I think I have conjunctivitis. Who has experience of this?

[GoldenKelpie]

I came back from hairdressers and checked my hair in bathroom when I returned (due to gale force wind and hail today which completely disrupted hairstyle in no time). I noticed the inside of my left eye was very bloodshot. Odd, I thought. I have a cold and am blowing my nose from time to time, maybe that has something to do with it.

Later on, sitting checking mn on my laptop I felt a strange sort of itchy sensation in my left eye and went to have a look. This time eye is bloodshot on right side too. The other eye seems ok.

Googling symptoms came up with conjunctivitis as a possible problem though there is no goo apparent, nor weeping. I haven't had this before.

When will it go away? Obviously already using anti-bac handwashes anyway but do not want to pass this on to anyone else.

It’s not conjunctivitis if there’s no gunk. Maybe you got some hair in your eye at the hairdresser?

I meant to say that the left eye is bloodshot on both sides now. The right eye is ok.

Can you get into the pharmacist tomorrow?
If it is conjunctivitis then you can get drops easily enough.

Maybe a subconjuctival haemorrhage. Especially if you've been coughing and sneezing a lot

Normally a pharmacist can diagnose this and issue you with suitable eye drops from behind the counter.

I had it a fortnight back and it cleared very quickly with drops. I only had sticky stuff in the mornings, but constantly weeping and bloodshot all day.

flamingo, I should be able to find one open on a Sunday. Will definitely go. Thanks.

mumum1, I had wondered about this but thought that both eyes would have been affected not just one.

tiredanddangerous,that's a good point, but I didn't feel any irritation at all at the time and usually getting an eyelash stuck in eye is very irritating.

Conjunctivitis just means irritation of the eye, it doesn't necessarily have to be gunky. Get some eye drops from any pharmacist or bathe in saline. It is very contagious so watch avoid shared towels or anything like that

The fact you have a cold, makes it more than likely that this is viral conjunctivitis - causes redness, itching, irritation but is self limiting and requires no treatment. Being viral chloramphenicol (antibiotic cream or drops) from pharmacy will make no difference. It is however contagious so be careful not to spread it to the other eye or to other family members

Aragog, I'm going to visit a pharmacy tomorrow morning. If I need drops, the sooner the better.

cheese and tinnedpears, yes regarding contagion I have got a new towel out just for me, and changed all pillowcases just in case. DH works away but is back for a couple of days now.

You don't necessarily get it in both eyes.

My local Tesco pharmacy is open Sunday from 9am so I'll pop along first thing. Thanks for all your responses .

Viral conjunctivitis gets better on it's own.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/conjunctivitis/

If it is more your eye looking bloodshot then maybe you have a subconjunctival haemorrhage - fancy name for a burst blood vessel, particularly as you have been coughing. This doesn't need any treatment.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/red-eye/

Update: went to Tesco pharmacy but told that symptoms have to be visible for 72 hours before the anti-biotic drops are available (showed horrible picture of what it would look like). They suggested to bathe the eye in warm salt-water 3 times a day and that may clear up eye without need of drops. That is what I am now doing.

anna thanks for your links. Really useful.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed their experiences, too.