Serious viral Pink Eye

[rjwesq]

About two weeks ago, I started developing the traditional pink eye symptoms of redness, itchy, drainage, crusty, etc.  I went to the doctor, and was told, yes, it was pink eye.  He gave me some antibiotic drops, and sent me on my way.  Two days later I was back in his office, with my eye swollen almost shut, my eyeball redder than I've ever seen, and what looked like a blister on the outer corner of my eyeball.  I also had developed a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes in front of my ear, and under my jaw.  The doctor sent me to an ophthalmologist, who gave me steroid drops to use in addition to the antibiotic drops, and had me come see their medical doctor the next day.  She told me it was likely viral pink eye, to continue the drops, and because it is contagious, not to go to work for a week.  I went back and saw her today, and she changed the antibiotic drop to a stronger one, and proceed to scrape the inside of my eyelids.  She said that this particular virus causes "membranes" to develop that, if left alone, can cause scarring.  She also told me I am still contagious, and still can't go back to work.

During this time, I also develop strep throat ( I assume, since the culture hasn't come back from the lab, but I had the white pus pockets on my tonsils.)  Was given oral antibiotics, which I will finish today.  That has pretty much resolved, but my eye is still an issue.

Does this sound like just a nasty strain of viral pink eye, or should I be getting concerned about this?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Viral eye infections are like getting the flu,  antibiotics don't help and both can last for several weeks.  Several viral eye infections like epidemic kerato-conjunctiviits (EKC) behave in the way your describe.  Its likely that the antibitoics were of no help at all other than the drops to prevent a secondary bacterial infection.

JCH MD

[rjwesq]

Thank you for giving me a name to go with my symptoms.  While I understand that several viral infections could be the cause, EKC, from my reading, does appear almost directly on point.  Thank you again.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

U R Welcome

JCH MD