I can't believe it....

[Lindsey]

I did let them know I'm a drafter, but if it were computer related it should clear up somewhat on weekends, and definitely when I was on vacation for a week...

The specialists I'm seeing now are opthamologists, and they seem to think it looks like follicular conjuctivitis. This is basically what I found online:

Clinical features:
May present as an acute or chronic disease
Symptoms: hyperemia, chemosis, watery discharge, photophobia and periorbital pain.
Signs:
The follicles appear as gray-white, round to oval elevations which measuring between 0.5 to 1.5 mm in diameter
Smaller follicles may produce a slightly irregular and velvety appearance
Follicles can be seen in the inferior and superior tarsal conjunctiva, and less often, on bulbar or limbal conjunctiva

Acute follicular conjunctivitis is usually associated with viral (epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, Herpes zoster keratoconjunctivitis, infectious mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus infection) or chlamydial infections (Inclusion conjunctivitis), while chronic disease may be caused by chronic chlamydial infection (trachoma, lymphogranuloma venereum) or as a toxic or reactive inflammaytroy response to topical medications and molluscum contagiosum infection.
Treatment is directed to the causative agents.

The eye scraping ruled out a chlamydial infection. I got so worried when he brought that up the first time saying "You can get it from touching door handles or anything touched by someone who has an infection" I use hand sanitizer CONSTANTLY but now I will even more! But anyways, that was ruled out and they can't figure out what is causing it. They said it can also be caused by viruses that cause cold sores, but I've never had a cold sore in my life. I just don't know!

[DianaB]

At least they have some idea of what's wrong. It doesn't sound very good but now they'll know how to treat it. Hugs, Lindsey.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by Lindsey

They said it can also be caused by viruses that cause cold sores, but I've never had a cold sore in my life. I just don't know!

That is a really serious problem and I hope that is NOT what you have (I don't think that is it). Did you ever have chicken pox as a child? If not, then I don't think you carry the virus that can cause it. If you did have chicken pox, then it is possible, but again, I really don't think so. That type of eye infection is VERY painful.

[Lindsey]

I did have the chicken pox... TWICE actually! I had a mild case when I was a baby, and then I got it full-blown again when I was 4 or 5. My mom was sure I wouldn't catch it from my brother because I had it once already, but I sure did!

My eyes aren't in a lot of pain. They get sore a lot faster than before, and it seems to be a pain kind of around my eye sockets and between my eyes. It's not severe pain, just a dull ache. At the start of all this the pain was a lot worse and I got pounding headaches from it. That may have been from the drops I was using though.

[gja1000]

Well, it is definitely a chronic condition, rather than acute, I think. It is hard to understand why they can't get it cleared up - but I guess that may be because they can't readily identify what is causing it. This is really frustrating!

[Lindsey]

You're telling me! When I had the same problem through December and January, I think it's the same thing now. I don't think it was bacterial or viral pink eye then either, because that should be highly contagious and NOBODY caught it from me, even when it was untreated for the first week or two. Even sharing pillows with Scott!

I think seasonal allergies are out of the question because it was winter the first time and now summer... and I'm not even living in the same place so it's nothing at home... and I still had it when I went to BC so it's not the office or anything like that. I don't know if it's an allergy at all. But it's definitely annoying.

[Lindsey]

Well, I have used the steroid eye drops for a week, and have been off them for two days. They didn't get any better on them, but they didn't hurt. Now that I'm not using them, they seem to be more red and definitely more painful. My next appointment with the specialist is on Wednesday because that's the earliest I could get in. I am so frustrated with the specialist too because he basically said "I don't know what it could be" Well he is paid to figure that out! I think the guy I'm seeing this next time is someone different though.
I want my eyes back I'm just feeling down today but it seems that since April, I have not been well. Layla went down, and then I had surgery on my hand and foot (and my foot still hurts), and then my eyes got screwed up, and I just don't know how much more I can take.

[gja1000]

Oh Lindsay! It is hard for so many things to be wrong at the same time. I'm so sorry! I keep thinking that someone is going to be able to figure out what is wrong with your eyes!