Is there a problem with my eyes?

Question

For the past two years I have had this condition with my eyes that feels very similar to when you get bar soap in your eyes and wash it out, but you can still feel it.

I had contacts for a period of time but then stopped using them because of eye irritation (but it was nothing serious to my knowledge). So since then (about a year and a half) I have been using prescription glasses. I still feel the discomfort even though I don't have any contacts in. I did not feel this before using contacts.

I did use ReNu MultiPlus lubricating and rewetting drops quite frequently when I did have my contacts because of discomfort, but they never really helped. I have tried visine and visine-A (for allergies; even though I dont have any to my knowledge) but neither of these have helped. I went to an ophthalmologist at one point, but he just told me nothing seemed to be wrong.

What steps should I take from here?

It has really been a nuisance and I would give anything to do away with it

Answer 1

your symptoms sounds like dry eye .

you need evaluation for followings

reflex tear production

basal tear production

tear break-up time

and meiobomian glad

then you can be adviced accordingly

if i get the result of those test than i can answer your question.

Answer 2

I would go see the eye doctor (for lack of a better word). Tell him that the condition has been going on for two years. That should make a difference. Honestly though i have no idea what it could be.

Answer 3

Sounds like the good old dry eye.

Visine is the devil. It contains BAK, a preservative that is both irritating, disruptive to the tear film, and just plain un-needed.

Instead, try out a few types of preservative-free artificial tears. Nice 'lighter' feeling ones can be very helpful (although some prefer the heavier ones like refresh celluvisc, while I didn't like it)- bion tears, refresh 'classic' (not refresh plus), for some people systane- buy a few different types and give them all a try, just make sure to read the active ingredient and make sure you're not getting the same thing twice.

Again, I cannot stress enough the importance that they are preservative free single use vials, NOT bottles, not the type like genteal advertised as 'preservative free in the eye'- just 'preservative free'

If proper artificial tears DO help, go to another ophthalmologist and get your tear production and tear breakup times tested.

If artificial tears do NOT help, see another ophthalmologist in search of another diagnosis.