Pharmacist or optician?

[Chewinggumwalk]

Sorry for the AIBU, but there’s some knowledgeable people here and I can’t seem to find the right answer on google!

For the last few days I’ve had really sore eyes. They look and feel as if I’ve been crying for hours, but I haven't. Sore, scratchy when I blink, slightly pink, little bit of discharge but not much, skin all around there feels tight and sore. So I am assuming either conjunctivitis or dry eyes because of heating at work or home plus not much sleep with teething child. Vision is really blurry when I open my eyes but that must be due to secretions because it clears after a few minutes of blinking. Otherwise vision is not affected.

It doesn’t seem bad enough for the Gp, plus there’d be a long wait for an appointment and they’re bugging me. Should I see an optician and see if they can see dryness etc, or should I go straight to a pharmacist and ask for drops for conjunctivitis, does anyone know?

Thank you!!!

Go and speak to the pharmacist, they'll know whether you need otc medication or to see an eye doctor. Don't ask for any medicine, or Doris might just sell you eye drops, but speak to them and explain what you've said here. Hope it's nothing too serious.

I’d try the pharmacist first. There are several types of eye drop now available without prescription so you can get a drop that fits your symptoms. The optician will require an appointment and charge you.

Obviously if it doesn’t clear up in a few days then see optician.

Sounds like either conjunctivitis or blepharitis. Either way, an optician will know better and be able to prescribe you special drops if you need them. Your vision is worth the cost of a quick eye test!

Optician! Definitely

I had this last year and my optician refused to check me as conjunctivitis is highly contagious. I got some drops from the chemist.

Thanks all, you’re great. I don’t mind paying for an appointment, just don’t want to waste my time or theirs.

I hadn’t thought about the optician not being able to check if contagious. So it looks as if the best thing to do is to start with the pharmacist and then book optician if it’s no better in a couple of days of drops. Thank you!