Is there any way to stop a sticky eye becoming conjunctivitus?

[Chattyhan]

Just noticed ds1 whose nearly 3 has a gunky eye. He's been suffering with a bad cold for a week and is just getting over it. I really don't want him to get sick again! Is there anything i can bathe the eye with that will help? And what do i do about playgroup tomorrow? He hasn't been at all this week but i was planning on sending him tomorrow as he's practically over the cold! (and it costs £8 a session)

[thegrowlygus]

Cooled boiled water with cotton wool is the best thing - shown in trials to be as effective (time wise) as drops for clearing up sticky eye/conjunctivitis. If he has had a cold then it is most likely viral anyway so the drops won't do much apart from sting his eyes!