Can an irritated eye also irritate the inner ear and throat?

**CrystalChord** · 12-02-2011 07:44 PM

For the past 24 hours, I have had a bloodshot, irritated eye. I chalk it up to falling asleep with mascara on, but I ended up developing an itchy inner ear, and an itchy throat on the same side. It's not on the left side or centered at all--it is all right sided, which I find odd.

I would go to my GP about it, but I am currently uninsured, and I will not be insured until January.

I would love to know what is going on because this is just so annoying to me. It's very distracting and I find myself digging at my ear or poking around my eye, which is not only going to further aggravate...It is also very un-ladylike!!!

**JustTired** · 12-02-2011 08:03 PM

It sounds like it could be allergy related. Allergies can cause irritated itchy eyes, as well as cause your sinuses to drain down your throat or clog up your ear canals. Do you feel like your nose is stopped up or are you sneezing a lot? If so, you might try taking some OTC allergy medicine and see if that helps.

**CrystalChord** · 12-02-2011 08:31 PM

No, I do not have allergies, and I am not stuffed up. I do, however work in a retail stockroom a majority of the time, but I have never had this problem before.

**Beautiful Disaster** · 12-02-2011 08:44 PM

There are some weird things going around right now.

I'm currently ill...and it started with a throbbing headache predominantly on the right side of my head. I woke up the next morning with a swollen right tonsil, which later turned to pus spots. It's been so strange. Strep negative, mono negative...must be viral.

I agree with the others that yours sounds allergy related somehow. You may have ZERO allergies one day, and can develop an allergy literally over night. You may not be allergic to something you were not previously allergic to. And the right side exclusion may be a product of how your unique sinuses are laid out and made. Try a benadryl at night before bed and see if you're better the next day. Be awfully careful rubbing your eyes this time of year with all the germs going around. That's the perfect place to infect yourself with a yucky germ.

**LanaBear** · 12-02-2011 08:46 PM

I reopened. It looks like it got locked accidentally.

**CrystalChord** · 12-02-2011 09:27 PM

The strange thing is that when I have a sinus problem, it is always the LEFT side that is irritated--So this right sided thing is very bizarre for me.

I'm thinking it may be nerve related...Like if one thing itches, everything else in that area will itch?

I'll put a warm compress on my eye when I go to sleep and see how that affects everything.

**JustTired** · 12-02-2011 09:54 PM

Not sure what it could be if not allergies. I hope you get it figured out.

**ItsASecret** · 12-03-2011 12:47 AM

I'm thinking it may be nerve related...Like if one thing itches, everything else in that area will itch?

Not really, they are all connected by different nerves. What can cause a cascade like that is thinking that it is all related. It likes what everyone else does, you scratch your arm and suddenly your whole body seems to say "okay become itch everywhere!!!!!!" leaving you scratching your leg, your head, your cheek, your hip...everywhere all because of that one initial itch. There are very simple answers as to why itches happen all it takes is a little wind outside and you can develop an itchy dry bloodshot eye. Or some dust in there, or some animal dander, or a simple rub of the eye and transfer of sweat and dirt. It really does not take much to aggravate the eye and that is why it can become bloodshot and watery for no apparent reason, it is an immediate defense mechanism for whatever may be causing it trouble. As for itchy throat, it is cold season it can easily be attributed to that or not drinking enough water and ending up with a dry scratchy throat. Your ear can be as simple as water leftover in it after a shower or a real case of an itch...which is helped by scratching it.