Doctors or opticians?

[Wilkarotin]

Not an AIBU but posting for traffic. Got poked in the eye this afternoon by DS! It's sore, keeps watering and is worse in the light when I go outside. So doctor Google tells me it's probably a scratched cornea and will heal in 48-72 hours but I should have antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection.
My question is where is best to go for them? Is it GP, pharmacist or optician? Don't want to waste anyone's time and it's not the easiest to get appointments anyway. Or should I just suck it up and put up with the pain for a couple of days?

Didn't mean to enable voting 🙄

Should be able to get chloramphenicol ointment from a pharmacy. If you have a minor injuries/walk-in they can check your eye too. Or phone an opticians I’m not sure they do eye injuries though

Opticians! I'm a glasses/contacts wearer and when it happened to me I just rang my optician and they sorted me. When it happened to DS they were happy to see him but because of his age couldn't prescribe but I'm guessing you're probably older than 5 😀

Opticians. The GP will send you to one if you turn up there.

Brill thanks all. Will ring the opticians in the morning. And yes a fair bit older than 5 unfortunately!

Just to add, opticians.

The appointment will be free, the prescription not .

Either opticians if the pain is not too bad. If severe pain or any blurred vision (or painful in bright lights, as you say) I would either get out of hours GP (if you have access ) to refer you to ophthalmology emergency service at a bigger hospital or you'll have to go to A and E so they can examine your eye (and they may refer you to ophthalmology or deal with you themselves).

A scratched cornea can be an emergency because of the possibility of infection which can develop very quickly and could lead to sight loss if not treated urgently. I would def at the very least ring 111 ASAP (tonight) to describe your symptoms and get advice.

Thanks, can't do anything tonight now as got DC to get to bed. DP could do it but then I've got no way to get to A&E/hospital as I don't want to drive. Wearing sunglasses is currently helping (indoors like an idiot!) so will see what the opticians say tomorrow

If you are in London, Moorfields Eye Hospital does video triage until 9pm

You can get Chloremphenicol eye ointment which is the treatment you’ll likely need over the counter in any pharmacy which will help prevent infection and lubricate your eye. Does make vision go blurry for about 20mins after cos it’s in your eye. I would still recommend getting it checked out tomorrow as well though.