I felt a twinge in the corner of my eye, and my eyelid is inflamed. What should I do?

Question

Hi doctor,

A while ago, I got a kind of twinge in the corner of my eye. Just now, I pulled my eyelid to check my eye, and I saw a thick bulge. I woke up in the morning with an extremely dry eye, which I never had before.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thanks for writing in. I had a look at the image (attachment removed to protect patient identity), and it appears to be a hordeolum internum from the unmagnified view. It is an inflammation of the meibomian glands situated in the eyelid. If it has only now begun, the eyelid might start to swell. You can use a hot compress with hot water and disposable cotton or paper napkin thrice daily. Also, try an antibiotic eye ointment like Moxifloxacin, twice a day for five days. To be applied to the eye (conjunctival sac) and an antibiotic eye drop (Moxifloxacin) every three hours from morning till bedtime for 5 to 7 days till it reduces.I have mentioned the generic name of the medications as antibiotics cannot be prescribed through a query. I hope you have no allergies to this particular antibiotic. If so, let me know by replying to this answer. I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, it can cause mucous discharge. If the dryness sensation is too uncomfortable, you can use Refresh Tears (Carboxymethylcellulose) five times a day in addition to the antibiotics. The hordeolum may discharge some pus and blood in a few days before it disappears. If it does not go completely, surgical drainage may be required later on. But hopefully, it will not reach that stage.

Answer 3

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

If the dry eye symptom happened after the appearance of the swelling, it should subside with the treatment until you are cured, especially if it is in one eye. Dry eyes are a prevalent symptom these days as most people work for hours on laptops, especially during the pandemic and "work from home" situation. Lubricating eye drops like Refresh Tears can be used for symptomatic treatment. Reducing screen time, taking frequent breaks, and remembering to blink will decrease these symptoms. There is no permanent cure. Lubricating eye drops can be used safely for as long as you like. The antibiotic eye drops might cause some more burning sensation during the application so that the Refresh Tears will reduce it. Just remember to leave a gap of five minutes between the two different eye drops and keep eyes closed for a minute after applying.