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General health

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Original poster

Conjunctivitis advice pls

30 replies

Ladyofc42 · 06/07/2018 12:54

Woke up last Wed with it,got over the counter drops,no good .went for antibio and a wash,but still so sore and blood shot and stuck in the morning. Is this normal? This is third day of anti bio. So fed up of it. Look like an extra from twilight 😵

OP posts:

Skiiltan · 07/07/2018 12:19

It may well be viral. I had this a few years ago: presented to GP with conjunctivitis; GP prescribed steroid drops; conjunctivitis got worse; GP prescribed antibiotics; no change; GP referred to evening eye clinic; ophthalmologist said roaring viral conjunctivitis, it'll go away; conjunctivitis went away.

What were the over-the-counter drops you tried?

Original poster

Ladyofc42 · 07/07/2018 13:26

Brolene over the counter

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Original poster

Ladyofc42 · 07/07/2018 13:27

anti bio dont seem to be doing anything? Its not getting worse but def not getting any better either

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Skiiltan · 07/07/2018 17:18

Do you know whether there is an eye clinic your GP can refer you to? They should be able to tell you whether it's just a viral infection or if there's some other problem. If it is a virus you'll just be told to keep it clean and moist and it should clear up within about another 5 days. If there's something else going on you might need further investigations or treatment.

Is there any pus (yellow- or green-ish discharge) or is it just crusty and cracked?

BikeRunSki · 07/07/2018 17:44

I am a veteran of many types and incidences of eye infections !! (Conjunctivitis, blepharitis, iritis/uveitis). In your situation, I would go and see a pharmacist, who can then refer you to a hospital eye clinic. A pharmacist in a store with an optician (Eg Boots) is even better.

GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough · 07/07/2018 18:08

It may sound a bit strange but bathing with cool milk always helps mine when I get it

Original poster

Ladyofc42 · 07/07/2018 19:38

ok thanks guys, not yellow gunk but definite stuck together in the mornings. sorry TMI!
i read that anti bio can actually irritate them if it is viral?
gosh its draining isnt it?
thanks Grow I will try the milk, I'll try anything at this stage

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Original poster

Ladyofc42 · 07/07/2018 19:39

Meant to say, my local chemist said it was Allergic conjunctivitis and gave me the Brolene, then I went to Doc( 3 days later I was demented) and she said its Bacterial so gave me the anti bio.

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Skiiltan · 07/07/2018 20:48

If the pharmacist said it was allergic, why did she/he sell you drops for a bacterial eye infection? They do some odd things sometimes.

Original poster

Ladyofc42 · 07/07/2018 21:15

god i dunno? i just showed her my eyes and she said brolene would help?

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Skiiltan · 07/07/2018 21:36

The most likely thing is a viral infection, in which case you should keep it clean (wipe with a clean flannel or cotton pad dipped in boiled water that has been allowed to cool to about body temperature [not milk, which is definitely not sterile] two or three times a day) and wait for it to clear up, which usually takes 2-3 weeks from first onset. When I had it I was told my children would definitely catch it from me but we managed to avoid that. Do make sure you wash your hands very thoroughly if you've touched your eye.

It would still be worth getting an ophthalmologist to look at it in case there is some other cause. Do you know whether there is an eye clinic in your area that you could get referred to?

MissHemsworth · 07/07/2018 21:40

Hi OP I had dodgy eyelash extensions about a year or so ago & was plagued with conjunctivitis on & off for ages. The drops did nothing it wasn't until I tried the ointment that it shifted it. Same active ingredient but it stays in your eye better apparently.

www.optrex.co.uk/optrex-range/eye-ointment/optrex-bacterial-conjunctivitis-1-w-w-eye-ointment/optrex-bacterial-conjunctivitis-1-w-w-eye-ointment/

Kwackerly · 07/07/2018 22:18

Opticrom has always got rid of mine, you can get over counter in boots etc. If you are up for trying something different op.

Kwackerly · 07/07/2018 22:21

For allergic conjunctivitis, that is. You do have to be rigorous about putting them in regularly, and if you wear contacts then you'll need to do without them as much as possible

Original poster

Ladyofc42 · 08/07/2018 10:10

Thanks for advice, I bathed them last night with just water, just sat on the couch listening to tv lol
Still as red this morning and closed shut, am rightly fed up with it,gonna ring doc in morning

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Walkingthroughawall · 08/07/2018 10:25

antibiotics do take time to work! Not sure why people here seem so confident to say it's viral/allergic when they haven't seen your eye - I'd go with the GP who's actually examined it! If it isn't getting worse there's really not much point in seeing the GP again until you've finished the prescribed course is there? (obviously if it's getting worse though then that is slightly different). Also no point in asking to see an ophthalmologist until basic treatments have failed (which means you need to have actually finished the basic treatment).

Original poster

Ladyofc42 · 08/07/2018 11:00

I suppose my concern is there has been no improvement at all, still roaring red, stuck together in the morning,and incredible pain. How many days do you think the antibio should take to kick in Walking? This day is 5

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Original poster

Ladyofc42 · 08/07/2018 11:01

Of anti bio and day 11 since I first woke up with it

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FitzChivalry · 08/07/2018 11:06

I had viral conjunctivitis and it took 2 weeks to go, sorry probably not what you want to hear.
Main symptoms were stuck together in morning, but no discharge during day, just extremely watery. Redness of around eye and generally swollen looking. Eye area felt swollen and generally tender.

Original poster

Ladyofc42 · 08/07/2018 11:11

Actually Fitz yes thanks! It's good to hear from ppl ,I was worried that it should be sorted after a couple of days so thanks x

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Original poster

Ladyofc42 · 08/07/2018 11:13

Did u do anything Fitz or just wait it out

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DaphneduM · 08/07/2018 11:29

Suffered on and off with this for longer than I care to remember. Been referred to the eye hospital and have even gone privately to try and get it sorted. It's less frequent now, thankfully, but they never identified the cause. I was prescribed Opticrom (this was in the days before you could get it over the counter) which wasn't very effective. What cleared it up really quickly was Prednisolone eye drops, but unfortunately they were only prescribed by the eye consultant. They're a steroid - hence the caution with prescription I imagine - maybe you could ask your GP for advice and treatment?

FitzChivalry · 08/07/2018 15:19

It was just wait it out. Gp did swabs to make sure not bacterial. Said to use plain moisturising eye drops and to do cold compresses for comfort and it would go in a fortnight, and sure enough it did. Pretty much to the day!

FitzChivalry · 08/07/2018 15:20

It was very infectious also, but only seemingly for adults, none of the children got it.

Original poster

Ladyofc42 · 22/07/2018 01:46

Just an update, 3 and a half weeks later,it's almost gone!
Turned out to be viral and basically the anti biotic made things worse as they caused the sclera (the white bit) to shed, which was incredibly painful. Once I stopped, the extreme redness and blinding pain seemed to go down.
Anyway I'm almost back to human eyes now, thanks for all advice xxx

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