Hi:
This issue is quite complex, because it involves both Dermatological and eye.

I developed 'skin itchness' along 'tiny cut' above my upper eyelid. For this, my dermatogist rx'ed both topical/cream and oral/corti., however I getting this problem one after another. Once I got a relief of 'getting better' that reduces redness and itchness, the same has been happening, ... in other word, never getting better except a few days' relief.

In the past when I had 'dry-eye' problem, I applied an eye-drop specialy made for 'dry-eye,' ... it's quite expensive, because once used one, I needed to throw it away even there was still left-over drop in the bottom. I spent almost $30 a month when my dry-eye was in bad shape to the point where I needed to apply it several times a day. However, after about three-four years later, my dry-eye got completely better. I no longer use this, an expensive eye-drop for my dry-eye.

However, after this issue was resolved, something happened that was itchness and redness above my upper eyelid. On this, my dermatologist dx'ed with 'Eczema.'

Does 'Dry-Eye' therapy caused this issue, 'Eczema' or something else?

Thanks for reading this, long post and response if possible.

Dry eye therapy will not cause Eczema as far as I know. I have been dealing with severe dry eyes for 6 years now and I use a lot of the preservative free artificial tears as well as other medicines.

What might look to you and your dermatologist to be Eczema might actually be Blepharitis or Blepharitis/Rosacea. With Blepharitis the oil glands at the base of your eyelid get very clogged. Your eyelids could become very irritated. They could become dry and start to peel and flake. Do you have any Rosacea? The corners of my eyelids get cracked and chapped, especially in the cold weather. What helps me tremendously is to use a wet, warm compress for a few minutes and then apply some prescribed anti-inflammatory eye ointment to the corners of my eyes and all over my eyelids.
It's important to keep your eyes shielded from the cold weather and the wind. I find that if my eyes become watery and it is cold or windy, the weather combined with my watery eyes, really does a number on my eyelids. They get chapped just as your lips would if it was cold and windy and you kept licking them.

I don't have Eczema on my eyelids, but I do have it on other parts of my body. I should warn you to be extremely, extremely careful not to get the medicine for the Eczema *in* your eye(s). It it's not specifially made for the eye, it could cause real problems if it gets in there. Personally, I would just ask the ophthalmologist to prescribe an anti-inflammatory eye ointment that you can put on the lid. I think that most of what they prescribe for Eczema is just anti-inflammatory stuff anyway.

I know how frustrating it is to have to spend money on all these eye drops. I am spending about $100 a month right now. I spend $50 every 2 months to get serum drops made at NY Eye and Ear Infirmary. I spend $30 every two weeks on prescription anti-inflammatory ointment (FML ointment). $15 every few weeks on prescription allergy drops, about $50 a month on aritificial tears. Not to mention the hundreds of dollars a year my eye doctor saves me by refusing to charge me copayments. This is easily costing me about $1500 a year just for drops and meds alone.

Good luck,

Elyse

Would you please tell me the name of the OPTICAL anti-imflammatory ointment you used.I am seeing a dermatologist next week after seeing 3 opthamologists for bad blepharitis symptoms. Oral doxycycline just stopped it's effectivieness this week after 8 months of improvement....hoping it kicks in again
Any info would be appreciated
Thanks
LIDS18