiness, but the fact that I must have torn the gelatin-like cover of my eye and now that is buckled up. It seems to have re-adhered to my eyeball overnight some and is not as puffed up. That was my main question, though, what to do about that part. I believe that part of the eye is called the sclera?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Prasad J (8 hours later)
Hi.

Thanks for following up.

White part of the eye referred to as sclera is covered by a thin layer of membrane called as 'Palpebral Conjunctiva.' There are instances where odematous fluid gets collected between the sclera and the palpebral conjuctiva. This condition is referred as Chemosis.

Conjuctiva or scleral tears are very unlikely caused by just rubbing. Rather a hard blunt trauma or a penetrating injury can cause the tears. And moreover you should be experiencing pain with area of severe redness around it, if it were to be a tear.

As your descriptions don't match the later, it is more likely that the shinning buckling that you see in the white part of the eye is chemosis.

Chemosis is again a non concerning problem. It is often seen associated with an allergic/irritation or viral infection induced conditions such as allergic conjuctivitis or an infective conjuctivitis. Since you do not report severe itching or redness, the symptoms is expected to recover on its own in a few days.

Consult an ophthalmologist if symptoms of itching/redness/increase in chemosis occur. You may need the eye drops then.

I hope it is clear now.

Wish you good health and faster recovery.

Warm Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Prasad J

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 3707 Questions

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Rubbed Eyes, Itching, Allergic Conjunctivitis, Trauma, Penetrative Injury

Hi,

Thanks for your query.

Do you have redness of the eye?

Do you have excessive watering from the eye?

Allergic conjunctivitis / Viral conjunctivitis are the most common causes of itching of the eyes. The symptoms that you have are probably due to one of the above condition.

Both these are non concerning condition that resolve with time.

Antiallergy eye drops which are OTC at some locations may be used. Do not use these drops if you use contact lenses. You can install 1-2 drops of this into each eyes twice a day for 2 days.

Avoid rubbing the eyes.

You will need to watch out for few symptoms - such as excessive redness, burning pain, fever, sticky discharge. You will need to consult an ophthalmologist if these symptoms appear.

The symptoms that you currently have are non concerning now and as mentioned is likely to improve. You need now worry.

Hope I have answered your query.

If you have any more query, you can write back to me. I will be available to answer them as well.

Wish you speedy recovery.

Regards