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Original poster

The chemist won't sell me eyedrops for dd

34 replies

Noeyedropsfordd · 17/05/2023 14:35

As the title says really.

I haven't dealt with conjunctivitis for years, dd woke up in pain and all crusty eyed this morning so I nipped to the chemist to get drops, and instead I got a lecture.

I could see what I needed right behind the till, and she stood for a good few minutes lecturing me about how kids have too many antibiotics and that dd needs to have had it for 5 days before she can take drops, and to just give her calpol to relieve the pain. She spoke down to me as if I know fuck all which was infuriating.

Dd has never had antibiotics and never even taken calpol (she absolutely refuses medicine) and the bloody chemist wants her to be sore and have blurry vision for days before they give me what I need.

The school won't take her in until she has been on eyedrops for a day, or it's cleared up.

I've been cleaning her eyes about every 15 mins all day, she has it quite badly.

Just furious at this stupid fucking rule that I can't decide to give my own child eyedrops if I want to, so now poor dd has to suffer.

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 17/05/2023 14:38

Could you try a different chemsit?

LunchAtTeatime · 17/05/2023 14:39

Can't comment on the pharmacist, though I've heard they are getting stingy with a lot of things.

But I had conjunctivitis recently which came back after finishing the course of drops. I used coconut oil in the corner of my eye in the evening, then again in the morning and it had completely cleared up by lunchtime.

Thesunwillcomeoutverysoon · 17/05/2023 14:41

Ds had it last week. Took 4 tries to find any drops in stock.. Ended up with cream which was more effective.. Try another place op.

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Children's health General health

Original poster

Noeyedropsfordd · 17/05/2023 14:48

The next chemist is about 15 miles away so I can't get there until tomorrow, I'm going to call them first just to make sure they will sell it to me. It's not even like I asked for it on the minor ailments scheme, I was more than happy to pay for it.

I have coconut oil so I'll give that a try, thank you.

OP posts:

ArcticBells · 17/05/2023 14:54

The trick is not to self diagnose the condition as pharmacists think only a medical person should do that.

I normally say that the person has an irritation in their eye and then they give it to me.

Piony · 17/05/2023 14:56

I think it's worth an econsult if it makes the difference in whether a child can attend school.

Beamur · 17/05/2023 14:57

Do a COVID test. Conjunctivitis has become a really common symptom in young people.
Most conjunctivitis does get better by itself and if it's viral the drops will have no effect anyway.
Hope she's feeling better soon.

Toddlerteaplease · 17/05/2023 15:00

Ive had this before as well. Buying for my non existent child who frequently get's conjunctivitis ( I was actually buying the drops for my cat. As the ones the vets give out are the human ones we use at work) I went to a different pharmacy who asked no questions.

monty09 · 17/05/2023 15:00

You need to have a prescription now to get them, my partner went for his son and was told that's the only way to get them.

Lifesagamethentheytaketheboardaway · 17/05/2023 15:02

Half the time, conjunctivitis is viral. You don’t need drops. It will clear up after a few days. Just keep cleaning and soothing the eyes.

Cantthinkofaname2203 · 17/05/2023 15:02

You need to take the child with you so they can assess whether the treatment is appropriate.

MermaidEyes · 17/05/2023 15:12

monty09 · 17/05/2023 15:00

You need to have a prescription now to get them, my partner went for his son and was told that's the only way to get them.

My dd had conjunctivitis a couple of months back and I got medication without any prescription. It did take trying at a few different chemists though as there was some kind of shortage from the manufacturer.

Cc1998 · 17/05/2023 15:16

You need to see a doctor and get a prescription. There's a shortage of eyedrops natinationally.

Piony · 17/05/2023 15:17

Also are there legal rules on what a school is allowed to refuse a child for?

NHS says they should not be kept off school with conjunctivitis so I wonder if a state school would have the power to refuse them?

