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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you if you'd be worried?!

33 replies

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 18/10/2019 12:27

I have a bloodshot eye. It was pretty bad yesterday - very red, couldn't open very wide at all. It looks a bit better today - it's less red but still definitely bloodshot, and it opens a bit more - but it feels gritty at times and it goes through phases of being really light sensitive.

I usually wear contacts, but have worn glasses for the past two days. I can see okay as far as I know. I don't think there's anything in my eye...

Do I need to get it checked out today? I'll struggle a bit with work but I could make it...

OP posts:
GinDaddy · 18/10/2019 12:28

I find it really difficult to answer these kind of threads based on written descriptions - I would advise going to your surgery as the first point of call.

Merryoldgoat · 18/10/2019 12:30

Go to a pharmacist - they’ll advise best.

Oysterbabe · 18/10/2019 12:30

If it's improved I'd personally give it another day. No harm in getting it checked if you're concerned.

AuntieDolly · 18/10/2019 12:31

Or get some eye ointment from the chemist? Its probably a bit of pink-eye

Jollitwiglet · 18/10/2019 12:31

Yep agree with pharmacist, could be something as simple as a dry eye

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 18/10/2019 12:32

Ouch. Phone your optician ASAP for an emergency appointment.

Never take chances with your eye-peeps! Hope you feel better.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 18/10/2019 12:33

Pharmacist may just recommend you go to optician anyway.

TheTrollFairy · 18/10/2019 12:35

Go to your optician and get it looked at. No point taking a risk with your eyes

hellenbackagen · 18/10/2019 12:36

Go get emergency appointment at optician, they are eye specialists and will be able to see if it's an ulcer or infection I wouldn't wait .

Original poster
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 18/10/2019 12:37

Thanks all.

I did call the doctors, they're due to be calling me back as they have no urgent appointments left but the receptionist wasn't sure if it could wait...

I'll try a pharmacist at lunch and if no luck, go to an opticians.

OP posts:
LordNibbler · 18/10/2019 12:37

Is there any gunk coming out of your eye?

Original poster
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 18/10/2019 12:40

Nope @LordNibbler - I wondered about conjunctivitis but there's no gunk or discharge at all, not even any sleep.

OP posts:
LordNibbler · 18/10/2019 12:41

Light sensitivity is not good. Thats how my eye problems started. Apparently I'd had dry eye and didn't know and I'd been doing lots of work on a screen. Both my eyes ended up like yours and I had to go to A&E. Top and bottom it was so bad I almost lost my sight and my corneas are now scarred and I can't wear contacts. Seriously, don't take any chances with your eyes.

viccat · 18/10/2019 12:43

Yes I would get it seen by an optician or someone else, if it's started with no obvious cause.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 18/10/2019 12:44

Please just call your optician! They are eye specialists; GPs and pharmacists aren't.

CAG12 · 18/10/2019 12:45

Id go to your opticians. They deal with eyes the whole time.

gwenneh · 18/10/2019 12:45

I would be concerned, because vision is one of the few things I don't ever take chances with (mine's quite bad to begin with.) I would be pushing to get it checked today.

dontgobaconmyheart · 18/10/2019 12:45

I didn't find my GP overly helpful with similar OP, if your vision is ok it's unlikely to be serious but you might need eye drops if it's conjunctivitis or a stye etc. I'd check with the pharmacist if you're near one and see an optician instead, they have the equipment and expertise to diagnose any potential eye issues that a GP won't have. If you can see well enough that's a good sign though, the gritty feeling you describe and the bloodshot eye sounds like a stye could be involved; they're a pain bit will clear up fairly quickly. Try to not rub your eye and use a warm, clean flannel or similar if you need some relief.

Ponoka7 · 18/10/2019 12:48

I have bloidshot eyes and the feeling of grit.

I went through the eye hospital.

It was only dry eyes and drops were given. I now buy my own drops. But on waking up my eyes are bloidshot. Then they over water, to make up for the dryness.

It's bloody annoying.

Ponoka7 · 18/10/2019 12:50

Also, a, lot of people don't realise that if they have a separate eye hospital, it usually has an A&E.

CAG12 · 18/10/2019 12:50

Or if you have an eye casualty in your area id go to that. Not normal A+E though, they dont really deal with eyes that much.

Seashell80 · 18/10/2019 12:50

Opticians are best option, they can check it out and refer straight to eye casualty if necessary

averythinline · 18/10/2019 12:57

I'd go straight to Optician's better than Gp for eyes

LordNibbler · 18/10/2019 13:03

Yes. lot's of A&Es have an eye hospital within them. I'm lucky that we have one here in Exeter. A lot of people don't realise how serious dry eye can be if untreated. I now have to have eye drops in the day and eye ointment at night forever. My eyesight is permanently a lot worse than it was, and it wasn't great to start with. I had to be under the eye hospital for three years afters my diagnosis and very scarred corneas.

neveradullmoment99 · 18/10/2019 13:15

Corneal abrasion caused by your lenses? Very painful. Like having something in your eye. My brother has had it twice. I have had it once.