Problem with my eye - GP or optician?

[NotARegularPenguin]

I occasionally wear contact lenses, just for an hour most days while in the gym. I buy them online so haven’t had a contact lens check for ages which I know is naughty.

Couple of weeks ago I found one contact lens painful and scratchy. Thought it was the lens so binned it and tried another. Same issue so havent worn lenses for over a week. Wore them today for a couple of hours, felt a bit uncomfortable and odd in the same eye as before.

Have removed the lens and now my eye feels really sore, like either the eyeball is scratched or there’s a lump under my eyelid? But nothing visible. Not sure who to see.

I think you should see your GP.

Optician. They have the kit to look at your eye,. Gp doesn't

Optician.

In my completely unprofessional and anecdotal opinion, sounds like your eyes could be dry and you might benefit from eyedrops. That can cause it to feel scratchy and as if something is in your eye when it isn't really. Best to get it checked.

Optician. My FIL was one and GPs regularly sent people to him.

When I had an eye problem a couple of years ago I took myself to A&E. The ophthalmologist saw me but said that if I had further problems to just go to any optician as they are A&E for eyes.

Optician

3 to 1 in favour of optician.

Thanks, will make an appt and avoid my contacts until then.

Ooh, 5 to 1.

Thanks everyone!

Optician 🙄

Go to the optician first thing! It could be a damaged retina that could be serious. They can put dye in your eye to get a proper look and will send you to a&e if necessary.

Optician. Could be dry eye, pretty easy to sort, could be lens material, do you buy the same brand all the time are they of poor quality etc. could be a ulcer def not nice and very silly not to have a contact lens check you are ticking a box to say you have an up to date check when you buy online it's technically fraud.

Optician. Don't what the case is in England but in Scotland you shouldn't have to pay as they are the reimbursed via NHS for this type of thing.

Yes, optician. And think about going on a plan so you know you are booked in for proper, regular check ups.

Definitely optician.
Take one pair of your unopened lenses with you as well. It may that something was underneath the lens a couple of weeks ago that scratched your cornea, or it may be that that particular type of lens doesn't sit on your cornea correctly. Even if the numbers on the outside of the lens pa jets are identical a lens from one company won't fit the same as a lens from another company.

I've rung an optician and got an appt for Monday. Thanks everyone.

GP here. Another one for optician. We don't have the equipment to examine properly and opticians are much better than GPs at eyes 😂😂

Long term CL wearer here,, Optometrist. GPs done really do this kind of thing. It is probably a corneal scratch or maybe an inner eyelid issue. I'm assuming they are daily disposables? If not and they are extended wear, discuss a move to dailies with the optom to greatly reduce any risks of eye infections.