Any advice for an 8yo boy who REFUSES to take eye-drops for conjunctivitis?

[DamnYouAutocorrect]

Having a right 'mare with my DS who's 8 and... strong-willed, to say the least (as am I, I suppose)

He's had viral (they think) conjunctivitis for about 5 weeks now and has missed about 4 days of school during that time - more than he's missed in his entire school career to date until now.

His eyes are obviously very swollen and sore. I do understand it's very uncomfortable, but he's driving me crazy by simultaneously making a MASSIVE fuss about how uncomfortable he is, and REFUSING to take the eye-drops we've been prescribed because the doctor said they would probably sting a bit. He also refuses point-blank to take Calpol (always has).

He has a bit of a 'thing' about not having things done to him (hair-cutting, de-lousing, medication, dentist visits etc). Mostly I get around this by bribery/shouting/giving in (that is to say, my approach not very consistent and depends on how important I think something is - if he's crawling with lice I will insist that it gets done).

But I'm finding this one vv difficult because it's so disruptive, and he's missing so much school (meaning I can't work...), and being such a PITA at bed-times, keeping his siblings awake moaning and yelling for ice-packs.

He's sitting downstairs, having been banned from using the computer (my biggest sanction), looking very puffy-eyed and upset but still refusing.

Aaaaarghh

Any tips? Am I handling this all wrong? Am trying to keep my temper but is difficult because he's a very, very persistent moaner (following me around the house to argue the point) and a right barrack-room lawyer ('What's the point taking them when the doctor's not sure they're going to work? How about I just have one drop and if it doesn't work I don't have to take them again?')

When my DD had conjunctivitis the chemist recommended an eye cream/gel that you smear on the closed eye lid and keep eyes closed so ideal at bedtime and that worked really well -sorry can't remember name but if you go to your chemist they would be able to help you. Good luck

You have to make it clear that he has no option but to have the eye drops. He's 8 years old and not old enough to refuse medication but he doesn't realise the implications of not having them.
He has had conjunctivitis for 5 weeks and you're still letting him call the shots. Get tough! Does he want to go blind? the infection isn't going to clear without them. Do what you have to - bribe, shout or just tell him the truth that his sight could be affected long term if he doesn't start having his drops.

Thanks both

That cream sounds great superslim, but I'm guessing it was for bacterial conjunctivitis? DS doesn't have an infection - it's a viral thing and antibiotics don't work for it (to be fair to him, he did actually take antibiotic eyedrops all last week, but unfortunately they had no impact, which is what's making the doctor think it's viral!)

ladywithnomanors - thanks for that. I do see your point but unfortunately he's not being entirely unreasonable; the doctor said (within his hearing) that the drops may or may not work, and that they would definitely sting - so he's done a little cost-benefit analysis and decided it's not worth it! She also explained about viral conjunctivitis lasting anything up to 8 weeks and clearing up on its own eventually (there is no treatment for it as such; the new eyedrops are just something she suggested for relieving discomfort rather than curing it). So even if I did want to threaten him with blindness, he'd know I was fibbing.

All I really want is for him to give them a TRY, just in case he does find that he's more comfortable and can go to school/go to sleep more easily. (If he does eventually try them and they don't work I will have dug a massive pit for myself, of course)

Generally, in this house, taking prescribed medicine is none negotiable. We have had to be very strict about this cause ds1 has food allergies and has, on occasion, needed medicating fast.

In the instance you describe though, it sounds like the medicine probably won't help . So I would let my child refuse to take it on the conditions that 1) I do not want to hear any complaints about how much his eyes hurt 2)There will be no time off school.

Obviously if he tried it and it didnt help I would be a lot more sympathetic.

Viral conjunctivitis really sucks and chances are the eye drops aren't going to help at all. I had it on and off for a very long time as a teenager. I'd be temped to just calmly explain what you've said to us - they might help with the discomfort, you'd like him to try them and then leave it up to him. Arguing about it isn't going to help, but neither is having time off school.

I don't know if you've tried this but have you replaced his pillow for bed? It wasn't until I had a new pillow that my eyes started to get better.

Thank you both. Barbarian - yes, that's pretty much what I've told him! Think it's back to school tomorrow (problem is he's a drama queen and disrupts lessons complaining to all and sundry about how much his eyes hurt - and the teachers keep telling him that if he has conjunctivitis he shouldn't be in school 8 weeks off school? Don't think so!)

camdancer - that's a good tip about the pillow, thank you. Was it a hypoallergenic pillow, or just a new one? Any idea why a new pillow would help?

Anyway - UPDATE! - he's taken some now. Withholding computer access usually works in the end, thank the lord... Now to see if they actually have an effect.

Just a normal pillow. I think the virus was living in the old pillow or something in the pillow was shedding and irritating my eyes.

Glad to hear he's tried the drops. Hope he is ok soon.

my 2 yo is having to have Cyclopentolate , morning and night and Ganciclovir 5 times a day , both have very bad side effects , Ganciclovir is advised not to be used on children under 18 , it is very hard and upsetting to pin your child down , force their eyes open and put a gel and drop that really hurts them and blurs their vision , destressing to mother and child to say the least , but im more concerned that it says don't use if you have used over the counter meds like antihistamines and if your childs eye is inflamed , I give 1 dose this morning and scared to continue , please help , the eye doctor cant even get to look into her eye as when they put the orange drop in she wont let them look as shes sobbing saying its hurting :( so sad