2 Year Old with "Bug" in Eye

Updated on December 02, 2008
T.B. asks from Eau Claire, WI
18 answers

Last weekend, my kids were at Grandma's house. The 2 year old covered his left eye there and said it was too bright outside. He left it covered for the entire time he was outside. We didn't think too much about it, but now he is telling us he has a "bug" in his eye. He is constantly blinking and rubbing his eye like he is trying to get something out. He also will tell us that his eye hurts. Has anyone else ever dealt with this? Would you make an appointment with his regular doctor or an eye doctor?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thanks for all the great advice! I took him to the opthamologist and there isn't anything in the eye. He said he thinks its just dry eyes from him not closing his eyes all the way when he sleeps. The doctor gave me some drops to put in his eye at night and said to come back if it gets worse.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Davenport on

Sounds like he scratched his eye. This can happen from the most benign things like even just rubbing the eye. Being senstitive to light or "myopic" is very common if the eye or cornea is scratched. Also the feeling that there is something in it would indicate he is probably feeling the scratch. I would absolutely take him to see an eye doctor. The sooner the better, as some things contain bacteria that can cause major complications (for instance- certain kinds of tree branches). The good news is the eyes are one of the fastest parts of the human body to heal. Best of luck.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.B.

answers from Duluth on

take your son to the eye dr ASAP as he may have simply broken a blood vessel but he could also have many things going on. It is best not to risk his eyesite. Take care
N.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.D.

answers from La Crosse on

Take him to the eye doctor. Seriously.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi Terri
I think you need to get him to a regular doctor. My friends daughter had this same problem and the eye doctor said her eyes where fine and 2 weeks later she had a sezuire. she has epilepsy and that was the first sign. Good Luck I hope it is something minor. T.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.V.

answers from Minneapolis on

Take him to an optomologist ASAP before it gets infected or worse

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.B.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

Terri, my daughter age 6 got sand in the eye and did the same thing. We waited a few hours after washing it out. But we ended up taking her to the doctor when she wouldn't keep the eye open. She ended up with scracthes on the eye. She had to waer an eye patch and use eye drops for a week. I would get him in to his regular doctor as soon as you can just to make sure no real damage has acured. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.K.

answers from Green Bay on

I would take him to the eye doctor immediatly!!! It could be a clot or something just as serious.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

Take him to a pediatriac eye doctor. Children's eyes are different than adults and they are more "difficult" patients :) Take him to someone who specializes in young ones. The eye doctor can also let you know if it is something your pediatrician should be treating instead. But do at least call your pediatrician right away too and keep them in the loop. My daughter has had some eye issues since birth and we have seen 2 pediatric eye doctors. I would HIGHLY recommend Dr. Susan Schloff at Associated Eye. They have sevral that she goes.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.F.

answers from Milwaukee on

I would make an appointment with a pediatric eye doc. They know how to handle kids and will be able to tell better what the problem is. Our eye doc is Dr. Maria Patterson in the Milwaukee area. Good luck to you!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.H.

answers from Milwaukee on

Yes, get to the eye doctor today. The eyes are very important and he could have something in the cornea or it could be pink eye or something else. R. H.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

I'd call a his regular doctor and see what they have to say, but no matter what get him to a doctor. I am not sure what this could be, but if he is having sensitivity to light and it hurts all the time then he needs to be seen by someone. We only get one set of eyes and this could be something serious.....JMO
Renee

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.G.

answers from Minneapolis on

Have you taken him in yet? I would take him immediately to any pediatrician !! Don't delay.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.G.

answers from Omaha on

both- first take him to an eye dr. follow through with treatment plan for no more than a week before you take him to your regular dr. just tell dr you are following up and want to make sure nothing secondary is going on. no good dr will get attitude about you working with two of them. they like it when patients are pro active and full of actual medical information of the situation.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.R.

answers from Sheboygan on

Get him to a doctor, probably eye doctor. Last year when I scratched my eye my vision was blurred and it hurt. When my husband looked at it he couldn't see anything wrong. I went to the eye doctor and I had an abrasion. They gave me antibiotic drops to prevent infection. Be on the safe side and take him in. This is his vision you are talking about!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.R.

answers from Appleton on

I would try a saline solution to wash out whatever may be in his eye. If this doesn't work, you may need to take him to the Dr. to have it checked out.
I once had a "corneal abrasion" and it was hard to even open my eye. If he would have something like this, that would explain his constant blinking. It could be possible that if something was in his eye, he had scratched his eye with it by his eye rubbing.
Good luck to you and your little guy. I feel for him and hopes he gets better soon. Hugs to him.
~SR

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.M.

answers from Milwaukee on

If you can get him to use a saline eye wash I would try that, but it's probably that he had something in it which I'm sure by now has fallen out but the irritation is still left there so it will hurt. If you can get him to stop rubbing it for awhile it will feel better and give it a chance to heal.
It's probably a good idea to take him to the doctor.. (the regular one would probably be good enough) to have them look to see if there is in fact something left in the eye, but I would almost guess there isnt, just irritated.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.V.

answers from Lincoln on

It sounds like he might have scratched his cornea. Two of my children did this and we went to their pediatrician. He used an ultraviolet light to see the scratch after putting some type of dye paper in their eye. Then the doctor put some type of ointment on the eye and then patched it for a day or two so it could heal. I know my kids were very sensitive to light when it happened and also it hurt. I'd get it checked out with either but the pediatrician might be faster to get into. K.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.G.

answers from Milwaukee on

Take him to a pediatric opthamaologist (not your pediatrician), and do so right away. An optomotrist may be OK, they can screen for problems and will refer you to an opthamologist if needed.

Your son's behavior is unusual, and the sensitivity to brightness is important. For example, he may have a cataract. They are more common than you'd expect in children. They also require a different treatment regimen than adults do. At this age, treating it quickly is necessary. When you call for your appointment, let them know that something is wrong, and your son has pain. Ask how quickly you can get in.

In the meantime, try to keep him from rubbing his eye, in case there is something in there. Since bright light bothers him, sunglasses may help.

I have dealt with this; your next step is to find out what is wrong, exactly. Let us know what happens.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches