Red Eye??

[Charlottes mum]

So this morning I've been on the phone to eye clinic A&E and they've given Charlotte an appointment for half 11 this morning. The reason being that last night I noticed that Charlotte's left eye -the one that is still v. cloudy from the hydrops 4 wks ago - has some red around the bottom of the blue eye bit. she hasn't got a whole lot to say about it but suffice to say it's new. And I'm worried! Not knowing whether it's part of the healing process or not and can't find anything on forum to suggest it may be. Its just a little crescent redness with tiny red bits but not a lot. Most odd. She has got a bit of a cough and cold but her other eye not being affected by her cold although I know that's not the one that's hydrops. I've googled some scary stuff last night (not recommended!) Eye not gunky just tearing up like it has been doing so don't think its conjunctivitis. Any thoughts?????????????/ Thanks, Angie

[GarethB]

I have found in the past that if I accidently touch the eye with the eye dropper I can scratch the eye, initially there is nothing there but later it goes a bit red or when a lens has been playing hard to get my eye goes a bit pink only to be surprised that one part is still very red / bruised the following morning but clears after a couple of days.

A few years back when I was in hospital for a minor operation I had to keep my lenses in to read all the forms that I had to complete to concent to the operation. Just before I went for the operation I took my lenses out and noticed a thick red line like some one had drawn on the white of my eye in bright red highlighter so I told the nurse. The nurse called the eye unit in the neighbouring hospital and by the time I came out of the operation, I was wheeled in to an ambulance and transferred to the other hospita for my eye to be checked. Somehow I had managed to pinch a blood vessel while taking alens out making it burst and bleed a little under the epidermis and nothing to worry about. It wasn't painful, just looked odd so I was released with no need for any medication, it was just a case of playing it safe.

My experience is that in most cases these things look worse than they actually are but you still need to play it safe just incase it is an eye infection, graft rejection. The only way you can tell for sure is by having an ophthalmologist taking a look which is why we have eye casualty units seperate from the regular A&E.

[Charlottes mum]

Thank you Gareth. You desc ribed it so well - that's what I meant. sat out side cas waiting til appt time. I must admit I did wonder myself whether the nozzle of the lacri-lube has come a little too close for comfort at some time. I am a good aim but she has it in at day centre and she can be a bit of a wriggler. Charlotte not had RGPs in either eye for over 4 weeks now so I know its not from that. I will come back on later with update. fingers crossed.

[Charlottes mum]

well no infection which was my major worry. no scleritus either thank god. I told Mr Naylor that I was concerned about pos of that too. what he did say tho is that it is the worst case of hydrops he has ever seen. he said that the red is slight blepheritus from all the tearing up that Char's eye is doing and to keep up with the lacri-lube. think of it as WD40 for th eye he said! so that's that. back in clinic as scheduled Monday. Charlotte very cross that she missed her photography group this morning but I got her to day centre in time for her drama group this afternoon. what A day!