What Causes Recurrent Episodes Of Itching In Right Eye?

Posted on Wed, 18 Jun 2014

Question: Hi Dr. XXXXXXX I have this itch coming and going for years. It is at the corner of my right eye close to the nose. GP gave me eye drops as he suspected dry eyes.
Have checked eye specialist - could not find anything but gave me eye drops for dry eyes.
Eye specialist warned me there are ealry signs of cataract on both my eyes and to return to him in 2years time as the progress is normally slow..
Have even got so far as have checked for parasites - negative.
Now still on daily systane dry eye drops.
what may be your working diagnosis be? and differential diagnoses?
and what is your advice? thank you so much.

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
I consider allergic conjunctivitis as diagnosis

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health Care Magic

I am Dr. Dadapeer K, an Ophthalmologist and I answer health problems related to eye.

It seems from the history that you are having recurrent episodes of itching in right eye. This can be because of allergic conjunctivitis most commonly as it is recurrent in nature.
I will consider dry eyes as a second differential diagnosis as itching is seen typically in allergic conditions.

This is not related to cataract but cataract can be present as it is age related condition and can occur any time after 50 years of age commonly.

Hence I advice you to use anti allergic eye drops along with the artificial tears like systane eye drops.

Hence my working diagnosis is allergic conjunctivitis and differential diagnosis are other allergic inflammations of the eye like episcleritis, inflamed pinguecula, inflamed pterygium…

Hope I have answered your question and the information is helpful to you

Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (5 hours later)

could you please mention some medication (generic or commercial) names for my condition as described by your findings? WD/ as well as DD/? thank you

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
The treatment is by use of anti-allergic drugs.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

Based on the history my diagnosis was allergic conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis is usually treated by anti allergic drugs like olopatadine.
The other inflammatory conditions which I had mentioned as differential diagnosis like episcleritis, inflamed pterygium, inflamed pinguecula are treated by use of antiinflammatory drugs like flurbiprofen.

The treatment of allergic conjunctivitis involves avoiding allergens like exposure to dust, pollens....

Hope the information is helpful to you.
If you have any other questions do ask me I will be happy to answer.

Thank you
With regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar