sore red eyes for almost a week- starting to panic

[the3ofus]

Last Wednesday my eye started to feel sore with a burning, stinging sensation. Spent the whole night with a cold flannel across them, as it hurt even to shut them. Stupidly went to work next morning, and they were so sore I couldn't look at the computer screen, read anything etc. Spent the whole time in the toilets trying to rest my eyes. Went to the pharmist who gave me optres sore eyes drops. Religiously applied these for the rest of the weekend and on Sunday I thought my eyes had pretty much recovered. Woke up yesterday to find that both eyes red and sore again. Saw my gp who just advise optrex infect eyes eye drops. Have been taking these, again religiously, for the past 2 days and I don't think they are helping much. They've reduced the redness but my eyes are still sore, I cannot spend much time watching TV, looking at a computer screen or reading. I'm really starting to panic now as according to gp these drops should have worked after 48 hours.... In one of my eyes it feels like the skin in the corner of the eye (facing towards ear rather than nose) is swollen, making it feel as it there is something in my eye.

Trying not to worry but I don't know how much longer I can cope with these bloody sore eyes. Have taken 2 days off already but don't see how I can go into work when my eyes are like this.... What should I do next? Is it worth going back to gp (he didn't even examine my eyes, just gave them a cursory glance) or should I try and see an optician? I don't know whether they can diagnose eye infections? I wear contact lenses but obviously stopped wearing them as soon as my eyes were sore. Does anyone have any advice/suffered from this?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I had this when I used to wear contact lenses, my eyes suddenly turned very very dry and sore. I tried everything, the only thing that helped was drops for dry eyes...can you get some of those? Refresh Soothe and Protect are good.

Also I went to the drop in clinic at the Eye Hospital to be properly diagnosed.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

If you go to an optician they can look at the surface of your eyes and tell you what is going on too.

If it is dry eyes I sympathise, it is very very uncomfortable, I still get it a bit (although not as bad as that at all!)

[Drusilla]

I think the Optrex Sore Eyes are chloramphenicol, good at clearing up infections but contain some sort of preservative which is a known allergen for lots of people (should be a warning on the bottle?). If I were you I would go back to GP ASAP and make a fuss if you feel s/he is not doing a proper examination. Your eyes are too important to mess around with.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

IME GPs don't have the right equipment to examine your corneas properly..an optician can stain them and look at them through a microscope!

[the3ofus]

Thanks for replies- will try and see gp as an emergency tomorrow, eyes seem to be getting worse, very sore and stinging.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

It could also be viral conjunctivitis which does take a while to go away but will clear up soon...

[the3ofus]

Fanjo- you were right. After 2 days of taking the antibiotic eyedrops I can definitely see/feel an improvement. Such a relief!

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Glad you are better