For about 4 months now, I have had slight redness in my eyes. The last time I changed contacts was about 2 months ago, the doc changed my lenses and this was a very bad idea, i went through two different kinds of lenses and then told him to give me what i was on before, the contacts work fine, never irritate me or anything.

I have not worn contacts for a few weeks now. When I go to sleep and wake up my eyes are red and they burn slightly. In the past month I have had about 4 cases of pink eye. Sometimes it happens one eye at a time, sometimes both. Today I woke up and both my eyes had a slight case of pink eye, they were sticking together, red, etc. They have been slightly burning all day too. I have no clue what is going on, but this is really scaring me. Could something in my room be causing this? I have never officially been told by a doc I have allergies, but I know I do, late summer is the worst time for me. I thought at first it was all related to allergies, but it is now mid November almost...............please tell me what I should do...

You could be re-infecting one eye from the other eye. Wash hands after touching eyes, use a clean tissue to wipe each eye avoiding transferring germs to the other eye. Learn to keep hands off face at all times.

Are you sure it is pink eye problem or irritation or eye infection due to other causes such as blepharitis or other?

Have you been to an ophthalmologist? (if not, how do you know that you had conjunctivitis, and not just allergies?) The best way to prevent eye infections is to wash your hands often. If you have any colored mucus coming out of your eyes, you can use a warm compress.

Just so you know, the symptoms of bacterial or viral conjunctivitis are redness, puffiness, yellow or green discharge, and a sticking, gritty sensation.

thank you guys for the replies. I am really not sure if it is pink eye or allergies, i just didn't expect allergies to cause THIS many problems and last this long. having said that my eyes have been much better recently. The redness is almost gone. however, when i wake up in the morning there is much more crust than ever before and my vision in one eye is usually a bit blurry until i come out of the shower. the only thing i have done differently over the past few days is i stopped eating my vitamin tablets. i feel stupid saying this because of course they are supposed to be good for you but i think my problems were related to them. i will wait a week and try my tablets again next week to confim my little theory...........any thoughts? :p

I'm not really sure about your vitamin theory. I guess anything is possible.

It actually seems more strange to me that you would have an infection for 4 months (and still be able to see!) than having allergies for 4 months. I have year round allergies. Allergies can certainly cause the problems that you have mentioned. Do your eyes feel dry?

It is important for you to see a good ophthalmologist and find out exactly what the problem is. If you have an infectious form of conjunctivitis (pink eye) then you need to be on an anti-biotic drop. If you have allergic conjunctivitis, then you need to be on an allergy drop (such as Patanol or one of the dozens of others.) It could really be "cured" with something as simple as an allergy drop. You may be suffering needlessly. You should go to an ophthalmologist.

In the meantime, you might get some relief from using preservative free artificial tear drops such as Bion Tears or Thera Tears. Even people who do not have dry eyes (which it sounds like you do) find them very soothing.

Thank you for your reply. Yes, my eyes do feel pretty dry most of the time. As I mentioned in my previous post, the redness in my eyes over the past few days has almost completely disappeared. The dryness and eventual burning feeling, however, has not gone. Today I started wearing my contacts again. If the redness comes back and my eyes get bad I know it has something to do with the contacts, which seems more likely than the vitamin theory. I thank you all for your replies and will keep you posted. At this point, having heard what people have said, I'm leaning/hoping that it is allergy related and not something else serious........have a good weekend all..

If you are going to wear your contacts, just make sure to keep your eyes very well lubricated.

If you are going to wear your contacts, just make sure to keep your eyes very well lubricated.


So I guess it was the contacts causing the problems and other things making it worse. I wore my contacts over the weekend and my eyes kinda burn. Here is the thing that bothers me. When I put on the contacts in I don't feel a thing, no problems, eyes are not red........As soon as I take them off they get a bit red and start burning. This same thing happened the day I took the contacts out of the box and also when I used my own solution, so I doubt my solution is at fault? This is the 3rd pair of contacts I have tried during the whole ordeal, so suddenly after wearing contacts for years does it just mean I can't wear them anymore? Thanks so much...........

I had that same situation but for about a year. My eyes were infected (red and watery) almost every week. People always thought I had been crying or had too much to drink the night before! In the morning upon waking, my eyes would feel "glued" shut.
I saw many doctors and noone could seem to determine the problem. I was told everything from "it's environmental, something in the air" to "you need to change your makeup".
I had blood tests, allergy tests, saw optometrists, family physician, dermatologist, ophthalmologists (one who told me the problem was because I needed new glasses), all to no avail. I finally found an ophthalmologist who determined that the problem is Recurrent Erosion Sydrome, which is a membrane that covers the cornea starts to detach and becomes painful and infected. I've been on prescription eye drops and wear a patch over the worst eye at night to keep my eye tightly closed. This also caused blepharitis and dry eye. Good Luck!






For about 4 months now, I have had slight redness in my eyes. The last time I changed contacts was about 2 months ago, the doc changed my lenses and this was a very bad idea, i went through two different kinds of lenses and then told him to give me what i was on before, the contacts work fine, never irritate me or anything.

I have not worn contacts for a few weeks now. When I go to sleep and wake up my eyes are red and they burn slightly. In the past month I have had about 4 cases of pink eye. Sometimes it happens one eye at a time, sometimes both. Today I woke up and both my eyes had a slight case of pink eye, they were sticking together, red, etc. They have been slightly burning all day too. I have no clue what is going on, but this is really scaring me. Could something in my room be causing this? I have never officially been told by a doc I have allergies, but I know I do, late summer is the worst time for me. I thought at first it was all related to allergies, but it is now mid November almost...............please tell me what I should do...

wait you just scared the living crap outa me..................so you really need to shut your eyes at night when sleeping, is that what helps? also, did you just stop wearing contacts altogether? can you give me the name of the drops you use? lastly, do you have any problems when you don't wear contacts, my eyes still feel dry in the morning but not red or anything bad w/o the contacts..........

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you! I actually don't wear contacts.
I don't have my prescription with me, so I don't know the name of it,
but it is an antibiotic gel only used at night to prevent any infection.
Otherwise I use artificial tears (preservative free) every hour, which does
provide some relief. Yes I wear a patch on my right eye while I sleep(it's the worst one) tightly taped so that my eyelid doesn't rub on my eyeball.
Find a reputable ophthalmologist and hopefully, you will find an answer soon.

irehman, have you seen an ophthalmologist?

irehman, have you seen an ophthalmologist?

no not yet, i have no eye insurance, i'll find one and just go pay i guess..