think i have an eye infection

TechBoyJK

Lifer
Oct 17, 2002
16,699
60
91
my right eye has been hurting for a few days now.. starting this morning, it was really hurting, feeling like someone drove a nail in between my eye and my tear ducts..

now it is starting to swell, my eye is irritated, my vision blurry, and im seeing puss come from my tear ducts.. not to mention I have massive headache..

im at work right now, doing the midnight shift at a datacenter, by myself.. next shift is supposed to be here in about 3.5 hours, and I think I can make it....

im paranoid about my health, and im feeling like going to the emergency room when I leave, but I dont want to be one of those guys taking up space when "real" emergencies are coming in (car accidents, heart attacks, etc).. but i also worry that if I have an infection, it could get to my brain and cause further complications

Should I just wait it out until my doctor can see me? or should I have someone look at this asap?

on a pain scale (1-10), im pushing 7-8, mostly because the pain is between my eyes..
 

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
30,509
797
126
I wouldn't waste my time going to the ER. I would just wait until I have a brain hemorrhage and die.

/sarcasm

PS: GO TO THE ER STAT!! Personal health is priority #1.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,354
10,880
136
Hey its only your eye ... no big deal because you DO have another one you know! :p


Seriously now, why are you asking this question on ATOT when you should already be at the ER already getting pumped full of antibiotics?

DO YOU WANT TO LOSE SIGHT IN YOUR EYE?!?!? ... If not then I suggest you get yourself over there NOW!!!
 
Jun 27, 2005
19,216
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Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

now it is starting to swell, my eye is irritated, my vision blurry, and im seeing puss come from my tear ducts.. not to mention I have massive headache..

ER... NOW. I wouldn't even wait the 3.5 hours. If I had puss coming out of my eyes... ewww... How can you possibly think this isn't an emergency? GO TO THE ER!
 

ppdes

Senior member
May 16, 2004
739
0
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You might want to consider urgent care instead. I had a nasty laceration once, required a bunch of stitches, and everyone told me the ER would be a huge wait. I liked the urgent care place I went to so much that I've dropped by for other things as well now. Not having to make an appointment is awesome.
 

kedlav

Senior member
Aug 2, 2006
632
0
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I'd say puss coming out the eye qualifies for ER visit. If you were just exaggerating there, then go to an Urgent Care center. They'll patch you up alright with some wide-spectrum antibiotics and a numbing agent at the worst, buying you the day or two until you can force your way into the eye doctor's office. Oh, and don't finish out the shift. Call someone on the next shift in or let a coworker cover for you just like any sane person would (I'm sitting in a NOC right now)
 

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
30,509
797
126
Update? Did the OP lose an eye? Brain damage? Stay tuned to ATOT ER episode #321747!!

;)
 

d3n

Golden Member
Mar 13, 2004
1,597
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Do not go to an ER for eye pain. Go to an ophthalmologist! for crying out loud! The best one around here was at the Wal-Mart clinic nice equipment and he just did it for extra money on the side. They'll do walk ins for cases like yours



Oh, its and its most likely a parasite, or herpes.


Edit for the extra !
 

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
30,509
797
126
Originally posted by: d3n
Do not go to an ER for eye pain. Go to an ophthalmologist! for crying out loud! The best one around here was at the Wal-Mart clinic nice equipment and he just did it for extra money on the side. They'll do walk ins for cases like yours



Oh, its and its most likely a parasite, or herpes.


Edit for the extra !

When's the last time you've seen an ophthalmologist working in the middle of the night? ER is the only option at 1 in the morning.
 

d3n

Golden Member
Mar 13, 2004
1,597
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Originally posted by: KLin
Originally posted by: d3n
Do not go to an ER for eye pain. Go to an ophthalmologist! for crying out loud! The best one around here was at the Wal-Mart clinic nice equipment and he just did it for extra money on the side. They'll do walk ins for cases like yours



Oh, its and its most likely a parasite, or herpes.


Edit for the extra !

When's the last time you've seen an ophthalmologist working in the middle of the night? ER is the only option at 1 in the morning.

I saw the time, but given the choice I think the advice is sound. Even in an emergency for eye issues an ophthalmologist would be the way to go.
 

TechBoyJK

Lifer
Oct 17, 2002
16,699
60
91
update. a guy from the next shift showed up about 45 minutes early so i could leave. i was the only one there at the time so I had to wait around. i respect my work so im not leaving unless its a total emergency... i felt like i had some time...

anyway, i called my doctor as soon as I got home (which was about 7am). He said he could see me in a few hours at his office if I felt like I could wait... I did and he diagnosed it as my tear duct in my right eye being infected. He prescribed both an pill form antibiotic (augmentin 500mg) and a gel that i was to put in my eye (gentamicin). He said if that doesn't push things in a healing direction within 48 hours, that I should probably walk into an emergency room and let them know the precriptions aren't working.... he said at that point, things could be on the edge of getting pretty bad...

and i must say, thank god, that the meds seem to be working, and ibuprofen is taking care of the headache.. im back at work as i type this...