Is it a stye? I'd type more but Hz is being a PITA.

Could it be a scratch?

Your husband isn't going to know what he's seeing. Why wouldn't you go to your doctor? Who knows what it could be? Answer, the doctor.

Good luck.

I'd just see a regular GP as a first step. He/she should be able to deal with it. Yes, if there are complications you might need a specialist, but start with the GP.

There are any number of irritants usually in the membrane that causes you to feel something under your eyelid. And it could be an eyelash but after so many days seeing someone isnt out of the way.

" I'd just see a regular GP as a first step. He/she should be able to deal with it. Yes, if there are complications you might need a specialist, but start with the GP. "

Your approach might be typical of what's done in Australia but it's not typical for what's done here.

People who have an eye issue will take themselves to an eye doctor. It doesn't typically take a referral from a GP to see one. Or to see other "specialists" for that matter unless one has a type of coverage called HMO.

My mother had no issues with this until she was in her 70s, then she became prone to having ingrown eyelashes. Might that be the problem? She had to have some removed. She asked if I would do it, but I wasn't comfortable with it.

Every time I’ve thought I’ve had something in my eye for an extended time it was either an infection or a scratch. Discomfort goes away quickly with prescription drops, slowly without. Any optometrist can look, you don’t need to go straight to an ophthalmologist if that’s what you meant by ”eye doctor.”

That could be a scratch. Happened to me years ago.

ETA: Yes, it is very annoying. In my case it was the lid that was scratched.

Thanks. It is dark now and past 5 pm. If this continued to bother I will try to seesomeone at my eye clinic. I tend to have dry eyes and thin tear film and am perhaps more sensitive than most people re eyes. I’ve see people walk around with junkly looking eyes, an odd eyelash hanging half in or out. I’m more hyper tactile.

I have thin hair and used to get bits pr hair or lash in my eyes. Fine cat hair was often getting caught in my eyes. The eye clinic will helpful and they have theright equipment and experience. There is a good urgent care but I will opt for a one stop visit. I think my DH might not Be the best unless it was something obvious.

Oh, yes, it could very well be that I scratched my cornea. For that reason,I will avoid fiddling with it or using anymore eye cup flushing. I will keep you posted. Thanks for your good ideas.

" Any optometrist can look, you don’t need to go straight to an ophthalmologist if that’s what you meant by ”eye doctor.” "

Many people use the term to refer to either or both and of course, there are big differences between the two. As you suggest, an optometrist could be a place to start.

We go to a clinic/office affiliated with a Boston area teaching hospital. I’ve seen specialists, but usually see an optometrist. That works well for me and they are never reluctant to have me see a specialist. I really like them.

Hands tender, so eye doc versus longer word. Thanks.

I did have an eye thing and went to my PCP who diagnosed a stye. I'd never had one before. She rx'd a gel to put in my eye and it cleared it up.

Thanks. I hope you feel better soon, Annie.

One advantage to an ophthalmologist is that they have numbing drops that allows them to poke around under your eyeliid.

DH once thought he had something in his eye after a trek through brush - and unfortunately has the habit of rubbing his eye if it feels like it had debris or something in it. It was a scratch. His optometrist saw him immediately and he didn't wait for an ophthalmologists appointment. He was given a prescription for drops that were antibiotic, and they also stopped the irritated feeling and pain. Instantly. I threw myself into 'mother mode' and told his doctor he had rubbed at it resulting in him receiving a stern scolding - that I sincerely hope he listened to. Please try to be seen in the morning.

Mine can be little on the dry side following thyroid disease. I occasionally use moisturizing drops but am also careful of my eyes when it comes to cosmetics or beauty products with scent included (buying only formulas made with no scent anywhere on my face). I haven't worn the types of mascara that are supposed to add length along with color since I was a teen.

Feel better soon!

Thanks, again, all. About maybe 10 years ago when gardening — ripping or invasive spurge and milkweed with cotton garden gloves on I guess I went to rub an itchy eye (dry eyes are oftsn itchy) and gave my eye an inadvertent dose of the very alkaline sap of either milkweed of spurge. Holy cow, the pain in my eye was enormous. I tried to keep my wits about me and rushed into the house to flush my eye out with lots of preservative free eyedrops. I had to keep putting ice cubes (wrapped in a tea towel) on my closed eye to attenuate the ferocious pain. DH drove me to the ER which was not busy.

They set me up in a room where they first measured the pH of the affected eye (pH reading was higher than what is normal, indicated something alkali (not the correct wording) or base. The Physician’s Assistant (PA) was fast and effective. He hooked up an saline flush to continuously irrigate my eye, measuring the pH now and again. Finally relief. They sent me home w some sort of eye drop medication. A day later I saw my optometrist ( ad he examined my eye and gave me a course of antibiotic and some other ointment or medication. He said that because I was working in garden soil, I could have gotten some bacteria or vegetative blah la da la (years ago, forgot) in my eye. I was surprised because in my lifetime I’ve gotten all sorts of dirt, dust, splatter of crud in my eyes. I never thought anything of it.

Man, was that a painful experience. I guess the sap that inflamed my eye it might have been from the milkweed roots. U was trying to get all of it from the garden and foolishly was not wearing eye protection (goggles).

edited (higher not lower)

I was reading something a couple of months ago that said rubbing your eyes acn abrade your cornea. That can potentially change your vision.

My right eye has been really hazy in the morning this past week. It also didn't "feel" right. I don't mess around with my vision. On Thursday I called my ophthalmologist's office. They were going to see me next week. I expressed concern that sensation was odd for me. So I got in the next Day which was yesterday. Turned out not to be anything, he pronounced my eyes healthy after a series of tests, but I slept well this afternoon. My cataract has worsened. Don't have to get it done right away but I am electing to get it done soon so I am free all spring and summer. So I have a pre-op appointment on Wednesday. One reason to go to an ophthalmologist over an optometrist is that if you have any sort of medical procedure insurance covers it under your medical plan. They do not cover regular exams or glasses but anything post any kind of surgery including lasik is later billed as medical if you see an ophthalmologist.

Thanks for responding, wildchild. I’m glad you had your eye looked at and that it was nothing serious.

My insurance covers my visits to that office whether I see any optometrist or an ophthalmologist. It is affiliated with a teaching hospital and some of the doctors I’ve seen teach at the medical school.

I used to think I would be better with an ophthalmologist, but that is not necessarily true. in fact, years ago, I did go to an ophthalmologist and that officewas way inferior. They never dilated my eyes for my yearly exam. And some other areas, they fell short.

At the place I go now, I usually see an exellent optometrist for routine eye exams and she is meticulous and well trained. She listens and takes the amount of time needed for a thorough exam. I have sometimes been referred to MD ophthalmologist specialists when necessary.

I went a few daus ago and she examined both eyes carefully. She noted that I do have some dry spots in the area which is bothering me. She did see and removed a very very fine hair like piece. Instructed me to continue with lubricating eyedrops and some small amount of preservative free opthamic ointment. My eye is still sensitive, but it appears to be a dry spot.

On the way home I stopped and got some booster shots. Easy, bu one arm is a bit tender and I slept a lot after. I’m glad I did not try to go to UC — they would not have had the tools and expertise.