To think you don’t go to A&E for eye pain?

[Lis1992]

A friend suggested I consider it, to make sure my vision is protected. But I’d never even consider it for eye pain, unless I had an acute injury. Basically had eye pain starting yesterday, and swelling of eyelid. It’s really red and it is quite swollen. Eye is sore every time I blink. But I’m not systemically unwell- normal appetite etc. a quick Google also mentioned get immediate medical attention for pain. But surely conjunctivitis, styes (don’t think it’s that as whole eyelid swollen- no lump or pimple) , all hurt? so why go to A&E? Or am I missing something!

Another one saying it could be cellulitis. My son had it and I didn’t take him to A&E because he seemed fine in himself and I thought it was a bump or a bite or something. I took him to the GP a day or so later when it was clear it was getting worse, and he had to be admitted to paediatrics at the local hospital. The GP said I should have gone to A&E.

He was fine but I feel awful about it to this day.

Took my mum to A&E once about an xray dor her leg but the triage nurse was more interested in her eye which the doctor had diagnosed as conjunctivitis. Turned out she had shingles also on her forehead. She was prescribed the anti viral right away. They need to be started within 72 hrs of symptoms appearing to be effective. They gave her eyes a good examination and actually brought her back to review her eyes. She was also given cream for her eyes.
I have also been to eye casualty after seeing the optician when I mentioned a large floater.
Got a very thorough examination of my eyes. It was to rule out a detached retina I think.

She was getting over a sore throat - they said it was actually tonsillitis and the infection had spread to her eye that way - it's rare but apparently this can happen even with a mild cold. I can't remember if she had a raised temp but wouldn't say she was feverish. The 'sore throat' felt much better at the stage her eyelid started swelling - she was in a lot of pain with the eye though.
It was very scary but the hospital and specifically the opthalmology dept were fantastic and extremely thorough, I would go straight to a&e now for any eye swelling.

I went to the GP for this who sent me straight to A&E at the eye hospital. Just seek some medical attention now.

My son had some swelling and redness in one eye last year. The gp told us it was a stye, he was otherwise fine. The next morning he had a temperature over 40 and was floppy. A&e diagnosed cellulitis immediately and we had to stay for 3 days for IV antibiotics and fluids, and then keep the IV line and come in for daily treatments for a week after that. Pretty scary. And not fun co sleeping in a hospital bed with a 3 year old at 39 weeks pregnant!!

You sound very resistant. I would go and get it checked but you do whatever you think is best.

Pharmacist first if open, they will know if it's juts conjunctivitis or something to be more concerned with.

Some hospitals have a specialist eye a+e. Ring your gp or out of hours and describe your symptoms. They'll either treat you or send you there. They have specialist equipment such as slit lamps etc so they can check the health of your eye properly in a way you wouldn't get at a normal gp. I have an eye issue and can get significant pain at times and I'm always directed to go to our local eye a and e unit in one of our local hospitals. Not all hospitals will have all of the equipment.

See pharmacist or optician first for advice.
One of the nurses in eye clinic said to me she’d never realised so many things could go wrong with eyes and they are located very close to the brain… so get it looked at.

Our hospital has an eye casualty department that will see walk ins (or it did, that may have changed now). I’ve been twice for nasty eye infections.

Id call GP or optician personally but I’d have to be dead or dying to set foot in an A&E dept!

I had eye pain, went to a pharmacy, they said it was conjunctivitis and gave me eyedrops. It continued to get worse, I went to an optician, they looked alarmed and told me to get to A&E immediately. I had a condition that would have caused me to go blind and needed emergency attention, including an injection into my eyeball.
Yes you should go to A&E. if there’s an eye hospital near you it may have its own A&E department

Let's see. There are these eye specialist people all over the high streets who don't have hours long waiting times. Or A&E who have lengthy waiting times especially if you need to then be seen by someone with knowledge of eyes. Or you could sit on your computer and start threads on MN. Which would I choose?

High street opticians do a lot more than eye tests and glasses.
Mine has been excellent in diagnosing 2 serious medical conditions and getting urgent treatment started. They have all the specialist equipment a GP doesn't have, and they can do a letter for you to take to the nearest suitable hospital. That can save a lot of time as many A&E depts don't have facilities to deal with eyes and have to send you elsewhere.

You sound pretty stupid really. You don’t just go to the optician for new glasses.

Unlike a GP or a pharmacist, an optician (optometrist) is specifically trained to examine eyes and identify what is a serious condition which needs referral and if so how urgently. If something does not need referral they can also advise you about what to do and in many cases give you treatment.

Opticians also have all the required equipment to do this.

I don’t know about Ireland specifically but most opticians in England and Wales (and probably Scotland) now are part of schemes where they have additional accreditation to see people in an emergency and then advise/treat/refer them accordingly. It is literally what they are there for, in addition to prescribing glasses.

In a true emergency, if an optician has seen you and diagnosed a detached retina they can then get you seen straight away by the correct person at the hospital without you having to sit there for 8 hours and then start being seen by a junior A&E doctor who has practically zero expertise in looking at eyes.

I would call an optician and ask for an emergency appointment this morning, if you’ve not done anything already.

Styes can make your whole eyelid swell and if it feels like a grain of sand rubbing when you blink then the stye is on the inside of your eyelid. I had one last week exactly like this. If swelling & redness spread beyond your eyelid up to your eyebrow or down around your lower eyelid then go to A&E. An optician would be the best person to see, failing that the GP or a pharmacist as the first port of call.

We have eye casualty within the eye department at the local hospital so I'd go there instead of waiting at A&E.

@Lis1992 I have had orbital cellulitis several times and can confirm that if you have a fever or raised temperature its really bad and needs IV antibiotics. I have always been able to catch mine before reaching that stage but it does need horse sized antibiotics as soon as you can. Don't get fobbed off with amoxycillin or something feeble. The photo was my eye last time on day 3 - my other eye was wide open! The eye itself was fine but the lid and bit under my eye were very sore. Hair scraped back as anything even remotely brushing against the swelling was sore.

My optician picked up optic papillodema and saved my sight .

He rang the hospital and got me straight in . Optometrists are eye specialists and don't just test for glasses !

A&E. Obviously.

I'd go to a pharmacy or phone 111. A&E is for actual emergencies. Why you'd want to sit there for hours unless absolutely necessary is beyond me. I went for the first time ever whilst I was miscarrying, and honestly I was appalled at the fact everyone was sitting around chatting in the waiting room, everyone was visibly fine. I left without seeing a doctor, it was too upsetting.

I had a bad eye infection last year, I went to GP who referred me to opticians. I'd try gp or opticians first

Yes go to a specialist eye center.

Eyes do need looking after though as even a small thing may cause loss of site.

Sight!!!!

Optician, who can refer you on, or eye casualty. Sounds urgent OP, don’t delay