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Pain Behind Left Eye; Sensitive to Light
Patricia wrote:
For just over a month now I have been having pain behind my left eye. If feels like there are glass shards in the back of my eye and the socket feels swollen. I have also become VERY sensitive to light (sharp piercing sensation) so that I need to drive in the dark with sunglasses on so the headlights on cars are bearable. I have had to make other adjustments to deal with light as well. I wake up with this and go to bed with this. I have been to an eye Dr (ophthalmologist) and was told he didn't see anything but he only did a regular eye check up. Is this a sufficient exam to rule out possible eye problems?
Dr Carol Doman's response:
Patricia,
If you are having significant pain and extreme light sensitivity you should definitely make an appointment with your optometrist. They can evaluate to determine what is causing your symptoms. These symptoms could be a sign of several different things, some of which are quite serious. One thing that the optometrist would want to rule out would be iritis. Iritis is a condition where there is inflammation of the iris inside the eye. If this is left untreated it could lead to serious complications. Good luck solving your problem.
Dr. Doman
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Reaction After Eye Exam
Jessica wrote:
Yesterday evening i went for a routine eye examination and later on in the night my eye started to turn red in the morning the whole eye was blood shot red. It wasnt itchy at all just sesitive to the light a bit and when i look to the far right left and up and down i feel a strain. He did all the expected testing to check the pressure of my eyes and to see if they're in good health. He put the solution in my eyes for glycuma as well but 24hrs later my eyes still hurt.
Dr Henry Smit's response:
Dear Jessica
Without seeing you it is difficult to be sure, but it sounds as if you may have had a reaction to one of the drops instilled in your eye as part of your eye examination. Alternately, based on your symptoms of light sensitivity, you may have sustained a small scratch on the surface of your cornea in the process of having your eye pressure measured. Whatever the cause, it is not normal to experience eye pain and redness as a result of an eye examination – although it occasionally does happen. You should return to your optometrist to determine what exactly has caused your symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be started.
Hope this is helpful.
Dr. Smit
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Pain in Left Eye
Dan wrote:
When I roll my eyes up and to the left, I feel pain in my left eye. The pain is an ache that seems to be IN my left eye and behind it. If I roll my eyes a few times, i will get a headache from the pain. Also, in the dark, when I roll my eyes the same way, I can see two green half moons when I am looking up and to the left, accompanied by the dull pain. They disappear after a few seconds. My GP assessed my eyes, found nothing, and sent me for a CT, of which I am awaiting the results. In the meantime, the pain is daily and is driving me crazy. Any ideas?
Dr Joan Hansen's response:
Dan,
If the CT scan is negative, it is time to see an optometrist for further evaluation. If needed they can send you on to the appropriate ophthalmologist for further exploration and treatment.


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