Give me useful conjunctivitis tips.

[Soubriquet]

I woke up this morning to severely sore eyes. Initially thought it was just me rubbing my eyes through the night but as the day as gone on,‘I’m pretty certain I have conjunctivitis.

They are sore, itchy and feel gritty. I’ve been
keeping them clean with cooled boiled water during the day, using a new cotton pad for each eye. That helps soothe it but not for long. NHS website says don’t bother doctor unless it doesnt seem to be improving in 7 days, under the age of 1, and all that usual tips. It also suggests seeing a pharmacist to recommend some eye drops. I haven’t had the chance to go out yet, so I thought I would turn to you oh wise ones. What tips have you got?

Chloramphenical eye drops over the counter from the chemist.
no need to boil any water, just ordinary tap stuff is fine.
Just one wipe, inner to outer eye, wash your hands loads and it will/should go on its own.
no need for a dr appointment at all.

Good luck, it’s miserable.

Eye drops first.

Artificial tears to use when you are not using the medicated drops.

Don’t use a towel, kitchen roll will do.

Wash and iron your pillowcase.

Get rid of your mascara and eye shadow. Wash your brushes.

Stay away from other people, it’s highly contagious.

A doctor told me cool chamomile tea and he was right. It really works. I just dribbled it in and swiped it over every hour for the first day (from about 4pm actually - it came on so fast) and then morning, noon and night for about four days after.

DD’s eyes were pouring, swollen, red and painful to the touch but they dried up after the second “dose”. Still swollen on day 2 but then better.

I don’t wear make up so that’s one thing less for me to do. Surprised to see on list of infections on NHS website saying that it’s ok to go to school and attend work if you have conjunctivitis

The chemist will give you antibiotic drops, you use for about 3 days, but it is a big of a regime you have to set a timer every few hours.

'Stay away from other people'

Whats that all about

Its not leprosy.

No, but it’s highly contagious.

Which was why I was surprised that even the NHS website stated that unless you felt unwell, you’re alright for work and kids are alright for school. Surely it would go like wildfire through schools with all their germy fingers

What sort of discharge is there? If it's gunky- chloramphenicol will help, if it's just watery then it is more than likely viral and an antibiotic eye drop will not do anything.

Please do continue to use cooled boiled water and a cotton pad for each eye, tap water and a towel as advised above is not hygienic.

Disposable Cotton pads with ordinary tap water is absolute fine op.
No need to faff st all cooking boiled water, it’s not sterile, if you can ingest it, use it on your skin, you can use it on a closed eye lid to wipe away excess exudate. (If you are in the U.K.)
Hope your eyes are clearing up now with the eye drops.

You can buy drops over the counter it's not going to clear up in its own and keep cleaning using cooled boiled water as you have done

Add a little salt to the cooled boiled water, this is my go-to remedy for conjunctivitis.