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 ?

Thank you all for taking the time to reply .

Lots of fantastic advice to take on board x

Yes thanks for all the advice here. I will try the baby shampoo.

I used warm compress etc and that works a bit. I also have to use eye drops and I am allergic to most of them but ThealozDuo is OK.
I have noticed my eyes are worse the last few weeks, after being better for a while. I wonder if it is because the central heating is now being used?

I will try the baby shampoo eye baths.

Not a gp problem.

The Eye Bag mask isn’t cheap, but is helpful and Occusoft wipes too.

I have always had "dry eyes" and did "all the right stuff" but they kept getting worse. Optician referred to GP. GP referred to optician. In ever decreasing circles. Both saying it was the others responsibility. There really is a severe "gap" in this kind of eye care because GP's have been told not to prescribe (and preferably not to refer to a specialist) but to send people to the optician. Opticians can't prescribe and have limited equipment and specialisms to diagnose what is actually going on. Think, it's like expecting a GP to diagnose cancer - they couldn't if they wanted to because they don't have all the correct resources or knowledge.

After years of worsening conditions and circular excuses I finally had a flat out "discussion" with the GP after the optician had told me that I needed a specialist, not an optometrist and not a GP!!!! I got referred to a specialist - they are called ophthalmologists, and must complete foundation medical training before specilaising - and it turned out that I have a condition called meibomian gland dysfunction. I am told it is really common but many people don't realise they have it because it is rarely diagnosed (I wonder why that is????) and whilst the general "dry eye" treatements can help, in more severe cases like mine you need specialised eye drops, and sometimes minor surgical intervention. The GP now has to prescribe drops. But it's a faff getting to the point because nobody wants to take responsibility.

I have always had "dry eyes" and did "all the right stuff" but they kept getting worse. Optician referred to GP. GP referred to optician. In ever decreasing circles. Both saying it was the others responsibility

I had this too with dry eyes. Eventually ended up spending a small fortune trying vairious drops/ointments I'd bought online until I found something that worked. Never got to the bottom of what caused it though (farily sudden onset) as optician couldn't investigate underlying causes and GP wasn't interested.

Just for future reference, in case it's helpful to anyone, there is a commissioned service for eye problems. You can self refer without going through a GP or your GP practice may signpost you to the service:

https://primaryeyecare.co.uk/services/minor-eye-conditions-service/

This isn't available for a lot of England.

And it is also basically nothing more than going to the optician - albeit free at point of access which opticians may not be unless you are eligible.

I didn't say previously, but even if you manage to get to an ophthalmologist, your game may not yet be over. My ophthalmologist happened to be in a different CCG than my GP. In his area, the drug he recommended was prescribed by GP's but in my area the CCG advised that it shouldn't be prescribed - so I had terrific fun then arguing that the CCG wasn't in a position to overrule a clinician. I did win, but I doubt most people would have been left standing at this point!

For fun, for some reason that particular mix of drugs is out of stock across the country and has been for several months, so I had to go through the entire process again to get a suitable replacement prescribed.