Recurring swollen eyelids

[swolleneyeguy]

I'll add as much information as possible to my topic. If this isn't in the right forum section, please move it to the correct one, but read my post first. I guess this could also go in the allergies section.

I am nearly 16 years old, now a Junior in High School, and have had problems with bumps and swelling on my eyelids since the 4th grade.

I woke up this morning to my right eye being half open. Looking in the mirror, it's swollen yet again. There are two "folds" or "wrinkles" it looks like on my eyelid. Before this morning, however, my eyelid was hurting for a few days (I'll elaborate on this later). Yesterday I did find a little bump on my eyelid. I was worried about my eyelid becoming swollen again, so I took an alcohol prep pad and washed it with that.

Last year (Summer, to be specific and continuing throughout a good part of the year) it was my right eyelid as well. I went to the doctor several times. They gave me ointments to put on it. I was told something about clogged ducts which cause what I have. They also informed me of a thing called High Fructose Corn Syrup, which I'll get to in my next paragraph.

[Houman Vosoghi, MD]

You really should see an oculoplastic specialist for this.  Also consider talking to your PCP or pediatrician about making sure your immune system is normal.  More than that it's hard to speculate about the cause as it is not a common problem for someone your age.  Atopic dermatitis, Blepharochalasis, recurrent chalazia, and vernal keratoconjunctivitis are all possibilities among other things.  You really need to have it evaluated by the right specialist to see exactly what is going on and getting it treated appropriately.  Please let us know how it goes.

HV

[swolleneyeguy]

Oh and it does itch, but I've refrained from touching it so I don't get any germs or anything on it

[swolleneyeguy]

Swelling lasts a long time. A month or two, sometimes. It's been a week, now.  It is red and it does hurt, but it's as if the majority of it has slid down on top of my eyelashes.

[Houman Vosoghi, MD]

The reason Dr. Fazio is not able to give you any specific advice is because it is strange for someone your age to have clogged oil glands and so many problems from it.  It is unlikely to be HFCS.  Allergy to cats or other environmental factors is a possibility, as are certain hereditary and acquired disorders of the eyelids/eyes.  The concern is that they may have not diagnosed your problem adequately and without being able to examine your eyes, we can't tell what exactly the cause of the problem is.  Maybe if you gave more details:  How long does the swelling last?  How often does it happen?  is your eye red or itchy at the same time as the swelling? etc.

[swolleneyeguy]

Ms. Fazio, that's the opposite of what I want to do.

I've gone to doctors and specialists. They've given me creams, ointments, you name it. Last time I went they stuck a needle in my eyelid and pumped some stuff into it.

They've told me before that I was clogged or large tear ducts or  something. I can't remember the last time I cried, if that has anything to do with it.

Is there perhaps a "home" style remedy to my problem?

[Doreen Fazio, M.D.]

Since this is a recurrent problem, I would recommend an evaluation with an oculoplastics specialist, an ophthalmologist who specializes in diseases of the eyes and orbits.  

[swolleneyeguy]

As for what causes these things on my eyes, I have a few ideas. Maybe I'm allergic to cats? I live with two of them and one slept in my bed with me last night. I've lived with cats my whole life. Maybe it's the HFCS. Last year I drank lots of soda, which has HFCS as its number 2 or 3 ingredient. The only HFCS I can remember having this Summer is a few bowls of Lucky Charms. Remember me saying that I'll elaborate on my eyelid hurting the past few days? Well that's about right after I had Lucky Charms. I'm not even sure if Lucky Charms has HFCS in it; that's the only thing I can think of, besides sweet tea. I drink a lot of sweet tea, I make it myself, but I only use 3 ingredients, which is water, sugar, and 3 tea bags for a pitcher. The Doc also told me to stay away from HFCS. Told me there was this Indian kid who whenever he would drink a soda, his face would break out in bumps (or something like that).

Forgot to mention that I do normally wear contacts and wore them yesterday. I did notice that I wasn't seeing very well in my right eye.

What do I do, medhelp? Eye doctor visits became expensive last year over the same problem I'm coming to you with today.