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What Causes Redness And Soreness On The Left Eye?

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Posted on Mon, 18 Jul 2016
Question: Hi, this is for a go or Opthalmologist please. For many years I have had HSV 1 (no symptoms) and HSV 2 with regular symptoms (most months when menstruate). 18 months ago out of the blue I got a very red, sore left eye. No stickiness but would tear or go foggy. The redness was very painful like I had dirt in my eye non stop. It lasted 3 weeks. This has occurred probably 3-4 more times since then and each time comes suddenly and lasts 2-3 weeks. Each time I have gone to a different Opthalmologist as I was concerned it maybe herpes in my eye. No doctor thought it was and each said different answers. One said blepharitis but my eyelid was fine just the eye itself was bright red. Other said eyelash in white of eye and cornea scratched and third said allergy or inflammation. I was given chlorsig initially which didn't help. Recent was maxidex which it went in 48 hours but now a week later my eye is itching on lid, sometimes stings in eye and keeps tearing making my vision blurred. My eye is not red though. I am worried that at times when I get the hsv 2 my eye also gets red, stings etc. do you think the doctors are wrong and that I do have herpes in my eye or can the eye have a weird inflam reaction when I have genital symptoms however not actually having herpes in my eye? Just to add I often go through stages of 3-4 weeks of a red rash on various parts of my body with itching bumps like pimples. This rash also reoccurs in the same places so I wonder if I have herpes everywhere or when I get genital herpes both my eye and skin also react with itching and redness. No one can answer me and it is becoming so regular (every two months on average) that it is very disruptive and concerns me more and more.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ashok Kumar Dash (22 hours later)
Brief Answer:
hsv 1 and 2 involvment of eye treated by antiviral antibiotic drop.

Detailed Answer:
I answered once but due to technical problem there was problem in submission.So I am rewriting and submitting again. Involvement of eye in herpex simplex virus 1 is more because it manifests in face including area near eye. In this it will manifest as dendrite or herpes corneal ulcer. There will be haziness of vision and redness with epiphora. It will respond to antiviral antibiotic drop like acyclovir drop and ointment and idu drop.It is now marketed as zorivax. It is more toxic so used with more dilution. Strength for both eyes is .o1%. My advice is now to aimed at herpes involvement of eye. Suspecting other ailment and treatment is not recommmended.Other thinking can be just red eye say allergic viral or simple redness or chemo sis. Regarding rashes all over body it can-be in hsv 1 with recurrence it remain dormant and recurse when body immunity is low. hsv 2 involvement of eye is less but it can effect as herpes keratitis , involving deeper layer like endothelium and stroma in both case.Treatment is antiviral antibiotic.It is other wise known as genital herpes.This can effect eye during delivery if mother is affected
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ashok Kumar Dash (1 hour later)
So are you saying it is herpes in eye, even though 3 ophthalmologists and 2 optometrists said I didn't have those symptoms?
Why would it suddenly occur in eye if that is it 20 years after original hsv viruses?
What does an ulcer look like in the eye? They say I have corneal scratches but I had laser surgery on that eye so would that be from surgery or are scratches the same as ulcers?
To clarify is it herpes in the eye or just a secondary side effect when I get herpes symptoms in genitals?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ashok Kumar Dash (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
hepes involvment of eye. it remain dorment and manifest when imunityis low.

Detailed Answer:
optometrist are not doctor and no competent comment on any type of corneal ulcer20years is not period that you should get it early. ihave already informed that herpes remain dormant in body as reservoir in nerve and manifest when body immunity is low. it may take several years herpes ulcer are also called dendrite and it spread in nerve so there is anesthetic effect in cornea. hsv 2 is genital and effect in eye is seconder y.they donot lookalike scratches from surgery. as ihave said dendritic or look like spider net. this can be seen if stained.only scratches in cornea are not ulcer. they should have other symptoms like redness and itching.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ashok Kumar Dash (14 minutes later)
Three opthalmologists said wasn't herpes in my eye. Did you receive photo of my inflamed eye? What is your opinion from that? Does heroes go in one eye or both?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ashok Kumar Dash (38 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
inphotograph none eye is fully effected andcan be herpes.

Detailed Answer:
in photograph one is fully involved and the other eye appears to be angular mild invovment the skin around eye is involved, have to wait for followup to see progress regarding full involvement of other eye. in XXXXXXX hunt syndrome it is like bells palsy in which one eye is involved.it can be herpes.it is type 2.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ashok Kumar Dash (7 minutes later)
I cannot understand your answers. They don't seem to answer if I do or don't have. Last time I just had an eyelash in my eye and as soon as Opthalmologist removed the redness etc stopped a few hours after. No doctor says my symptoms are herpes or any serious problem.
I don't think you are confirming my problem, and seem to talk about either option so I cannot understand your actual opinion.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ashok Kumar Dash (27 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
HSV 1 and 2 involvement of eye.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again

Eye lash in eye is treated as foreign body. Once it is removed you should improve.

But you have history of herpes and suffering for about 20 years. It is recurrent your problem is confirmed. HSV 1 and 2. They are infectious and contagious. Dendritic ulcer can be seen after staining.

My opinion to you the best of my knowledge however you are free to take second opinion from others. Other option for treatment which you have tried but there was recurrence and it has not helped you. So if you want to you can follow my treatment which I have advised you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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Answered by
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Dr. Ashok Kumar Dash

Ophthalmologist

Practicing since :1969

Answered : 12704 Questions

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What Causes Redness And Soreness On The Left Eye?

Brief Answer: hsv 1 and 2 involvment of eye treated by antiviral antibiotic drop. Detailed Answer: I answered once but due to technical problem there was problem in submission.So I am rewriting and submitting again. Involvement of eye in herpex simplex virus 1 is more because it manifests in face including area near eye. In this it will manifest as dendrite or herpes corneal ulcer. There will be haziness of vision and redness with epiphora. It will respond to antiviral antibiotic drop like acyclovir drop and ointment and idu drop.It is now marketed as zorivax. It is more toxic so used with more dilution. Strength for both eyes is .o1%. My advice is now to aimed at herpes involvement of eye. Suspecting other ailment and treatment is not recommmended.Other thinking can be just red eye say allergic viral or simple redness or chemo sis. Regarding rashes all over body it can-be in hsv 1 with recurrence it remain dormant and recurse when body immunity is low. hsv 2 involvement of eye is less but it can effect as herpes keratitis , involving deeper layer like endothelium and stroma in both case.Treatment is antiviral antibiotic.It is other wise known as genital herpes.This can effect eye during delivery if mother is affected