Scratching your eyes may cause further complications like blindness, experts warn

Napuwing ka? Experts warn that scratching one’s eyes after feeling like a foreign object have entered it may cause further complications that need medical attention such as surgery.

This is what happened to 21-year-old Erika Bellen, whose eye swelled and protruded outward after she scratched it while collecting trash for a living. 

“Nangangalakal po ako. Naramdaman ko pong napuwing po yung mata ko kaya kinusot ko po ng kamay ko,” she said in an episode of “Pinoy MD.” “Sumakit po yung ulo ko ta’s nilagnat na rin po ako.”

“Do’n na po nag-umpisa yung [pamamaga] ng mata ko,” she added. “Napuwing po ako. Hindi na po ako nag-hilamos. Nag-pahinga na lang po ako, natulog po kasi sa sobrang sakit ng ulo ko.”

According to Erika, she didn’t think something worse would happen. She thought the symptoms were just a result of being under the sun and rain, and being tired.

She continued having headaches and fever even after a few days. It was then that she realized a white lump was forming in her eye and that her vision was getting blurred.

“Makati ta’s sumasakit po yung ulo ko. Habang makati, kinukuskos ko po nang kinukuskos. Ininuman ko po ng gamot, ‘di naman po nawawala. Do’n po namaga na yung mata ko,” she said.

Upon getting checked earlier this month, she was diagnosed to have Anterior Staphyloma or a condition where the eye experienced trauma or infection. It worsens if not treated urgently.

“Nag-weaken yung pinaka salamin ng mata, which is the cornea. When it weakens or thins out, pwede siya mabutas,” ophthalmologist Dr. Fay Charmaine Cruz said.

“May possibility na nagkaroon siya ng infection dahil nakuha niya sa pangangalakal niya. Pangalawa, the rubbing also, lalo ‘pag paulit-ulit niya ginawa, can add to the problem,” Cruz added.

As of the episode’s premiere, Erika’s right eye can no longer see anything. In an online consultation, Cruz said she should also have her left eye checked, so it won’t experience the same problem.

“Since naka-expose yung tissues ng mata, it can cause a second reaction doon sa good eye niya. Mag-react so sayang. Isa na nga lang natitira sa kanya, pwede pang mawala,” Cruz said.

Erika needs to undergo a cornea transplant for her eyesight to go back to normal. However, she does not have enough money to pay for the procedure.

“Kakailanganin ng malaking pera. P150,000 po ang nakalagay sa medical abstract. Tatanggalin na raw po yung mata ko kasi pwede raw po pumutok yung ugat na pwedeng [ipahamak] ng buhay ko,” she said.

Erika is calling for donations to help with funding her surgery. For those interested to help, you may call Reynaldo Laya through 09606011612. GCash donations are also accepted through the same number. — LA, GMA News