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Suggest Treatment For Conjunctivitis

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Posted on Tue, 27 Sep 2016
Question: My eyes have been red and watery for the last 6 weeks. I have had two ten day courses of antibiotics and anti- inflammatories that have not helped. For the last 4 days my tears have not been draining properly. I have used both cold and hot packs which have not had much affect. How do you know if your tear ducts are plugged? It doesn't seem to be a problem when I am lying down. My eye lids are red and itchy. I have tried antihistamines to no avail. Any suggestion as to what my problem is?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Seems more like an allergic conjunctivitis

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thank you for using HCM to post your question.

I read carefully your problem and I understand your concern.

I am going to explain a bit about the possible diagnoses that you may have and rule out some of them, so I can give you a logical reason why I have these thoughts.

First of all I don't think the tear ducts are blocked because if that were then it would be no tears and a swollen lump in the level of the tear duct.

Secondly, he red eye problem that you have its called conjunctivitis.
It may be in 3 forms:
1) Bacterial...in your case doesn't seem like it. It would have reacted from antibiotics, you would have just one eye infected and would have yellow, thick secretions.
2) Allergic...this seems a lot like your problem. With itchy, watery both eyes, that doesn't react from antibiotics. But, it would react well from Antihistamines, and you would have other allergic signs like runny nose.
3) Viral...this seems as well like your problem. With watery, red, both eyes...but not as much itchy and would be very infections. Do you have other people with who you live with who have the same problem? If not then we can exclude this diagnoses, and so the most possible diagnoses remain the allergic cause of the conjunctivitis.

How it is treated?
Seem like your doctors are suggesting the right things. We never can tell for sure which one of the above it is. We try antibiotics, and if they don't work then we exclude bacterial. We try antihistamines to relive the symptoms, but it will go away by itself together with the sypmtoms in a time from 2 weeks to 3 months.

So my recommendation would be to continue using the antihistamines, keep the eyes as clean as possible and the body will heal it itself.

Hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you need more clarifications. Otherwise please kindly close ans rate the answer.

Regards,
Dr. Papaqako

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Priyanka G Raj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Klarida Papaqako

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 1803 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Conjunctivitis

Brief Answer: Seems more like an allergic conjunctivitis Detailed Answer: Hello, Thank you for using HCM to post your question. I read carefully your problem and I understand your concern. I am going to explain a bit about the possible diagnoses that you may have and rule out some of them, so I can give you a logical reason why I have these thoughts. First of all I don't think the tear ducts are blocked because if that were then it would be no tears and a swollen lump in the level of the tear duct. Secondly, he red eye problem that you have its called conjunctivitis. It may be in 3 forms: 1) Bacterial...in your case doesn't seem like it. It would have reacted from antibiotics, you would have just one eye infected and would have yellow, thick secretions. 2) Allergic...this seems a lot like your problem. With itchy, watery both eyes, that doesn't react from antibiotics. But, it would react well from Antihistamines, and you would have other allergic signs like runny nose. 3) Viral...this seems as well like your problem. With watery, red, both eyes...but not as much itchy and would be very infections. Do you have other people with who you live with who have the same problem? If not then we can exclude this diagnoses, and so the most possible diagnoses remain the allergic cause of the conjunctivitis. How it is treated? Seem like your doctors are suggesting the right things. We never can tell for sure which one of the above it is. We try antibiotics, and if they don't work then we exclude bacterial. We try antihistamines to relive the symptoms, but it will go away by itself together with the sypmtoms in a time from 2 weeks to 3 months. So my recommendation would be to continue using the antihistamines, keep the eyes as clean as possible and the body will heal it itself. Hope this is helpful. Let me know if you need more clarifications. Otherwise please kindly close ans rate the answer. Regards, Dr. Papaqako