Guess the eye issue?

[Paw2024]

Disclaimer I have been to the opticians
They said they can't find anything wrong but it's obviously swollen and painful, photos of back of eye were fine and I'm waiting for a referral to an ophthalmologist

Some attractive pics, it's painful to blink, and my cheek is now joining the swelling tonight
I basically woke up with it yesterday and the swelling is just increasing very slowly
Anyone had similar?

www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-health-services/eye-accident-and-emergency-services

You need urgent care, not a referral to a community eye place.

Nearest eye casualty is 106 miles away

I would go, you need to be seen.

Where abouts in the UK are you OP?

Even with an optician having seen it? I've no vision issues
I was planning to wait for the referral unless it got drastically worse (like bright red or huge increase in swelling)

I know someone who had something similar to this. It was caused by a stye.

I hope you get an answer/treatment soon.

Lancashire
I've been referred to here

www.communityeyecare.uk

Well you said you're in pain when you blink, a deep pain? Are you ok like that for up to a week? I think that's a long time to wait with the swelling getting worse.

I mean it's not ideal but provided I'm not causing damage by waiting... (I'm also waiting for an endo referral and the pain for that is kind of overshadowing the eye thing)

Asked the optician what to do if the pain or swelling got suddenly bad/much worse and they said a&e, but I'm guessing I'm better off going in the day

I’d head to a&e. I know you said you don’t have a temp, but I’d want to be checked in case it’s cellulitis

If you have not caught your eye while sleeping then I suggest that you

See a GP...........as your eye swelling could be caused by an infected or a fungal sinus. Sinusitis can cause pain in the eye area.

If you can't get an immediate GP appointment, go to a walk in clinic.

Check your temperature too.

https://www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/lancashire-eye-centre

It says they offer an emergency service via GP referral. Definitely call first thing and get an urgent referral. Even with an optometrist check all they are telling you is it hasn’t yet affected the back of your eye, not that it won’t. I am an orthoptist and work in eye casualty and definitely wouldn’t want to wait a week before seeing you.

I wonder why the optician didn't refer to there then.. that's annoying! I went in under the MECS thing I think it's called

‘Minor Eye Care Scheme’. I’ve looked at what they offer and they wouldn’t be able to treat you there they would bounce you back to the hospital. I am surprised they didn’t refer you to eye cas. If you have a sudden change in vision, which is unlikely, straight to A&E for antibiotics. If not straight to the GP for a referral in the morning. Good luck.

The op has already said that her GP won't see patients for anything to do either eyes and they just redirect patients to the opticians...

But they can and should make a same day referral to ophthalmology.

I rang the GP first this morning to say what was wrong, reception was very firm on it and said "eye issues all to the optician"
That's how I ended up at specsavers as I first went to boots who don't do the scheme thing
Then specsavers sent the urgent referral to the community eye place (my dad actually goes there for his glaucoma treatment)

I asked the optician how long and she said she wasn't sure, they were quite quick but could be up to a week

It's been a lot of round in circles and I'm due back in work tomorrow after 2 days off sick trying to sort it

What do you do for work? Do you think you will be able to work tomorrow?

Maybe see how it is in the morning, if no better or worse I would go to a&e. If you try and get your GP to refer you to that other place, you'll just be going around in circles.

Computer work but not customer facing and my manager has said I can split my breaks up so I'm not staring at the screen for 9hrs

Check if a hospital near you has an Eye A&E, many do.
They are the experts.

You are neutropenic and on a biologic? Really I think you need to be seen sooner than a week.

https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/182/3-4/e1880/4099377

Agree that you shouldn't wait on anything given your health

Yes I'm on GCSF for the neutropenia (my count is 0.3 without it and over 1 with it) and I'm on omniluzimab

I second this