Question
For the last 3 months I have been plagued with itchy, watery eyes, which look swollen. I have been going to an eye doctor (m.d.) She has put me on lotemax to no avail. Then she tried blephamide which I have been on for about 10 days. My eyes are still infected. She wanted me to use Restasis but I think I have a yeast eye infection as I have had reoccurring vaginal yeast infections and I caught myself the other day putting my hands to my eyes after contact with the vaginal area. Is there a test for eye yeast infections and what can be used pharamaceutically to clear up my eyes. I have used all of the over the counter remedies such as Refresh Optiva and the gel form of the same with no improvement. Please I need some guidance.
Answer
Have you explained your suspicions to the eye doctor? It sounds to me it would be about time to have a culture done. This is where a sample of the eye fluids are sent to a lab to find out what exactly the causative agent is. While I personally have never heard of an eye yeast infection per se, if that is what you have, it could be treated appropriately based on the results of the culture. Since the newer anti-infective drops cover so many different kinds of germs, eye infections are not cultured too commonly any more. Thus, not all eye doctors have the set up in their offices to run a culture. You may wind up having to go to a hospital or research institution to have the culture run. Nevertheless, I believe the best place to start this process is through your local ophthalmologist. Please discuss the issue of having your eyes cultured with her.
