About Dr. Anshu Sahai Expertise All queries related to : Cataract, Phacoemulsification, Glaucoma, Squint, Amblyopia, LASIK, LASEK, Retina, Diabetic Retinopathy
Experience 10 years
Organizations Dr.R.M.Sahai Memorial Institute of Ophthalmology,
a unit of
Sahai Hospital & Research Centre,Jaipur
Expert: Dr. Anshu Sahai Date: 6/30/2008 Subject: Red Cloudy Eyes
Question QUESTION: I have a daughter who is now 2 year old and has about a year suffering from red eyes. It all started as a sudden red and then it became worst (sort of like pink eye). I took her to her doctor and he gave me drops for pink eye which didn't help at all as the day's passed it became worst. He referred me to a pediatric optometrist and he said it looked like an infection (conjunctivitis). He prescribed me drops with steroids which helped right away but to this day hasn't cured the problem. She is not using these drops any more because I know that too much of steroid use can cause eye problems (blindness). The other doctor (optometrist) that I took her to after doesn't know what she might have and he is just guessing. I took her back to her pediatrician who says it's seems like allergies but doesn't want to run her an allergy test. What can I do or what does this sound like; the redness is not always but it last like 1 week and then she is ok for 2 weeks or 1 day yes and the other she is ok it is not consistent. What I don't like is that their is a cloudy ring around her pupil and the white part of the eye is not smooth like it should be when this happens.
ANSWER: Dear Erika,
Sorry for the delay in this reply, but for ? reason I did not get the alert for this query.
From what you describe, it most probably seems to be some form of allergic reaction. Or even possibly a vitamin A deficiency.
I would tend to agree with your optometrist.
You could talk to your optometrist and get him to prescribe a mild anti-allergic eye drop, or could see whether they are available over the counter.
I agree that long term use of any steroid has potential long term side effects and should be avoided as far as possible. Steroids are sometimes prescribed in mild infective and allergic conditions to provide short term relief.
If possible, look at trying to convince your pediatrician to conduct the allergy tests. Irrespective of the test results, I feel that a trial with an anti-allergic drop is in order.
You can also look at changing the babies shampoo, soap etc to a hypo-allergenic brand and possibly reducing any fibre shedding clothes that she may have. Also look at reducing the dust etc in the babies immediate environment. Any pets like dogs or cats should be kept away from the baby as possibly the fur that they shed may be a cause of the allergy too.
One final word- if there was no discharge in the eye and no stickiness of the eyelids on waking, most probably this was not an infection, but purely an allergic reaction.
I wish you all the best & hope this answers your query. However please feel free to write back again.
Regards
Dr. Anshu Sahai
Dr.R.M.Sahai Memorial Institute of Ophthalmology
Jaipur, India
www.sahaihospital.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you Dr. Now I'm wondering what vitamin A deficiency means. Is it a big problem or what can I do to help. I will make sure I comment this to Yadhira's doctor. Please advice. Thank you.
Answer Dear Erika,
Vitamin A deficiency is not a big problem if handled properly.
Normally a growing child needs a lot of vitamins and nutrients in diet. With a properly balance diet, deficiency of vitamin a would be rare. Anyhow, just to be on the safe side, you can focus on vitamin A rich items in diet, which would include eggs, meat (especially liver and fish), dairy products, green leafy vegetables and carrots.
I hope this answers your query. However please feel free to write back again.
Regards
Dr. Anshu Sahai
Dr.R.M.Sahai Memorial Institute of Ophthalmology
Jaipur, India
www.sahaihospital.com
PS- please do keep in mind that this possibility is not very common and my first opinion is that we are looking at some form of allergy. There is no harm in focussing on a vitamin A rich diet, however for resolution of your baby's problem I would suggest that you focus more on the possibility of allergy
