Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ski.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!lll-crg!qantel!ptsfa!ski!dr From: dr@ski.UUCP (David Robins) Newsgroups: net.med Subject: Re: Re: 'Irritated Eyes' Question Message-ID: <217@ski.UUCP> Date: Tue, 17-Dec-85 18:49:30 EST Article-I.D.: ski.217 Posted: Tue Dec 17 18:49:30 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 20-Dec-85 02:13:41 EST References: <9300001@uiucuxa> <9300002@uiucuxa> <606@riccb.UUCP> <477@bbncc5.UUCP> Organization: Smith-Kettlewell Institute, S.F., CA. Lines: 58 > >> My eyes have become very irritated and from the beginning of the day to > >> the end my eyes are *very* red. They also burn alot regardless whether o > >> not my eyes are closed or open. Why does the eye become red? Is there a > >> lack of oxygen to the eye existing. The other questions before in the > >> previous message refer to eye drops that 'get the red out'. Thanks. > >> > > This could be related to an inadequate supply of vitamin A in your diet. > > My granny had this problem and the doctor actually prescribed a vitamin > > instead of drugs. Maybe MD's will eventually become more concerned with > > wholistic approaches rather than pill pushing. > > also making the only recommendation we're qualified to make: to have that > person run, not walk, to his eye doctor. > > It is plain irresponsible to recommend anything else here other than to > have this person visit his nearest eye-doctor to determine the REAL cause > of his problems. The causes of such eye irritation are legion, especially > given that the person is wearing contacts. It could be due to allergy to > One doesn't recommend vitamin A > or Visine here: either could do more harm by keeping the person from > getting real treatment. I totally agree! While it is true we are using Vitamine A for some cases, it is in the treamtnet of dry eye syndrome, where there is a lack of lubricating tears. The fellow who is studying this in Boston found that *topical* Vitamin A ointment (a research drug) reversed some tear-gland loss. Some docs are trying oral Vit. A to see if there is an effect. Dry eye syndrome is very common, and often gets worse as one gets older. Chronic contact lens use also seems to reduce tear output. All contact lenses need tears for proper operation, especially hard, non-gas permeable lenses. While dry eye sndrome can cause red, irriated eyes, so can many other things, as Steve Dyer pointed out. (a common contact-lens problem!) This also includes CORNEAL ULCERS,^ which can cause blindness if not treated, and infection of the meibomian glands in the eyelids, which can also provoke corneal infections. Allergic problems from the contact lens or the chemicals can also cause red eyes. An ophthalmologist should reeally be consulted to find out what is wrong. A Schirmer tear test can be done, (a simple office test) if no other problems are found, to see if inadequate lubricating tears is the problem. Visine and the other vasoconstrictors make things worse, if the problem is dry eye, because the drugs in it cause further drying. In additon, as pointed out, while it makes the eyes less red (for a time) it may delay proper diagnosis by keeping the person from having it ckecked out. Also, casual use of high-dose Vitamin A can be systemically toxic; overdosing may make the eyes *more* dry. -- ==================================================================== David Robins, M.D. Smith-Kettlewell Institute of Visual Sciences 2232 Webster St; San Francisco CA 94115 415/561-1705 {ihnp4,qantel,dual}!ptsfa!ski!dr The opinions expressed herein do not reflect the opinion of the Institute!