No help for Blepharitis from GP ....Is that normal ?

[bizzey]

On line message and photo to GP .

Directed me to Specsavers optometrist.

I was told what it was and advised treatment.

GP will not prescribe it .

Does any one know why ?

Try pharmacy
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blepharitis/

What do you want gp to prescribe?

Optometrists are eye experts - I had fantastic advice for blepharitis from mine. He could also refer to a NHS eye specialist when needed. Don’t feel short changed, my experience is that they are best placed to help.

Optician for Blepharitis. Get a heated eye mask then clean your eye lids either with blephasol or eyelid wipes, do this a few times a day.

GP's wont deal with eyes these days.

You don't need a prescription, you need a warm eye mask, a clean warm flannel will do, and eyelid wipes, which you can buy from boots or any pound shop. Keep the eye mask on for ten minutes, then wipe the eyelids. Do this twice a day for a month.

I went to a pharmacist and she was great. Gave me an over the counter eye cream which is purified Vaseline basically with some lanolin and mine cleared up in 48 hours.

I was diagnosed by my optometrist it was a few years back but I'm sure he had drops/wipes I could buy for it. You can get something from Boots to treat it with.

An optician is the correct person to see with eye issues. There are wipes you can buy and if you talk to a pharmacist there's often over the counter options for treatment.

Ive got an older relative who swears by Blephasol but its not cheap.

I've had blepharitis for along as I remember...I'm 58. I wouldn't go to a GP and expect a prescription. You just need to keep your lids clean. You can use cotton wool dipped in warm water with baby shampoo.

What the Optometrist has recommended is quite expensive!

Was hoping GP could give me something as I have another condition and get free prescriptions.

What have they recommended? Heat mask, eye wipes are the standard treatment. I also got directed to Specsavers by my GP for an eye issue recently, it is normal procedure now.

What did the optometrist prescribe? Even though you get free prescriptions, doesn't mean they are free for the NHS so they won't prescribe something that is easily available to buy

What is it the optometrist has recommended that is expensive? If this is the first time you have had blepharitis then warm compress and lid hygiene are the usual treatment. If you Google "Moorfields Blepharitis Patient Information" you will find a pdf with good information.

So basically you want to use the initial and now another GP appt to have a free prescription.

and people wonder why it’s hard to get an appointment with the GP

Very few GPs will prescribe for anything for eye treatment, you can ask your optom for a letter but they don't like to prescribe anything.

If money is an issue cheapo heated eye mask off Amazon and a clean flannel as someone suggested.

I get free prescriptions too as I'm on thyroxine. Doesn't mean I need to go to the GP every time I have a minor ailment and expect a free prescription! I take vitD/calcium supplements as I have osteopenia and take an antihistamine for an overactive bladder. I just get them cheap in Boots or pound shops. Why should the NHS pay for something that costs a fraction of the whole palaver of administrating a prescription?

Heatmask but also massage eyelids after - then eye wipes.

Not sure what you wanted prescribed - this is the gold standard and I don't think it's available on prescription.

Also wash your eyelids twice a day with facial wash / soap. I found this really helpful.

What did they recommend?

I’ve had blepheritis for a while now but can control it. I tried various wipes/waters/drops - all useless. The thing that did work like magic (possibly advised from from GP or internet) was cleaning the eye margins (as in the base of the eyelashes) with one drop of Johnson’s baby shampoo diluted in a little warm water morning and night using a cotton bud. I did that for 2 or 3 weeks, then just used hot water. If I don’t clean my eyelids twice daily it tends to recur, although missing the odd time isn’t usually a problem. I use one cotton bud per eye each time, one end for top lashes other for bottom lashes. It honestly was like a miracle for me. Try it.

I should add that if you don’t get it diluted enough it can nip a bit, but you work out what works. 😁

My recommendation too as a lifelong sufferer. I doubt you can get baby shampoo on prescription! Buy boots or superdrug own brand, will cost a pound or so and as you're only using a couple of drops at a time it will last ages.

It's basically cleaning the roots of your lashes properly. Warm flannel across the eyelids and then the stuff from the opticians on a cotton pad. It's not brain surgery. Then clean your eyes properly in the morning.

It shouldn't hurt btw, that's why a baby shampoo is recommended as its manufactured to be gentle if it gets in a baby's eyes.

GP probably sent you there because opticians are eye specialists. They will have more knowledge and skills to treat you then a GP.