my eyes are stinging...why?

[donna]

this is the 3rd morning I have woken up with stinging eyes, not watering much but feel sore. I have cut down on pc time, not even tried to read a book and am drinking water instead of tea or coffee.....any ideas?

[GarethB]

Donna,

Sounds a bit like dry eyes, I think an optom posted once here when asleep we do not produce tears quite so much at night. The stinging if only present while your eyes wake up to me is the cornea finding it uncomfortable when the tears start to flow.

I have not had this really since wearing lenses, but I do use eye drops before going to bed if I have had my lenses in for a while and I also put drops in first thing in the morning.

If it is causing you concern, then take a trip to eye casualty to make sure you do not have an infection. I know my hospital prefers it if I go just to be on the safe side and be told there is nothing wrong.

[JoeK]

I too have had stinging eyes - not like anything i have experienced before over the last 3 days. Very sensitive to light also. i'm unable to wear one lens. could it be something to do with pollen/atmosphere. i dont really have such a dry eye problem.

[GarethB]

JoeK,

I do not have hayfever but I do react to pollen on lenses and have found using Systane eye drops before putting lenses in helps. It is as if the eye drops put a protective film over the cornea and eye lids so they can not react so much to the pollen.

Drinking plenty of water helps too.

[Eddie S]

Hi Donna,

I had a real bad time with dry/sore eyes in the morning and recently changed my contact lens solutions. Result, no dry eyes.

Maybe speak to your contact lens person about swapping. I remember when I first started wearing lenses I kept being swapped between Boston and something else because they beleived the solution was the main problem.

I'm not saying its the solution (pun not intended!) but it may help. I had been using the previous solution for about 1.5 years without an issue.

Ed

[donna]

I havent got my lenses yet so its not solution! I have been drinking plenty of water and my eyes look fine, not red or watering and there is no discharge.
I have got some gel tears to try. its worse in the morning but I have had it all this week and its there all day

[GarethB]

Get yourself to the doctors or eye casualty to make sure you do not have an infection as this is not the sort of thing you want to have when you get your lenses.

[Eddie S]

Donna,

Good point, well made!

Must eat more chocolate. I've heard it improves memory, can't remember who told me though

Ed