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/#:~:text=You%20don't%20need%20to,to%20wash%20their%20hands%20regularly.

Is my child too ill for school?

Find out when it's best to keep your sick child at home and when it's OK to send them to school or nursery.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school#:~:text=You%20don't%20need%20to,to%20wash%20their%20hands%20regularly.

Crazycrazylady · 17/05/2023 15:18

I'd tell them it was for my partner 🤷🏻

DappledOliveGroves · 17/05/2023 15:28

Two options:

Order from an online pharmacy for next day delivery; or
Go and say they're for your husband or whatever. I've done that for DD. Make sure you have the answers pre-prepared (symptoms, colour of discharge etc).

HannahHasThePower · 17/05/2023 15:30

Don’t stick coconut oil in your daughters eye.
My DH went to get me drops and the chemist wouldn’t dispense them unless he saw me with conjunctivitis. Luckily I was ill and answered the questions over the phone.

wildfirewonder · 17/05/2023 15:36

The pharmacist was right

Most conjunctivitis clears up without drops.

NHS guidance: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/conjunctivitis/

welshweasel · 17/05/2023 15:42

No evidence for eye drops. Just bathe in cooled boiled water. Tell school they've had drops if they insist

WhatInFreshHell · 17/05/2023 15:58

Beamur · 17/05/2023 14:57

Other viruses are available....

Original poster

Noeyedropsfordd · 17/05/2023 16:01

I can't take her in the the pharmacy as my poor dd can hardly see at all so it would be near impossible to take her anywhere safely.

She can't go into school in the state her eyes are in right now either (although when I called this morning they did say they need drops for a day or it to be clear, so i wouldnt have much choice either)

I've just ordered some that should be delivered tomorrow.

I wish I could go into the chemist and lie now, but it's a tiny chemist in a small town and they know me there. I'll definitely lie next time though.

Bloody ridiculous, the state of the NHS at the minute and I would have to make an appointment with a gp to get something as simple as eyedrops just because the chemist won't sell them to me.

It will eventually clear up on its own, but I know it will clear quicker with drops, and also make her more comfortable as well meantime.

I never knew it was a symptom of covid, I'll have to do a test as we have a vulnerable family member.

OP posts:

notquitesoyoung · 17/05/2023 16:19

There's a shortage so whilst it's available OTC it's being kept for prescription only in some pharmacies (Boots). DD went to get some a couple of months ago OTC and was told it wasn't available, she asked if it would be different if she had a prescription and they said yes. She got a private prescription and picked it up a few hours later from the same Boots. Such a waste of time and money.

mindutopia · 17/05/2023 16:37

My dc have had conjunctivitis many times and I've only once used the drops/cream and that was only because nursery required it for 48 hours before they'd allow her to return. Most (but not all) cases are viral, so antibiotics doesn't treat the infection, though will reduce inflammation. But it will nearly always clear up on it's own with regular cleaning and time.

TheShellBeach · 17/05/2023 16:42

ArcticBells · 17/05/2023 14:54

The trick is not to self diagnose the condition as pharmacists think only a medical person should do that.

I normally say that the person has an irritation in their eye and then they give it to me.

Yes, typical pharmacist. They always think they know so much.
Bunch of self-important idiots.

givemushypeasachance · 17/05/2023 16:52

Half the time conjunctivitis is viral not bacterial, so antibiotics do nothing. And even when it is bacterial, antibiotics don't make a big difference. My sister is a GP and has given advice on this when a friend's toddler had it - apparently even using cream/drops, studies have shown it only reduces the length of the infection symptoms by a day or so. Given how difficult it is to get ointment in a 2 year old's eyes, that was passed on to reassure my friend that if she didn't get much in the eyes it really wouldn't matter in the grand scheme of things!

Cleaning the eyes with cooled boiled water is the way to go. It's not fun, I remember having itchy eyes crusted shut when I would wake up when I had it bad as a kid. But it's a self-limiting thing.

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