Corneal Ulcer

[augusta1]

My eye has been swollen, red, very painful, watery and sensitive to light. I went to a specialist today and he said I have a corneal ulcer and a bacterial infection in the eye. He gave me 2 different antibiotics for my eye. One is a drop that I have to put in every hour and the other is an eye ointment I have to use 4x/day. He said it can lead to blindness in the eye if he doesn't treat it aggressively and it must be monitored closely and that I need to come back tomorrow to follow up to be sure it hasn't gotten any worse overnight and if so then he will have to change the antibiotics.

Has anyone ever had this or known someone who has? How long did it take to heal? I know I obviously can't wear contacts again til it heals, just curious.

 

[HsvTeacher]

My eye has been swollen, red, very painful, watery and sensitive to light. I went to a specialist today and he said I have a corneal ulcer and a bacterial infection in the eye. He gave me 2 different antibiotics for my eye. One is a drop that I have to put in every hour and the other is an eye ointment I have to use 4x/day. He said it can lead to blindness in the eye if he doesn't treat it aggressively and it must be monitored closely and that I need to come back tomorrow to follow up to be sure it hasn't gotten any worse overnight and if so then he will have to change the antibiotics.

Has anyone ever had this or known someone who has? How long did it take to heal? I know I obviously can't wear contacts again til it heals, just curious.

I had a corneal ulcer a few years ago from wearing my contacts too long, and I had the same symptoms as you. My doctor was really aggressive with treatment, too. I had to treat my eye with antibiotic drops and ointment, and I wore a bandage over it to keep it closed. That worked well, because it hurt to open my eye, and I didn't have to focus on keeping closed.

I don't remember exactly how long it took for my eye to get better, but it didn't take too long. I was sure to follow the doctor's orders very carefully, because I was afraid the infection would damage my vision. My eye was still sensitive to bright light for awhile afterwards, though.

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[augusta1]

I had a corneal ulcer a few years ago from wearing my contacts too long, and I had the same symptoms as you. My doctor was really aggressive with treatment, too. I had to treat my eye with antibiotic drops and ointment, and I wore a bandage over it to keep it closed. That worked well, because it hurt to open my eye, and I didn't have to focus on keeping closed.

I don't remember exactly how long it took for my eye to get better, but it didn't take too long. I was sure to follow the doctor's orders very carefully, because I was afraid the infection would damage my vision. My eye was still sensitive to bright light for awhile afterwards, though.

Hope you feel better soon!

Thanks! Reassuring to know you were ok. Did you ever get to wear contacts again> He says when fully healed I can wear them again.
I will be very careful from now on with contacts. Too afraid to lose my vision!

 

[CurlyGirl]

My eye has been swollen, red, very painful, watery and sensitive to light. I went to a specialist today and he said I have a corneal ulcer and a bacterial infection in the eye. He gave me 2 different antibiotics for my eye. One is a drop that I have to put in every hour and the other is an eye ointment I have to use 4x/day. He said it can lead to blindness in the eye if he doesn't treat it aggressively and it must be monitored closely and that I need to come back tomorrow to follow up to be sure it hasn't gotten any worse overnight and if so then he will have to change the antibiotics.

Has anyone ever had this or known someone who has? How long did it take to heal? I know I obviously can't wear contacts again til it heals, just curious.

Me last year! I had the same symptoms as you and I could see the ulcer on my eye! I couldn't wear contacts until it healed, which took a week and two days. I did the antibiotic drops only. I have been wearing contacts ever since with absolutely no problems. I try really hard to not sleep in them as that's how my eye dr. thought I got the ulcer to begin with.

 

[HsvTeacher]

Thanks! Reassuring to know you were ok. Did you ever get to wear contacts again> He says when fully healed I can wear them again.
I will be very careful from now on with contacts. Too afraid to lose my vision!

Yes, I still wear my contacts every day. Sometimes I fall asleep with them in, too. I try not to, but it still happens from time to time.

 

[Patricia]

I had two of these lovely events. One was three years ago. It was horrible!! I could not open my eye at all. Light was intollerable. and I believe it was the most painful event of my life. I had to go every day for days and then weekly to the specialist and use two meds as well. It took 4 weeks to heal. The second one was exactly a year later to the day!! I really believe it was caused by the dirt from the baseball fields at my son's games getting under my lense. The second one was much less serious and I was back to normal in a week, but out of contacts for two. I switched to dailies at that point and have been ulcer free. Good luck! Do not cheat! Your eyes are too precious!

 

[3boymthr]

Oldest DS had this happen last year. They were also very aggressive with the treatment. It started clearing up after just a few days. There are a couple of different types and according to the Opthamologist the type he had is very, very serious if left untreated (like make you go blind serious). We took DS out of contacts at the time as they said that he got it because he wasn't following the rules - leaving them in too long - wearing them for longer than the recommended two weeks - not cleaning them thoroughly - so obviously he wasn't ready for the responsibility. The dr. did agree to let him try them again - just this week in fact - but he made DS switch to daily wear lenses and limited the wear time to 12 hours or less per day. He's going back on Tuesday for a check to see if the ulcers are coming back.

 

[sookie]

i don't want to scare you but my dad lost his vision in his good idea due to a corneal ulcer. not due to contacts. please just listen to the doctor and follow up. my dad did and still lost his vision. it can be serious... just keep doing the meds and stay on it with the doc.

