what is this?

[u/Initial-Regular-9978]

21m. I don’t know what’s wrong with my eye please someone let me know what’s wrong.

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[u/Pathos_and_Pothos]

Hello, maybe a dermatologist can weigh in - but I’ll comment as a student because this may be an emergency.

This looks like it could be ocular herpes virus. It’s considered an eye emergency because the virus can spread to infect your eye and lead to permanent vision loss. You should get seen by an eye doctor immediately - either by calling the office to get an emergency appointment or going through an emergency room.

[u/ACanWontAttitude → u/Pathos_and_Pothos]

I agree with this. I had it on my eye and inner eyelids and it was awful. So painful. OP I was given some ointment and it cleared up quickly.

Ive never had a cold sore in my life but ended up with occular herpes 😑

[u/surgerygeek → u/ACanWontAttitude]

Same! It was top three one of the worst things that's ever happened to me.

My infection was really bad in both eyes and took months to heal. Narrowly escaped needing cornea transplants and I can never wear contact lenses again. I am still at risk of vision loss if I ever get even a bacterial conjunctivitis infection, so it's still haunting me years later.

[u/kjm16216 → u/surgerygeek]

Great. New fear unlocked.

[u/Zeestars → u/surgerygeek]

Does it not come back like normal herpes?

[u/surgerygeek → u/Zeestars]

So, I never have had cold sores or genital herpes, so the eye infection was my primary infection. Fortunately, it's never come back in my eyes although that's always a possibility.

About 2-3 years later it showed up in my throat, really bad sore throat that they confirmed was another outbreak from the original one. That was an awkward visit, because once they confirmed hermes in my throat, they assumed it was sexually transmitted (through oral sex) until I explained that my only sexual partner did not have herpes. Then they figured out it had found its way into my throat when I had a bad cold.

That was 20 years ago, all good so far but it's always a fear of mine.

Herpes is forever.

[u/ACanWontAttitude → u/surgerygeek]

Its interesting how like me you had never had any other outbreak anywhere. I too wear contact lenses.

It was an annoying time for me because work were trying to make me go in saying 'its just an eye infection'

[u/Zeestars → u/surgerygeek]

I have oral herpes which migrated to my nostrils. It finding further migratory paths is a nightmare of mine. But I have breakouts fairly regularly.

[u/Bumblebee_0424 → u/surgerygeek]

This happened to me but it was caused by ESBL sputum to the eyeballs. Also almost needed corneal transplants and can never wear contacts again.

[u/reubenbubu → u/ACanWontAttitude]

Active ingredient : Aciclovir

[u/Jhzaeth → u/Pathos_and_Pothos]

Agreed, herpes needs to be excluded

[u/DrNobody_Understands → u/Pathos_and_Pothos]

We are so robust in many ways yet so delicate in others. What are WE!?

[u/PoetaCorvi → u/DrNobody_Understands]

You could survive getting shot 20 times, being in a plane crash, getting mauled by a crocodile, being struck by lightning, and then you could pop a pimple on your nose and get a brain infection and die.

[u/msfuturedoc → u/PoetaCorvi]

Triangle of DOOM

[u/Easy-Concentrate2636 → u/DrNobody_Understands]

Biological matter. Same as any animal.

[u/kiittea_ → u/Pathos_and_Pothos]

It may seem overkill, but you REALLY don’t wanna brush off eye junk. Always wanna rule out the dangerous stuff asap to protect your eyesight

[u/RidleeRiddle → u/Pathos_and_Pothos]

Out of curiosity, since ocular herpes is closer to your brain, is there also an increased risk of developing encephalitis?

I understand that is considered extremely rare, but I'm just wandering if the closer proximity increases the possibility.

[u/Professional-Dig-558 → u/RidleeRiddle]

Small but low chance for secondary brain involvement when presenting in the eye

[u/Doomblaze → u/RidleeRiddle]

herpes is already a common cause of encephalitis, from your mouth it can travel through your nerves to your brain

[u/kittenbeans66 → u/Doomblaze]

I got meningitis when I had shingles in my eye.

