Question for eyeball or wound care enthusiasts. Pink inner bit.
November 25, 2015 10:02 AM Subscribe
This question is moderately gross (not for those averse to eye related things [I know y'all are out there!]):
The little pink nodule in the corner of the eye is apparently called the "lacrimal caruncle." Fun!
I believe I have cut mine from accidentally rubbing eye crust into my eyes. (sorry, gross). Anyway, It's minor, but I've noticed two little dots there that sting if I rub my eyes (especially if I have lotion on my hands). I try not to rub them, but I'm wondering if it will heal on it's own? I've had corneal abrasions before and usually those require antibiotic eye drops.
Anyone know about this part of the eye?
The little pink nodule in the corner of the eye is apparently called the "lacrimal caruncle." Fun!
I believe I have cut mine from accidentally rubbing eye crust into my eyes. (sorry, gross). Anyway, It's minor, but I've noticed two little dots there that sting if I rub my eyes (especially if I have lotion on my hands). I try not to rub them, but I'm wondering if it will heal on it's own? I've had corneal abrasions before and usually those require antibiotic eye drops.
Anyone know about this part of the eye?
Best answer: The two little dots might just be the opening of your tear ducts. Without a picture we can't tell. Stinging is normal when you rub grit or lotion into your eyes or other mucus membranes.
I would suggest that you take steps to hydrate your eyes. The best method is to hydrate yourself by increasing your fluid intake until your have lots of spare fluid in your system to produce tears with. If you have salt crusts in your eyes (or snot crusts in your nose) it is a sign that your eyes are either dry (probably) or infected (less likely) or that you got particles in your eyes, such as plaster dust.
Then steam up your eyes thoroughly by taking a few hot showers or using a clean humidifier, or leaning cautiously over a boiling kettle, or leaning over a basin full of boiling water with a towel draped over your head to keep the steam in.
Another thing to try is to eat some nice spicy hot food that you enjoy of the sort that makes your nose run, like spicy Thai soup. You want to flush the ducts out and make sure the tissue is nice and soft and well supplied with good circulation.
The chances are quite strong that if the problem is not merely a dry eye it is a pair of styes, which are basically pimples and will resolve the same way as the ones that show up on your nose resolve themselves. Most of them are gone in a week or so.
You don't need to see a doctor unless it is bothering you a lot, or affecting your vision. You might need to get antibiotic drops, because some eye infections don't resolve quickly untreated, but where you are mentioning dots, instead of pus and pain when rubbing, not when left alone I think you are safe to wait and see.
posted by Jane the Brown at 11:56 AM on November 25, 2015
I would suggest that you take steps to hydrate your eyes. The best method is to hydrate yourself by increasing your fluid intake until your have lots of spare fluid in your system to produce tears with. If you have salt crusts in your eyes (or snot crusts in your nose) it is a sign that your eyes are either dry (probably) or infected (less likely) or that you got particles in your eyes, such as plaster dust.
Then steam up your eyes thoroughly by taking a few hot showers or using a clean humidifier, or leaning cautiously over a boiling kettle, or leaning over a basin full of boiling water with a towel draped over your head to keep the steam in.
Another thing to try is to eat some nice spicy hot food that you enjoy of the sort that makes your nose run, like spicy Thai soup. You want to flush the ducts out and make sure the tissue is nice and soft and well supplied with good circulation.
The chances are quite strong that if the problem is not merely a dry eye it is a pair of styes, which are basically pimples and will resolve the same way as the ones that show up on your nose resolve themselves. Most of them are gone in a week or so.
You don't need to see a doctor unless it is bothering you a lot, or affecting your vision. You might need to get antibiotic drops, because some eye infections don't resolve quickly untreated, but where you are mentioning dots, instead of pus and pain when rubbing, not when left alone I think you are safe to wait and see.
posted by Jane the Brown at 11:56 AM on November 25, 2015
Stop touching your eyes for a week. Get rid of crust in the shower or with a wet clean washcloth instead. (In general, stop rubbing your eyes with your fingers unless you just washed your hands.)
If they still hurt after a week of no touching, go to the doctor.
If they get significantly worse before the week is up, go to the doctor ASAP.
posted by Jacqueline at 10:05 PM on November 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
If they still hurt after a week of no touching, go to the doctor.
If they get significantly worse before the week is up, go to the doctor ASAP.
posted by Jacqueline at 10:05 PM on November 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
If your eyes are at risk, you need to see an ophthalmologist (who may be covered by your insurance), not an optometrist.
posted by Cranberry at 10:54 PM on November 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Cranberry at 10:54 PM on November 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Don't rub your eyes. Especially don't rub your eyes with stuff on your hands. A better option for making your eyes feel better is getting some lubricant eye drops (an optometrist gave me this brand a while back for a similar issue, but there are others available.) Over the counter, shouldn't make the problem worse and should make things feel better, and the individual-use packaging means you're not spreading crud into your eyes that shouldn't be there.
posted by asperity at 11:09 AM on November 25, 2015 [1 favorite]