Itching all around eyes are OK. Antihistamines don't help. Do I see an ophthalmologist or family doctor?

[Dennis S]

Both eyes have an intense itch in the lid and under the eye and in both corners. It's about 1/3 as bad as poison ivy. I have to rub them hard to get just a little relief. It comes and goes and both eyes are independent of each other. The eyeball is not affected and nothing is red. Antihistamines don't help.

Any tips on how to treat it or which doctor to see?

[Ombligo]

Ophthalmologist

This isn't a common cold, go to the specialist

[cbelt3]

family doctor is usually enough. I've had this a few times from coming in contact with chemicals or bacteria. Mrs. cbelt3 more often (contact lens contamination).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergic_c...unctivitis

[NewtonMP2100]

....see opthlamologist.....but allergy eye drops may help.....see doctor first, if you can.....

[ztirffritz]

I'd vote for the ophthalmologist.

[OWC Jamie]

Try a different brand of mascara and eyeshadow or forego completely for a couple of days.

[Speedy]

I vote family doc. I'm required by our insurer to get a referral from the family doc to be able to go to a specialist. My daughter, who has medical assistance and Medicare, can go straight to a specialist.

[BernDog]

Speedy wrote:
I vote family doc. I'm required by our insurer to get a referral from the family doc to be able to go to a specialist. My daughter, who has medical assistance and Medicare, can go straight to a specialist.

Seconded. Easier to get in to a specialist with a referral as well. Some won’t even want to see a new patient who hasn’t been to a GP first.

[testcase]

My ophthalmologist recommended I thoroughly wash my face, especially around my eyes. He recommended using a washcloth with the hottest water I could tolerate. Do this in the morning and especially before bedtime.

He also prescribed Patanol Rx eye drops which have worked wonderfully. The Patanol has since been replaced by generic drops which fortunately work as well.

[Robert M]

Dennis,

If you don't need a referral, ophthalmologist without a doubt. If you must have a referral, GP/internist first and then an ophthalmologist.

Which antihistamine did you try? Oral antihistamines regardless of type don't always work well for eye-related allergies. Been there, done that and know it all too well from experience. Antihistamine eye drops are much better for eye allergies.

Is there any discharge or is it just itchiness?

That said, your condition could be conjunctivitis (aka pink eye either viral or bacterial), it might be blepharitis, it may be an allergy, it may be a non-allergic reaction to something in the air, etc. It may be something else entirely. FYI, redness isn't always present for conjunctivitis. If viral, you may get itchiness and wateriness and no discharge. I can vouch for that. Definitely don't rub your eyes because if it isn't conjunctivitis, you can actually get it in addition to the other issue.

Definitely, see a doctor of some kind!

Berndog, I've never heard of s specialist turning someone away just because he/she hasn't seen an GP/internist first. If a specialist did that to me, I'd actually choose a different. I've no interest in seeing a doctor with that kind of attitude unless that particular physician is really and truly the best and only option.

Robert