Pharmacist or GP????

[NeverAloneNeverAgain]

Our youngest has had a slightly puffy eye over past few days. Was quite red last night and he's woke up this morning and it's sticky and more red and not open fully. Did think was a stye now possibly conjunctivitis. Will a pharmacist be able to treat or is gp better due to age?

Pic doesn't really show gunk well.

Pharmacy. Saline solution is great but speak to the pharmacist.

You need to see the GP. The photo isn't clear but you could be heading towards periorbital cellulitis. Conjunctivitis normally causes the pink inside the eyelid and iris, but there seems to be quite a lot of redness above and below the eye.

How old? If under 2 you can't buy the treatment over the counter so would need prescribing pharmacist. So depends on age.

Dr. As pp said that's above the eye.

He's just gone 2yrs. No injury to the eye. I've spoken to childcare to check he hasn't poked anything in it and there's no obvious scratch or anything. He's trying to rub it but no temp and otherwise well in himself

Optometrist here - That looks like conjunctivitis, it often clears up by itself, but the pharmacist can give you some drops which speed up resolution.
There is conjunctival tissue under the lids which is why that looks a bit swollen.

It's unlikely to be periorbital cellulitis as that doesn't make the eyeball red. It also causes a fever and the patient feels unwell.

@Lougle I think you have the parts of the eye mixed up. The conjunctiva is the outer layer of the eye, with a thin transparent part leading up to the cornea - conjunctivitis simply means inflammation of this. Which is why the white of the eye looks red when you have it. It extends under both the upper and lower lid.
The iris is the flat coloured part with an hole (the pupil) and the cornea sits over it.

Thank you for your detailed post. I'll take him to pharmacy at 9 and see what they say. I'm never sure if I'm under or over reacting but he's had breakfast and is happy playing with toys and no other symptoms

Quick update. Pharmacist was great and said conjunctivitis. He's got eye drops so hopefully will be better soon. Now to try stop him rubbing his eye 😬

That’s good. Make sure you use a separate towel for him and wash his pillow case daily until it clears.