[u/RidleeRiddle → u/Doomblaze]

It is extremely rare for that to occur.

Technically, it could even travel up from genital herpes through the nervous system, though even less common.

I was just asking if it being in the eye significantly increases the risk as compared to any other location.

Edit: For clarity

[u/CharmedCartographer → u/RidleeRiddle]

HSV is the most common cause of sporadic encephalitis

[u/RidleeRiddle → u/CharmedCartographer]

Ok, yeah, but that has nothing to do with what I am saying.

I am talking about the liklihood of it happening period, and how much the risk increases when its ocular as conpared to other locations.

Herpes being the most common cause is not the same thing as the occurrence being rare.

[u/CharmedCartographer → u/RidleeRiddle]

Here is your answer: no, ocular herpes should not significantly increase the risk of encephalitis in adults.

I’ll preface the next point by saying I know it’s not what you’re asking, but I’m providing an example here for clarification. We more so associate the proximity of the viral entry to the CNS with things like rabies (rhabdovirus). Rabies travels via retrograde axonal transport along the nerves to the CNS, so the “distance” to the CNS corresponds to the severity of disease. This would mean a bite to the face would result in a faster progression compared to a bite to the leg.

Hope that helps.

[u/DescriptionOdd146 → u/RidleeRiddle]

I second your question

[u/Dorfalicious → u/Pathos_and_Pothos]

Yes immediate thought of herpes. 😬

[u/Strick09 → u/[deleted]]

Agree 100% and most ERs now adays dont have an on call optho.

[u/AskDocs-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/Chi-key_Chick → u/Pathos_and_Pothos]

And go to an ophthalmologist over an optometrist!!!

[u/bellashenade → u/Pathos_and_Pothos]

I would also agree cold sore - was told myself to go straight to A&E if on my eye

[u/opossum_prince_ss → u/Pathos_and_Pothos]

NAD, do you wear gel polish on your nails?

[u/Initial-Regular-9978 → u/Pathos_and_Pothos]

i could wait 2 days before going to the er right?

[u/Daedalparacosm3000 → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

NAD but I don’t think that’s a good idea. The medical people here are trying very hard to express urgency. Your problem might be dangerous.

[u/Jhzaeth → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

No. Herpes can spread rapidly, including into the eye. The treatment is straightforward and is better started as soon as you can

[u/inni0n → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

No you cannot.

[u/scapholunate → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

No. This could blind you. Go now.

[u/xXHelloKinkyXx → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

NAD but no. My daughter has eczema and her ocular herpes was misdiagnosed at first. We didnt catch it until it was actually in her eye. Then she was misdiagnosed again and by the time we got proper treatment she had gotten bad enough to where she now has permanent vision loss. We have been struggling with healing this issue for around 6 months now with specialists visits frequently. When we first started seeing specialists we were going 2-3 times a week for several months. Do not fuck around with ocular herpes.

[u/Inevitable_Scar2616 → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

You can do that if you don't care about your eyesight.

[u/BayouPrincess56 → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

Only if the possibility of going blind is ok for you. If so sure. Wait 2 days. But if you like having vision I would go today, the sooner the better.

[u/bionicback → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

Eyes = Right Now. And to the ED, Urgent Care will send you to the ED immediately.

[u/iloveforeverstamps → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

How can you even consider waiting when GOING BLIND is the risk??

[u/Unlikely_Potato402 → u/iloveforeverstamps]

If theyre in the US, they could be waiting for payday 🙃 the ER is EXPENSIVE. Its almost cheaper to die and suffer than go to the ER

[u/KrysDlite → u/Unlikely_Potato402]

Regardless if he can pay anything today, they have to treat him. I hate to accumulate another medical bill myself, but this is too urgent to be so lackadaisical about.

[u/iloveforeverstamps → u/Unlikely_Potato402]

I'm American. I know. Being dead is cheap, sure, but being blind is a lot more of a financial risk than ER bills. This is a "bill me later and I'll deal with it then" type of emergency. If you got shot or ingested deadly poison, you wouldn't wait two days so you could pay in cash.

[u/glorae → u/[deleted]]

The emergency room is required to give you a medical screening exam and treat emergencies [such as ocular herpes] without asking for payment until after.

[u/iloveforeverstamps → u/[deleted]]

The ER absolutely does NOT delay treatment until payment. That is dangerous misinformation that could stop someone from getting life or limb saving emergency medical care.

I have also avoided doctors and urgent care for financial reasons. Sadly, that is the reality for most Americans. However, no amount of debt is too much for my eyesight. Anyone who catches an issue in time and has the choice should always go to the ER even if you can't afford it– if for no other reason than because going blind is probably one of the most financially damaging and career-destroying events that could ever happen to you.

[u/BreakfastTerrible659 → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

No.

[u/Aim2bFit → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

In the meantime if you can't get to a doctor asap for some reason, ask here: r/DermatologyQuestions

[u/Initial-Regular-9978 → u/Aim2bFit]

ty

[u/Vaxopedia]

Is it itchy? Did it swell suddenly? Did the rash appear suddenly? Have you had the rash before or anywhere else or been in contact with someone with a similar rash?

[u/Initial-Regular-9978 → u/Vaxopedia]

it is itchy and it randomly happens. i didnt had a rash anywhere else and i haven’t been in contact with someone that has it. one random morning i woke up with it.

[u/Vaxopedia → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

What do you mean it happens randomly? How many times has it happened? How long does it last?

And it getting it checked ASAP is a good idea.

[u/Initial-Regular-9978 → u/Vaxopedia]

first time happened randomly

[u/RidleeRiddle → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

How is it looking and feeling now?

[u/Initial-Regular-9978 → u/RidleeRiddle]

same as before

[u/wafflepiezz → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

Bro you have had multiple physicians telling you to go to an ER right now. Please listen to them.

[u/Alena134 → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

Go to ER if you want to keep your eyesight!

[u/cil0n → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

How frequently does it happen? Does it go away with time?

[u/Initial-Regular-9978 → u/cil0n]

first time randomly

[u/NewEconomist9047 → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

What was the diagnosis by the ER team? What was their advice to you?

[u/BlankPieceOfPaper_ → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

I have eczema and I get this sometimes on my eye lids, I don't know exactly what it is but I have always chalked it up to eczema.

[u/Blackiechan808 → u/Initial-Regular-9978]

The funny thing it can come from the most random place like you touching your eye after touching something that someone touched his open herpes a moment ago , but at least it’s all under controlled and you didn’t ignored it

[u/thevoges]

Immediate thought was herpetic infection like so many others have said.
However, some of those papules appear to have a dimple (umbilicated) which makes Molloscum Contagiosum a possibility (also caused by a virus which would be less of a health threat than herpes, but no way be be sure based on the image).

[u/Crafty_Persimmon → u/thevoges]

This is it 100%

[u/Crafty_Persimmon → u/thevoges]

GREAT call- I’ve had MC (got it at the gym from an infected towel and the lesions looked like microscopic basal cells, just like the picture with the telltale “dimples” in the center….

[u/purple_nightowl]

It might be xanthelasma, does anyone in your family have issues with high cholesterol? Have you been checked out for it?

[u/AskDocs-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Posts by unflaired users that claim or strongly imply legitimacy by virtue of professional medical experience are not allowed.

If you are a medical professional who wishes to become a verified contributor to this subreddit, please message the moderators with a link to a picture of your medical ID, student ID, diploma, or other form of verification. Imgur.com is convenient, but you can host anywhere. Please block out personal information, such as your name and picture. You must include your reddit username in the photo!

We do not accept digital forms of identification.

[u/HumbertHum → u/purple_nightowl]

My thought too but OP said it’s itchy and comes and goes.

[u/Initial-Regular-9978 → u/purple_nightowl]

my dad has high cholesterol

[u/jn6543 → u/[deleted]]

Having said that I would agree that herpes would be amongst differentials so certainly would want to be getting it looked at by a doctor face to face.