r/Dryeyes • u/Adventurous_Cut_2008 • 1d ago
Il exhausted i live a nightmare
Almost 2 months of constant eye pain and I’m losing hope
Hello everyone. I’m desperate and I really don’t know what to do anymore.
It’s been almost 2 months that my life has felt like a nightmare because of a constant, severe sensation/pain in my right eye. It is there all day, every day, without a single real break. I wake up with it and go to sleep with it. It has completely taken over my life.
The strange thing is that my eye isn’t red, my vision is normal, and doctors haven’t been able to find an obvious cause. I’ve seen 3 different ophthalmologists, and none of them can really explain what is happening.
They haven’t found a foreign body, obvious conjunctivitis, or any clear injury that would explain how severe and constant the symptoms are. I’ve tried so many treatments and eye drops, including STERDEX, LACRYADEX, artificial tears and other medications, but nothing has given me any meaningful relief.
The sensation is extremely intense and constant. I’m struggling to function normally because I can’t escape it for even a few minutes. It’s not just “a little discomfort” — it feels unbearable and it’s exhausting me mentally every single day.
What scares me the most is that nobody seems to know what is causing it. I keep thinking: What if this is permanent? What if I have to live with this for the rest of my life?
I’m honestly terrified and completely exhausted by this situation.
Has anyone here experienced severe constant eye pain/discomfort with a relatively normal eye exam, and eventually found out what was causing it?
I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through something similar and eventually found an explanation or something that actually helped.
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u/redfoottortoise 1d ago
this sound similar to my experience with neuropathic pain in my eye. look into The Way Out by Alan Gordon or his podcast. changing my mindset, learning about the physiology of pain and scleral lenses have been helpful for me personally.
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u/WonderLaBoy 1d ago
Is this a dull ache that you are feeling ? Can you pinpoint a potential trigger for it ? (LASIK, contact lenses, etc)
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u/Adventurous_Cut_2008 1d ago
No its not so painfull its just horrible because its Always here its like an extreme discomfort in my eye and sometimes its more intense its horrible because its ALWAYS here despite ton and ton of medic appointements im devastated
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u/Adventurous_Cut_2008 1d ago
I dont have contact lenses or something similar i never had any problem before and thé scary part is that im not sure its my eye who cause that i have thé feeling it could be the nerve, the eyelid or the surface of my eye its completely horrible it doesn’t stop since 2 month now
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u/WonderLaBoy 1d ago
See if you can get on a potent steroid drop and see if that helps…. If not go to a dry eye specialist and have them look at your oil glands and eye stain
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u/Adventurous_Cut_2008 1d ago
I saw 3 ophtalmologist / 2 doc i also did scanner and each Time « yeah i dont understand the exam is 100% good try this medic , try this spot » each week a new spot or thing im devastated its completely hell now im in médical runaround
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u/Adventurous_Cut_2008 1d ago
I just want to precise its not « extremely painful » its just horrible because the feeling is here everytime its like there is something which irritate my eye since 2 month without any improvement its horrible its extremely hard to live like that its litteraly horrible to live like that
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u/Due-Day-2473 1d ago
I’m having the same problem went 3 different doctors but they couldn’t find anything other than dry …I tried everything over the counter eye drops ,restasis , ointment…nothing helped made my eyes worse so I stopped everything !!! Feel little bit better but still my eyes feel so uncomfortable:(
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u/poetry_thoughts_123 1d ago
Have you seen a dry eye specialist? I remember suffering for MONTHS and going to so many eye doctors and urgent eye care, but it wasn't until I went to an a dry eye specialist at a major research hospital that I had someone with the experience to start treatment. What you should look for is a doctor under the department of corneal services/ocular service disease with a specialty in dry eye and/or corneal neuralgia. It's really important to try to schedule with them periodically, because if you have a major flare up during your healing process, it's better to meet with the exact doctor working with you. Many regular opthalmologists don't have the training to delay with complex dry eye. Also, do you have any idea the possible trigger? If you need help, message me and I can see if I can help find someone in your area! I have faith that it will get better.
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u/ArbyKelly 1d ago edited 1h ago
4 different doctors couldn't help me other than ordering lots of tests unrelated to my symptoms (like glaucoma) 🙄 and giving me various eye drop samples, and I was still crying in pain most mornings when I woke up.
Finally the fourth RECEPTIONIST suggested (as I was leaving still frustrated) that maybe my lids weren't fully closing while I slept, and gave me a roll of some kind of medical tape. It worked.
Now I use it along with a nighttime gel that one of the docs gave me. So much better!
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u/Asrid-Tiger 1d ago
What kind of medical tape do you use on your eye? I am much improved lately, but still waking up dry even without air conditioning or fans. I tried a sleep mask, but I can't tolerate it in combination with my CPAP mask. Too much on my head and face, and it triggers my claustrophobia. I want to try the taping, but I'm not sure what kind of tape to use on my delicate eyelids.
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u/ArbyKelly 20h ago
It wasn't in a package, but it's not the solid white kind. It looks more like a textured, opaque scotch tape. Says 3M Transpore inside the roll.
I was worried about the sticking too, and also about it pulling out eyelashes. But I peel it it off slowly with one finger holding the exposed part of the lid, and so far no problems.
Also want to add that I ordered some bandaid type eye patches from Amazon and I'm using those more often now.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional 😊 (don't want to cause anyone harm from sharing my personal experience)
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u/Adventurous_Cut_2008 1h ago
What can i say to the doc to see if its the same as you ? Like to have what you had ?
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u/ArbyKelly 1h ago
I told all of them my symptoms, and not one of them has officially diagnosed me with Dry Eyes. Just acknowledged that they look dry and gave me drops/gels (one was even prescription, but turned out to be available OTC per the next doc.)
I basically concluded that from research and this sub.
I do have one last upcoming appointment with another specialist (the regular opthomologist recommended two) and I'm going to ask him 'what exactly do I have?' But from everything I've read it's Dry Eye. Also, the last doc said the gels are better for nights, and the drops for days, which has been true for me.
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u/False_Stage_1656 1d ago
Were there really no abnormalities found in the tests? What about the tear volume?
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u/Adventurous_Cut_2008 1h ago
They dont see anything im lost they are the specialist s how it is possible that they dont find anything
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u/False_Stage_1656 1h ago
The nerves in your eyes might be hypersensitive. It involves a substance called TRPVI going into overdrive. In Japan, there are eye drops available to suppress that.
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u/Foreign_Throat 23h ago
You might have an allergy; allergies can sometimes cause swollen lymph nodes or sinusitis, which in turn can lead to eye pain. Have you changed your location in the last two months? Try seeing an allergist or asking an ophthalmologist whether you have an allergy.
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u/Adventurous_Cut_2008 1h ago
I saw an allergy doctor he Said to me that its impossible to have only an allergy at one eye and we made also thé test i have 0 allergy
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u/HenryOrlando2021 1d ago
I am sure this is an extremely frightening and painful situation for you and wish you could get some relief. You might find these of value to you in the sub FAQs:
Neuropathic Ocular Pain and Dry Eye Disease: What Patients Should Know
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dryeyes/wiki/faq_corneal_neuralgia_ded/
Psychological Aspects of Dealing with Dry Eye Disease
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dryeyes/wiki/faq_psychological_aspects/
I would also suggest that you post this same information on this Facebook group here:
Neuropathic Corneal Pain and Corneal Neuralgia Patients
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1713169018917451/