I think I might have an eye infection

[mogs0]

My eyes were really itchy a few days ago (I think it's linked with hayfever). I spent most of the day rubbing it then bought some anti-hystemine (sp?) and they stopped itching but now my eye feels really bruised around the socket and there is slight swelling in the corner of my eye.

I tried to book an appointment with the Dr but they don't have any appointments for two weeks and the emergency Dr is only open for two hours in the morning which is impossible for me to get to this week.

Any suggestions as to what I could do? Would a pharmacist be able to recommend anything? Would a cold compress reduce the swelling if it's just been aggravated from rubbing it?

I had an eye infection that startedd over the weekend recently. I asked the pharmacist for advice and got Optrex antibiotic eyedrops that have to be kept in the fridge. They worked really well.

Great, thanks. I'll pop into the pharmacy tomorrow.

Bathe the eye every couple of hours with water that has been boiled (to sterilise) then cooled in the fridge. Soak a cotton wool pad and move it from the inner corner of the eye to the outer one. This will sort most eye infections without any further treatment being needed, though you should insist on an emergency appointment if the infection appears to be spreading or getting worse. 99.9% of eye infections are mild and cause nothing more than a bit of irritation but the remaining 0.1% are serious which is why you must seek help if it gets worse.