What causes dry eyes, eyestrain, and pain in the eyes?

Question

Hello doctor,

Nine months ago, I was plagued with eyestrain due to over-reading and needed prescription lenses. It had gotten so painful that I immediately consulted an optometrist due to a family history of diabetes, autoimmune disease, and Sjogren’s syndrome. I also wanted them to do a health screening, and it came back normal. My vision required glasses for both near and far vision. After receiving the glasses and following the rules to stop reading from my phone, refraining from watching television, and stopping reading my books until my eyestrain went away, two weeks passed, and the eye pain still persists. I still think my eyes are getting worse, and my optometrist said this is all psychosomatic. But, I insisted that the doctor do additional retinal screening, and I was diagnosed with lattice degeneration of the retina and was immediately referred to a retinal specialist. The retinal specialist told me I needed to have laser surgery on both eyes, and my right eye was twice as worse as the left. The surgery is scheduled for next week. However, he also mentioned that there is no pain associated with my retinal tears or holes and that the only possibility of pain or discomfort that I am feeling is due to dryness. So, I again did as I was told and put the eye drops in my eyes several times a day. Still, day by day, I have a throbbing ache and extreme discomfort in my eye, cheekbone, forehead, skull, and behind my eye continues to get worse neither my ophthalmologist nor optometrist have any answers to it. I am in so much pain. Today I was even considering going to the emergency room and having a CAT scan, fearing that I am currently seeing that either specialist cannot view this. So my question is, what else could this pain be coming from?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Using computers causes dry eye syndrome due to decreased blink rate. Sjogren's syndrome, also causes dry eyes. Take frequent breaks while watching the computer. Look at far objects as eyes are strained looking at the close things for a long time. Keep brightness to a minimum. Use tear drops twice a day (at least). You can also use a humidifier if the room air is too dry. Wear antiglare glasses. You can take a Paracetamol tablet for headaches. Yes, the retinal lattice would not cause pain. Autoimmune disease patients may have uveitis only if the eye is red and in pain. Get tests done and once consult an immunologist also. Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

We have to look for something behind the eye. B scan (brightness scan) and CT (computed tomography) scan can be done to rule out posterior segment abnormality. For that, you have to consult an oculoplastic surgeon, to do the workup. I hope this helps. Thank you.