Question: Hello Doc
Here are my symptoms which started about 15 months ago. It started with itchiness all over my body with slight rashes that would go away. I also had red eyes, but no itchiness. I went to an urgent care doctor and she felt I was having some kind of allergic reaction. She put me on a steroid regiment (Prednisone) and all the symptoms went away right away. However, after I stopped the Prednisone they came back. I then was told to use Zyrtec, which pretty much takes care of the itchiness all over my body, but does nothing for my eyes. I went to see an eye specialist, and he said I was having some kind of allergic reaction. My eyes are now red when I wake up, and the eyelids are swollen every morning, to the point I have to put lubricating drops in them and pry them open. After doing this, my eyes clear up, but as the day goes on, as the day goes on, they start to get red again, then when I go to sleep the whole cycle starts again. Also, My eyelid doesn't seem to open as far as they use to. Just looking to be pointed in the right direction, should I see an allergist, eye doctor? Is this eczema? Is this an allergy? Will allergy shots help this? Very very very frustrated with the situation. Visine does not help at all. If I use 12 hour "Clear Eyes" it will take the redness away, and a little of the swollen eyelid, but if I go to sleep, even for an hour, I will wake up with swollen shut red eyes. Would love to know why my eyelidss swell up while sleep, but don't really swell up while awake? Any info would be greatly appreciated, or pointed in the right direction to have this problem helped. Thank You!!!
Also, I do have allergies, hey fever, and I am allergic to dust, mold, and almost all animals, but Not food. I have also moved since this nightmare started, and there is no sneezing involved with my current symptoms. This is the most frustrating part as my allergies have almost always presented with sneezing and itchy eyes. I am from the midwest where my allergies were horrible in the spring and summer, but have living in Los Angeles where my allergies have been pretty much non existent for the last 24 years. Also, my eyes are NOT itchy, they are red and swollen, but not itchy.

Thank You Doctor.

I will send you a couple of pictures tomorrow. I just took one at night, and will take one when I wake up tomorrow so you can see what it looks like on both occasions. I completely understand "Clear Eyes" is/was a temporary short term solution, and not getting to the heart of the problem. Couple of questions if you don't mind, is Olopatadine a short term solution too like "Clear Eyes or does it act differently? And if I have allergic conjunctivitis is there a "cure" or is it just a situation where I am managing the allergy? Also, why is it worse while I sleep? Like I said before, when I wake up, my eyes are nearly swollen shut and super dry and I have to peel them apart, and as the day goes on they clear up to some degree (without the use of "Clear Eyes". I try not to use clear eyes, and have been predominately using "Refresh Optive" lubricating eye drops.

Also, could this be a case of eczama effecting my eyes and other parts of my body? Because like I said, it presented as itchiness all over my body at first, along with the red swollen eyes.

Thank You so much for the information, because frankly, I am at my wits end with this. I have moved because of this, put my tempur pedic mattress in storage because I thought I might have developed an allergy to it. I have gone to non fragrance everything trying to figure out what is wrong with me.

Thank You!!!
XXXXXXX
Also, I do not have pets, or ware contact lenses.

Hello Dr Dadapeer

Here are some photos of my eyes for you to look at. I uploaded them via the "upload new reports" button at the top. Please let me know if you got the pictures. You can see my eyelids do not go down all the way and are swollen. What the pictures don't show is how red my eyes are.

Thanks so much

Thank You Doctor!

Just a few more questions for you, and I promise no more. :D

After looking at the photos, and viewing the history, you feel this is more allergic Conjunctivitis as opposed to eczama, correct? Also, if this winds up being the diagnosis after I see a doctor, do you feel this will be on ongoing situation that needs to be managed, or will clear up completely after treatment?

Also, you feel I should see an ophthlmologist as opposed to an allergist, correct? Or should I see an opthamologist first to get the situation under control, and then an allergist with potentially allergy shots down the road?

Sorry for all the questions, and thank you so much for being so patient with me.

Thank you so much Doctor, you answered everything. Now I know how to proceed. I wish you were in Los Angeles!!

Again, thanks for being patient with me and taking the time to answer my questions!!!