“Anti-inflammatory eye drops?”
On 2/9/22 I was told by an ophthalmologist that I probably need anti-inflammatory eye drops and to come back when the symptoms are active (yellowish goo in the left eye not present at the time of visit). The intermittent problem remains, and I cannot afford to go back to the ophthalmologist. I was charged over $200 for my first visit--with insurance applied. The goo is usually not itchy, but it does sometimes make my lower lashes crusty. The intermittent problem is becoming more frequent, and I only have Erythromycin ointment, which doesn't do that much good, if any. I also can't determine what makes the problem go away for a while, then come back. Are there any otc anti-inflammatory drops that might help? In the alternative, is there any other advice you could give me?
Female | 80 years old
Complaint duration: 3 months
Medications: Thyroxine, ibuprofen
Conditions: neuropathy, low thyroid
7 Answers
Although it is not possible to diagnose your problem without an exam, look up home treatment for blepharitis, a common cause of your symptoms. If that doesn’t help in a week or two, then you should follow up with a doctor.
Crusting lashes can be treated with eyelid wipes with tea tree oil. This is usually the cause of inflammation in and around the eye. If that doesn't work there are oral or local treatments that can be tried but they require a prescription.
If your eye tears, you can have blocked passage for tears from your eye to your nose. This could be intermittent problem. I am not sure what drops the doctor was thinking of, I think it could be a combination of antibiotic and steroids. Steroids are ant inflammatory , you can not bye them over the counter. Try to massage the area between the eye and the nose and see if there is any discharge, also if you lashes turn in, they may irritate. I am sorry, sometimes it is hard to give an advice on so little information
You were told that you probably need anti-inflammatory drops but you don’t provide any diagnosis. Your described symptom can be caused by infection of the eye lids, conjunctiva, or tear ducts, or by allergy or inflammation. Not itching makes allergy less probable. Many but not all infections will clear with Erythromycin. It is not clear why you would have chronic inflammation. Other less common causes must be considered as well. If you had insurance coverage my recommendation would be to follow up with the same doctor or get another opinion. Many University based Ophthalmology Departments have clinics with lower cost if any for people without coverage.
Maxitrol drops work, with lid scrubs, but you have to see your eye doctor for RX.
It is probably not infected and you do not need an antibiotic. Go to the drug store and find an anti-allergic eyedrop which will probably solve the problem at a considerably lower cost than another visit to the eye doc.
Unfortunately, there are several potential causes for your symptoms. Managing ocular lid and surface disease typically requires a step-wise approach, meaning it may require a few visits to get things totally under control. I recommend finding a provider who you are in network with for further evaluation.
