Nearly everyone has had sore eyes at some point. Sometimes they get better on their own, but they can also be a sign of something more serious.
Your eye doctor can figure out what’s going on and find the right treatment for you.
My Eye Pain Story
Have you ever experienced the pain of something sticking into your eye, like an eyelash or a bit of debris? It hurts badly, doesn’t it? Well, I have that pain almost every day. I was born with a congenital eye defect called Distichiasis. It means I have a double row of eyelashes in each eye, and one grows on the inside of the eyelid, so the eyelashes scratch my corneas and the surface of my eyes.
The defect was only diagnosed when I was a toddler, following a long battle between my mother and her local doctors. As a
Seeking Medical Care
My first eye consultant told my mum that he had only ever seen this condition in a pet chihuahua! And up to now, at the age of thirty-seven, I have only ever known it to be present in me, my brother and my dad. I have been diagnosed as carrying a recessive gene, FOX C2, which means my official condition is called Lymphoedema Distichiasis. I could be prone to swollen limbs and developing cellulitis as I grow older, but so far, my condition only seems to affect my eyes. My dad and brother have both been hospitalized due to the Lymphoedema aspect of our condition. It is very strange.
Treatment
As a child I underwent over a dozen medical procedures to remove the ingrowing eyelashes in both eyes. This involved cryogenic treatment, and laser treatment, all done under general anaesthetic. It left me with severe scars on both corneas, which gradually left me prone to severe Dry Eye Syndrome. My eyes do not produce enough natural tears to keep the surface lubricated, so I apply eyedrops frequently throughout the day, and I use an overnight ointment every night.
About eleven years ago I had eyelid rotation surgery, where the surgeon cut my eyelids and repositioned them in the hope that my eyelashes would grow outwards rather than inwards. It was very painful, but it seemed to help for a while. Nowadays I manage my condition by removing the ingrowing eyelashes with tweezers, and I visit Manchester Royal Eye Hospital for a check-up once or twice a year.
Daily Life
Despite my best efforts, I have not yet found another person with the same condition. Indeed, I didn’t consider myself particularly ill up until I began to explore the
All my life I have experienced painful eyes, but it is so normal that I only notice it on days when my eyes don’t hurt. The pain can be sharp, stabbing sensations like needles, or it can be an ache, as though my eyeballs are just tired. Some days I want to rip my eyes from their sockets just to stop the excruciating pain. I am also very light sensitive, so I wear sunglasses even when the sky is
About The Author
Catherine Green is a pagan housewife, who blogs about lifestyle, family, the world of books, and of course, her favourite pastime, ghost hunting. She also blog about her adventures in British shamanism and witchcraft, holistic health and wellbeing, and living with a rare genetic disorder. Find her on facebook.
Share this:
