What causes redness in eyes in an 18-year-old?

Question

Hello doctor,

My daughter is 18 years old and has redness in her eyes. She has had them since about 12 years old. It comes and goes. We saw an ophthalmologist and he said it is allergies and having her on drops did nothing for her but Opticrom helps a bit. But it is worse now they get red every evening now every night they are red.

Sometimes it is just one eye, sometimes it is just in the corners of the eyes, sometimes it is everywhere in the eyes but only on the white part of the eye when you open the eye almost like a red line through her eyes. I want to look at my child and see beautiful white eyes not red all the time.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I read your query and understand your concern. Her symptoms are suggestive of allergic conjunctivitis

1. Eye allergies, called allergic conjunctivitis, are a common condition that occurs when the eyes react to something that irritates them (called an allergen).

2. The eyes produce a substance called histamine to fight off the allergen. As a result, the eyelids and conjunctiva (the thin, filmy membrane that covers the inside of your eyelids) become red, swollen, and itchy, with tearing and burning.

The key to treating eye allergies is,

1. Avoid or limit contact with the substance causing the problem.

2. Avoid rubbing eyes instead do cold compresses.

3. Use antiallergic eye drops like Olopat (Olapatadine) eye drops twice daily

d. Lubricating eye drop like Flogel (Carboxymethylcellulose) thrice daily

e. Use a mild steroid like Fluticasone in pulse dose for severe allergy

This will help you. I am very sorry dear to say that there is no medicine that can cure allergies. The only way is to stay away from all those things that you are allergic to. This is a provisional diagnosis. Consult your ophthalmologist for a detailed examination.

I hope I have cleared all your doubts.

Thank you.