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Does Viral Gastroenteritis Cause Have Any Effect On The Eyes?

Posted on Fri, 28 Oct 2016

Question: Can viral gastroenteritis which lasted 3-4 weeks, cause an eye problem? I have ongoing dry eyes but for the past 5 days one eye has been sore, especially if I move my head. Optometrist looked at it but I haven't got a clear diagnosis/ prognosis. He said it looked like my eyelids pulled off some of top layer of eye.

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Possible exacerbation of dry eye.

Detailed Answer:
My dear,
Thanks for sending your query to us.

Viruses may always effect the eye but another possibility, which seems more likely in your case, exacerbation of pre-existing problem.

Your dry eye due to prolonged gastritis got exacerbated. You can add lubricant gel twice a day to your continued eye drops as they have longer span of action.

The figure you have uploaded is of the fundus, the health of retina is not related to dryness which involves the outer layer only.

"eyelids pulling off the top layer" as you mentioned is a serious matter for us, which leads to ulceration, which for us is an emergency. Here apart from lubricant antibiotic eye drops are needed, which as you are allergic to sulfonamides, Vigamox (Moxifloxacin) eye drop can be used 6 times a day. Continue using lubricant drops .

This will help and any further issues in this regard please do get back to me.

Take Care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. N K Mishra (7 hours later)

Thank you. I just went back to optometrist who said it looks a bit better than it did two days ago but it still feels the same. If it is exacerbated dry eye as you think it may be, is it unusual to feel it worse in one eye and in that eye in a couple of spots in particular? He said maybe it's exposure keratitis and maybe my eyelids don't close completely when I sleep. There is a strip of white under the coloured part which is not the case w most people.

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Exposure keratittis

Detailed Answer:
My dear,
Goodof you to get back to me.
This needs looking into.If you are not get a doctor to see you immediately,send me a reasonably good photograph of your eye,which may give me some idea about what exactly is going on.If the optometrist is correct then again Vigamox and lubricant drops are the treatment to be followed.A lubricant gel can be applied at bed time.
One eye may be effected more than the other.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. N K Mishra (53 minutes later)

I have taken photo but I don't know how to attach it here. I will send to Healthcare magic email now

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Photograph looks normal

Detailed Answer:
My dear,
Thanks for getting back to me.
This photograph looks normal and what is said to be the exposure keratitis is probably only arcus senilis which is innocuous.
Continue withe treatment till you get a thorough examination done.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. N K Mishra (3 hours later)

Thank you. The reason I can't get a thorough examination done immediately is that it's Saturday and so I won't be able to access a doctor until Monday.
So, to recap, do you feel it is safe to wait u til then otherwise I have to go to an emergency hospital department?
The "pain" I mentioned is more discomfort, not actual pain.
From the photo if there was something very seriously wrong would you see some evidence of it in the picture of the eye?

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Nothing much to worry about.

Detailed Answer:
My dear,
photograph doesn't show anything much to worry about.Continue with medication and have a checkup on Monday.
Any significant finding ,do get back to me.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng