Stuff gets in my eyes every damn day

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I have rather large eyelashes, so for one thing those are falling out every damn day and landing in my eyeballs and irritating them. Secondly, now maybe I'm just expecting too much, but I thought the main purpose of eyelashes was to keep debris out of your eyeball. Well, since everyone is always telling me how large my eyelashes are, they should be extra good at catching debris, shouldn't they? But they don't! Not at all. I get shit in my eyes all day long.

I thought the problem might get a little better when I discovered I needed glasses. Having little plastic shields in front of my eyes is extra protection, I thought. No, now I get stuff in my eyes more than ever. If I walk from my house to the train, I am guaranteed to get something in my eyes-- every day-- BOTH WAYS from my home to the train and from the train to my home. So, every morning, I get dirt in my eyes, every evening I get dirt in my eyes, when I walk around on my lunch hour, I get dirt in my eyes. Sitting at home doing nothing, I get dirt in my eyes. I just got dirt in my eyes now, for fuck's sakes.

Is this normal? It doesn't seem to be a problem for anyone else I know.

― Scaredy cat (Natola), Monday, 7 July 2003 03:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you blink less frequently than most people? (Haha -- before proofreading, that bit said, "Do you boink less frequently...") If so, your eyes may get dry.

You could talk about this with the same doctor who wrote your glasses Rx. Maybe you'd benefit from using eyedrops ("artificial tears"). I think everyone gets stuff in their eyes, but if your eyes stay moist most of that junk gets flushed out without causing irritation.

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Monday, 7 July 2003 04:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmm, that's something to think about. I probably do blink less than most people, if stories of my big-eye-stares childhood are any indication. They're never bloodshot or anything and they don't generally feel dry unless something flies in them. I actually walk down the street squinting if it's windy at all and dirt still gets in my eyes, despite the glasses and despite the squinting.

But, if you're saying that dirt flies in most eyes but the hydration level off the eye sort of deflects it before you really even notice, then mine might be dry. About perscription eyedrops, though: my girlfriend has these crazy eyedrops I tried once that are thicker than regular Visine and they actually bothered my eyes for some reason. I also heard once that regular use of eyedrops causes a dependency, but I have no idea if that's true.

Thanks for the advice. I'll point it out when I go for my next check-up thing.

― Scaredy cat (Natola), Monday, 7 July 2003 04:35 (twenty-two years ago)

they don't generally feel dry unless something flies in them

That should read "don't generally feel irritated". They never feel dry, just irritated when something flies in them. This lasts for a minute or two and they're back to normal.

It's a mild annoyance that gets more annoying simply because of its regularity. I worry about scratching my cornea one of these days.

― Scaredy cat (Natola), Monday, 7 July 2003 04:37 (twenty-two years ago)

you should invest in some goggles

http://www.dermatology.org/laser/graphics/goggles.gif

― JasonD (JasonD), Monday, 7 July 2003 06:13 (twenty-two years ago)

the goggles do nothing!!

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 7 July 2003 06:16 (twenty-two years ago)

but they're pretty!

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 7 July 2003 06:18 (twenty-two years ago)

ok I lied.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 7 July 2003 06:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Medicated eyedrops like Visine can indeed cause dependence, but the artificial-tears kind are just saline solution & can't do any harm.

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Monday, 7 July 2003 07:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Goggles are so where it's at! I wear them all the time. Well, almost all of the time. *sigh* When I am in the kitchen and cutting onions - apparently I do not look sexy in goggles, though. Maybe you'll be better looking in them, though.

Seriously - talk to a doctor about this situation - he'll know what kind of eye drops to use (so you don't end-up purchasing seven different brands that all are useless) and will also be able to ascertain what is physically going on. Don't mess with your eyes. They're too important. (I live with an optical engineer - I get this lecture all of the time.)

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Monday, 7 July 2003 18:32 (twenty-two years ago)

"Do you boink less frequently than most people? If so, your _____ may get dry."

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 7 July 2003 18:34 (twenty-two years ago)

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