Simple yet Complicated. NEED ANSWERS!

[Inspired21]

HELP ME!I've gone through three eye doctors and all them say that "There's nothing wrong". I'm a 21 year old female, near sighted and wear contact lenses. My eyes have always been red, especially  if I'm in places with fluorescent lights such as the mall, school, and convenient stores - they're more obvious. There's no stinging or burning, the time it bothers me is when I see my eyes bloodshot for no reason. People will come up to me and ask me if I'm tired, and as an excuse I will say yes. (even though I've had 8 hours of sleep). I use Bausch and Lomb Eye Relief because it's the only thing that will clear them up for a bit.

I stopped wearing eye makeup and try to cut back on eyeliner but with experiments - days going without eye makeup- my eyes are still red. My eye doctor switched me to Acuvue Oasis and it decreased the redness for a bit, but as of now they are still like that. I thought maybe I had dry eyes and used TheraTears but it didn't work. I would like to go days without my contacts but that means not being able to function.

I clean my contacts the way they should be cleaned, place cold cloths on my eyes to ease them, cut back on computer use, and a healthy eater. If I am sensitive to light, what can I do? I know I can't wear sunglasses night and day. I work in an environment where I work with people, I interact and I have to talk to them face to face.

It's not only uncomfortable but it scares me to know that there's something wrong and no one can help me out. DOCTORS! Help me out! This really is one of those life changing events because I don't want to live my life with people thinking I'm always tired, sick, or on something I shouldn't be on. I'm a healthy person, but my eyes tell it otherwise.

[Inspired21]

Unfortunately, I will not be able to function without my contacts so I will not be able to stop using them. For glasses, I've gone through a few pairs and I find that my lashes are  way too long and hit the glass lens which can be very annoying.

I would like to get all those things tested, especially see an ophthalmologist but not currently under any insurance so even my last eye exam with contacts cost a bit much.

As of right now, I take my contacts off while at home, use Thera Tears and considering getting a new pair of glasses just so I won't have to deal with contacts. Thanks though for all those suggestions.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

First suggestion is to stop wearing contact lenses.  Other suggestions - get tested for dry eyes.  Consider oral flax and fish oil supplements, consider punctum plugs, drink plenty of h2o, use frequent pget tested by allergy doctor, install high quality air filters at home, get rid of cat or dog if you are possibly allergic to them, use preservative free artificial tears frequently, use lubricant eye ointment at bedtime, try Pataday once a day for possible allergies, reduce computer work, avoid allergens, avoid smoke and ceiling fans, reduce medications that can dry the eye, avoid alcohol, have doctor look for acne rosacea, blepharitis or lid margin disease, have doctor rule out demodex blepharitis.  It sounds like contact lenses may not be for you, possibly.  Also you might need to see a 4th doctor - an ophthalmologist, but one who is especially qualified as a corneal and external disease specialist

MJK MD