Red and inflamed lacrimal caruncle

[freakyElf]

A few days ago I've woken up with a red inflamed lacrimal caruncle (that little piece of pink flesh in the very inner corner of the eye) on the right eye. I also had this annoying stinging feeling every time I blinked. The inflammation and the redness were visible from a distance - photo enclosed, while there was also something like some sort of tiny little red bump on the outside of caruncle (pointing to the iris) that was visible when looking in a magnifying mirror. The evening before this I had cleaned my Betta fish bowl and I had also accidentally let some water to get into my right eye while showering (I have all sorts of allergies and I usually get red and teary eyes when tap water enters my eyes, because of the chlorine in it I guess). The inflammation subsided in a day or two, but today it's back, and this time there's itch too. I also get the impression that I don't see quite as clearly as usual with my right eye and when I woke up my right upper eyelid looked like a case of visible blepharitis Last night I had this allergic reaction, probably to something I ate or something in the air, and my right eye got a little bit red. Could the caruncle issue be allergy-related? As I said, I have allergies and I get red and teary eyes every time I get in touch with an allergen and also get allergic pink eye in the spring and sometimes in the autumn, but this whole caruncle thing is new and annoying. So, what do you think?

[JohnHaganMD]

Lesions of the caruncle are unusual and other than noting that the R caruncle is inflamed and swollen it is not possible to make a diagnosis. Concerning is the fact you say its been that way for several months (NOTE the picture shows a swollen Right lesion not the left eye as you say in your second post).

Regardless you need to see an ophthalmologist, probably have a trial of anti-inflammatory drops and if the swelling persists a biopsy.

This is a link to a scientific article on causes of caruncle pathology:

http://www.nature.com/eye/journal/v23/n5/full/eye2008316a.html

[Reaven85]

My left lacrimal caruncle has been swollen and pretruding out for a few months now. I first noticed it in august. And It must have gotten bigger because now other people comment on it. It doesn't hurt.  Well maybe slight stinging. Like I can close my eye and it still sticks out?  I cant afford a doctor I hope this isn't serious