Would anyone go to A&E with this?

[Queenscarlett]

I'm honestly the last person who would go to A&E but because it's the eye, it makes me a bit more nervous. I've thankfully managed to pick up some Antibiotic eye ointment from a pharmacy but anyone think a trip to A&E is needed, or will be fine with the medication?

The eyelid is very sore and hurts to blink etc but other than that I think the eye itself is fine.

Absolutely. It could be cellulitis. On your way there see if you can get on to 111, there’s an on call ophthalmologist who will be able to see you.

Could be a stye. Treat with a hot flannel to draw out the infection. I wouldn’t go to A and E unless it got a lot worse.

I'd use the medication and if no improvement by Tuesday I'd make a GP appointment.

Looks like a stye or a possibly a chalazion. What you need is chloramphenical ointment, not drops. You can buy it OTC in a pharmacy. I wouldn't go to A&E for it, because I've recently had one myself and chances are you'll wait for hours to be told to go and buy something from the pharmacy. A hot compress is always recommended, but tbh once they've started to puff like that it won't do much, you need the meds. If you can only find the drops they're better than nothing btw, but the ointment is best and will clear it up in a week or two.

when it’s the eye it’s not worth it. Orbital cellulitis is incredibly dangerous. My brother had an eye like this, the gp took one look and sent him to a&e. He was in hospital for a week.

No I wouldn't. I'd go to a pharmacist.

It looks like a stye to me. I get them when run down. They hurt but if it is a stye you don't need to go to a&e. They go on their own but a warm flannel will ease the pain a bit. It's an infection in your eyelid and your actual eye will be fine. I hope it feels better soon.

Actually, ignore me saying I'd go to a pharmacist. I didn't even know this was a thing but I've just googled and it looks horrific. I'd call 111 OP and go on what they say.

She has ointment not drops.

As other posters have said, periorbital cellulitis can risk your sight and your life.

Best get it checked out at A&E sharpish.

My mum has put the fear of god into me because of this. She’s got a picture of my brothers eye that she keeps on her phone. It looked just like this.

Do you have an eye hospital with an A&E department?

Although I assume if it is anything serious they'd send you to A&E proper anyway? (I'm more thinking they'd be able to rule out anything serious though)

Thanks all. Just rang 111 and they said A&E.

Glad they agree! I usually open these threads and scoff but when it comes to your eyes it’s not worth the risk.

How are you doing @Queenscarlett ?

Yes, per PP I’d be worried about orbital cellulitis.

just read update; good.

No, I'd call 111

Sorry, just read whole thread - hope you're OK OP

Yes go

I had an infected cyst in my eyelid and the GP gave me strong antibiotics and told me to come back in 3 days - she said they don’t mess about with anything near eyes, and if it got worse she’d send me to hospital for IV antibiotics. Luckily it went down with the oral antibiotics. Does it feel like there’s a big lump in your eyelid?

Go to A&E and they’ll probably refer you to the out of hours GP who will prescribe antibiotics.

I hope everything is okay.

In honesty, peri orbital cellulitis tends to be far more dramatic.

This is what I looked like when they queried it with me and sent me to A&E, even then the doc said I would be in a lot more pain as the skin itself would hurt through stretching over the swelling etc. They treated it with hardcore antibiotics just in case, but didn't think it was. The swelling was all down my cheek, across to my temple etc. It was actually way worse than it looks!

Yours looks like a sty. I would probably try what you have been given over the weekend, and if it doesn't get any worse seek advice again on Monday.

I’d phone NHS 24 (or whatever the equivalent in your part of the UK) and ask for advice before going to A&E. More likely be told to go to out of hours or next day to pharmacist