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- Feb 27, 2006
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Anyone else ever have this?
I have one of those stupid stories to tell. I know to always have my hood on when welding or to wear goggles if I ever go ski... but the UV light underneath the A/C in my home through me a loop.
I bought my home from some people who were partly germaphobes, as such, they had a UV light installed under the A/C return air. Well, yesterday, I noted a bit of dampness in front of the A/C in the hall.... upon closer inpection, the condensation drain pipe was overfull and evidently clogged. No biggie I thought. So I went to work..
Pulled out the large return air vent, got into the void, even though to myself once hey with this light under here, I dont even need a flashlight. Cut the pipe out, took it in the yard, got it unplugged, found a rubber coupler and put it all back together...back in business...atleast the A/C was.
Dang, why are my eyes watering? Allergies, I have felt a bit stopped up. This was early afternoon. My g/f had a flight out of town that evening and at somepoint we both relized maybe it was the exposure to the UV light...my face was starting to burn too.... she says your at least supposed to wear these eye protector things when you go to a tanning bed. Oh well, so my eyes are gonna water..no big deal.
Well, we head to the airport, and about a mile or so out, things are starting to get foggy and I was nearly crying...this isnt right. We opted that she go ahead and get on her plane and hopefully I will be alright. I had a hell of a time getting back home. It was almost like driving while looking through saran wrap...it did not help that I had to go west, the same spot where the sun was barreling at me. I got home and busted out Tintinalli's.
At this point, I was in a bit of a freakout, was I going to be this way forever? Being blind sucks! Luckily I found it is reversible... the only treatment..pain control really. Hmm, I am not really hurting... oh, 6-12 hours AFTER exposure. Something somewhere said take some Ibuprofen, so I did.
I also hit myself with two Tylenol PMs and hit the sack about 8PM last night. Woke up about 1 AM wanting to rip my eyes out! Talk about painful... I took my ibuprofen and slept off and on through the night.
Now around noon, I am virtually pain free, living in a dark house and keep my eyes mainly closed...and wearing sunglasses. I think we are in the improving stages. I certainly wish reepithelization would happen quicker though.
As a take home message, if you are still young like myself and do not know the pathogensis of this condition, the cornea is subjective to damage by UV rays and it actually kills the epithelial cells.....which then take 6-12 hours to slough off. Symptoms include tears, pain, and haziness of vision. Obviously, a slit lamp exam with floursein is warrented, where in early stages, small nicks in the cornea is noted, and later stages, the whole cornea should stain. As a side note, after putting tetracain/numbing drops in the eye, do not leave those in the room as patients like to pocket that. A few seconds, and all hint of pain is GONE. Constant adminstration is apt to lead to corneal ulceration... a bigger problem we will no discuss. Treatment includes antibiotics as prophlaxis (the only really morbidity is infection...hope I dont get that), cyclplegics for pain secondary to ciliary spasm, and oral narcotics since the patient virtually had the front of their eye scraped off <-- not comfortable. Complete symptoms resolve within 36-72 hours; after reepithelization has occured.
I certainly will never forget what UV Keratitis is all about and if someone was bored and didnt know, and read this thread, maybe they will remember too.
I hope anesthesia did not miss me today....at least I am on a light rotation. Here is hoping I am much improved by tomorrow!
EDIT: Approx 24 hours later, I am MUCH improved. So much so that I was able to leave the house and get dinner at dusk. No real pain anymore, just redness and photophobia.
EDIT: Pushing the 48 hour mark now with no symptoms. My conjunctiva are slightly red but that has diminished much through the day. Isn't it amazing that the eye can take such an insult and be back to perfect within 2 days!!
I have one of those stupid stories to tell. I know to always have my hood on when welding or to wear goggles if I ever go ski... but the UV light underneath the A/C in my home through me a loop.
I bought my home from some people who were partly germaphobes, as such, they had a UV light installed under the A/C return air. Well, yesterday, I noted a bit of dampness in front of the A/C in the hall.... upon closer inpection, the condensation drain pipe was overfull and evidently clogged. No biggie I thought. So I went to work..
Pulled out the large return air vent, got into the void, even though to myself once hey with this light under here, I dont even need a flashlight. Cut the pipe out, took it in the yard, got it unplugged, found a rubber coupler and put it all back together...back in business...atleast the A/C was.
Dang, why are my eyes watering? Allergies, I have felt a bit stopped up. This was early afternoon. My g/f had a flight out of town that evening and at somepoint we both relized maybe it was the exposure to the UV light...my face was starting to burn too.... she says your at least supposed to wear these eye protector things when you go to a tanning bed. Oh well, so my eyes are gonna water..no big deal.
Well, we head to the airport, and about a mile or so out, things are starting to get foggy and I was nearly crying...this isnt right. We opted that she go ahead and get on her plane and hopefully I will be alright. I had a hell of a time getting back home. It was almost like driving while looking through saran wrap...it did not help that I had to go west, the same spot where the sun was barreling at me. I got home and busted out Tintinalli's.
At this point, I was in a bit of a freakout, was I going to be this way forever? Being blind sucks! Luckily I found it is reversible... the only treatment..pain control really. Hmm, I am not really hurting... oh, 6-12 hours AFTER exposure. Something somewhere said take some Ibuprofen, so I did.
I also hit myself with two Tylenol PMs and hit the sack about 8PM last night. Woke up about 1 AM wanting to rip my eyes out! Talk about painful... I took my ibuprofen and slept off and on through the night.
Now around noon, I am virtually pain free, living in a dark house and keep my eyes mainly closed...and wearing sunglasses. I think we are in the improving stages. I certainly wish reepithelization would happen quicker though.
As a take home message, if you are still young like myself and do not know the pathogensis of this condition, the cornea is subjective to damage by UV rays and it actually kills the epithelial cells.....which then take 6-12 hours to slough off. Symptoms include tears, pain, and haziness of vision. Obviously, a slit lamp exam with floursein is warrented, where in early stages, small nicks in the cornea is noted, and later stages, the whole cornea should stain. As a side note, after putting tetracain/numbing drops in the eye, do not leave those in the room as patients like to pocket that. A few seconds, and all hint of pain is GONE. Constant adminstration is apt to lead to corneal ulceration... a bigger problem we will no discuss. Treatment includes antibiotics as prophlaxis (the only really morbidity is infection...hope I dont get that), cyclplegics for pain secondary to ciliary spasm, and oral narcotics since the patient virtually had the front of their eye scraped off <-- not comfortable. Complete symptoms resolve within 36-72 hours; after reepithelization has occured.
I certainly will never forget what UV Keratitis is all about and if someone was bored and didnt know, and read this thread, maybe they will remember too.
I hope anesthesia did not miss me today....at least I am on a light rotation. Here is hoping I am much improved by tomorrow!
EDIT: Approx 24 hours later, I am MUCH improved. So much so that I was able to leave the house and get dinner at dusk. No real pain anymore, just redness and photophobia.
EDIT: Pushing the 48 hour mark now with no symptoms. My conjunctiva are slightly red but that has diminished much through the day. Isn't it amazing that the eye can take such an insult and be back to perfect within 2 days!!