 

[dhcoffey]

My DD18 is still recovering from one. She first had symptoms in April, I think. She did the eye cream, drops and antibiotics and is still on them but the dr is cutting her down on them slowly. Her last appt was May 25 and at that time her vision was getting better. Her next appt is in about three more weeks, still hoping for good news. She responded very well to the treatment, thank goodness. We were so afraid of her losing her eyesight. Hers also came from extended wear contacts, the kind you can wear for 30 days or something. She's in glasses now but will eventually be able to go back to contacts but just wearing them in the day from that point on, no more extended wear and through the night for her. We were so scared she was going to lose her vision.

Good luck and just be diligent with the medication!

Heather

 

[kidzmom3]

I had a very large one that crossed into my actual line of vision. I had to be treated at Mass Eye and Ear hospital daily for 1 week, weekly for 4 weeks then every 3 months for a full year. My corneal ulcer was so bad that the wound had to be debrided. Head put into metal holder while a device was used to keep my eye open. Scalpel in my eye, while they scrapped away damaged tissue. I couldn't wear a patch, they said warm dark environment was not good for healing. I actually had to go out on FMLA for 3 weeks as I wasn't allowed to drive or work at a computer. I had to use Vigamox antibiotic which was very expensive for a tiny container. At the one year period I was given a prescription for Zatidor in the stronger strength to cut down on any rubbing of my eyes due to itching.

It was hell and I hope to never go through that again.

 

[augusta1]

They have me on Vigamox drops every hour and Bacitracin 4x day. They burn and hurt my eyes quite a bit. The medicine almost makes it feel worse than it is. I follow back up this morning.

 

[bgirldeb]

Ouch! I had one, and it was definitely one of the most painful experiences in my life. The worst thing is not being able to sleep due to the pain. I was extremely vigiant with my contacts afterward. Now when I go for yearly eye exams, my eye doctors can still see the scar.

I had a very large one that crossed into my actual line of vision. I had to be treated at Mass Eye and Ear hospital daily for 1 week, weekly for 4 weeks then every 3 months for a full year. My corneal ulcer was so bad that the wound had to be debrided. Head put into metal holder while a device was used to keep my eye open. Scalpel in my eye, while they scrapped away damaged tissue. I couldn't wear a patch, they said warm dark environment was not good for healing. I actually had to go out on FMLA for 3 weeks as I wasn't allowed to drive or work at a computer. I had to use Vigamox antibiotic which was very expensive for a tiny container. At the one year period I was given a prescription for Zatidor in the stronger strength to cut down on any rubbing of my eyes due to itching.

It was hell and I hope to never go through that again.

This is one of the worst stories of one I've heard. Glad you're OK!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I had one two years ago or so. Similar symptoms and treatment. It took probably a week before I thought I was fully healed. I was told I couldn't wear soft contacts ever again (though I'm going to look for a second opinion on that one soon). I recently was screened for the purpose of possibly getting laser surgery, and the doctors indicated my scar was still there and would interfere with their ability to use the laser.

 

[Traveliz]

Ny daughter had one when she was 15 and they treated it VERY AGRESSIVELY - because it was so fast growing they felt she might lose her eye. Thank God she did not lose her eye but she did lose her vision and had a corneal transplant a year later.

So do follow directions and make sure to keep on top of it.

Liz

 

[augusta1]

Thank you all for the responses. I'm sorry so many of you have had to go through this. I have learned it is very very painful. The eye medicine makes it hurt even more because it burns.
I followed up again this morning. I have to come back again on Tuesday. Said it isn't any worse and he thinks my vision will be fine with no long term effects but he said the cornea is going to scar. Have to continue the Bacitracin 4x day and I can do the Vigamox every 2 hours now instead of hourly. Have to keep it all up until Tuesday then he will decide from there if I can taper off. Another couple weeks out of contacts. I am 32 and I don't think I have worn glasses since junior high! LOL!

 

[tvguy]

I got one about 20 years ago. The contacts went right in the trash can. I've worn nothing but glasses since. Vanity is not worth my vision.

 

[daughtersrus]

My DD had a serious infection post-op cataract surgery so it's not the same as what you're going through. We had to give her a series of 5 different eye drops and 2 different ointments. We had to do one every 5 minutes pretty much round the clock for 1 week. Things didn't go well.

DD wore a contact lens in the other eye (also had cataract removed in that eye) but her Ped Ophth was very emphatic and said that no one should be wearing contacts for more than 12 hours a day. She's now wearing glasses. My older DD (24yo)wears contacts but has never worn them longer than 12 hours. She keeps her glasses in her purse. After seeing what her little sister went through, she said that she's not willing to risk it.

I hope that your eye feels better soon and that it clears up quickly with no side effects!

 

[ectiger]

Just some advice to help avoid getting a corneal ulcer:

If you have a high prescription and dry eye, my doctor says don't wear contacts every day. Even the Oasis ones have too much thickness which doesn't allow enough oxygen to the eyes. And, replace your lenses at least every 3 weeks. I was keeping mine for about 4 weeks at a time and believe it or not had no problems for 15 years. Eventually, I started feeling a lot of uncomfortable dryness and after another year got an ulcer (infection). Oh and also beware of prescription sunglasses that have any curvature, it's like seeing out of a fishbowl, I had to return them.