Conjunctivitis for a week, what do I do?

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I’ve had what I assume is conjunctivitis for a week. My eye is red, swollen, painful and disgusting. It’s dripping and crusting constantly. I’ve tried two different OTC Meds (optrex and golden eye) but it’s no better. Does this warrant a doctors trip or do I have to tough it out?

You can ask the pharmacist for chloramphenicol eyedrops. That should clear it.

@OrangeBlossom28 that’s what I’ve been using for 4 days now and it’s no better, worse in fact!

Yes. I had those drops from the pharmacist. Cleared up in a few days.

Take an antihistamine
Could be hayfever

I have taken antihistamines for 3 days now and it’s not making any difference either.

Sorry crossed posted. How long did they say to use them for? If you have finished the days they prescribed of course see a doctor.

The bottle says 5 days but I don’t know if seeing a doctor for conjunctivitis is a bit of an over reaction

Bit confused because you say you have used OTC drops but chloramphenicol is antibiotic and must be prescribed by a pharmacist.

I had this problem, and assumed it was conjunctivitis. Treated it with the conjunctivitis meds, and it just got worse. Turned out, it was actually chronic dry eye, and the conjunctivitis meds were actually drying them out more. You probably need to see a doctor and get stuff prescribed to help - I needed steroids, and other stuff to help, but unfortunately can't remember what it's called.

Looks like blepharitis. You'll be lucky to get chloramphenicol OTC.
Place a clean cloth dipped in tepid water on the closed eye and hold it on for a few minutes. Do the same in the morning, then make a gp appt or speak to a pharmacist.

Sorry I meant OTC from a pharmacist, as in not prescribed by a doctor. Sorry for the confusion.

My mum's eye was like this recently and turned out to be shingles. She had a couple of very small spots next to it

Depends where you are but in lots of areas of England, you can contact your GP who can refer you to a local optician for a proper look at your eye. It won’t cost you anything as it’s an NHS service.

Go to your doctor. Get an exam. He ornshe may prescribe antibacterial eyedrops.

I was just seeing a nurse yesterday. Thought it was conjunctivitis; she said my entire eyeball would be pink. Said it was blepheritis. Remedy is an antibiotic creme. It’s already cleared up.

When I contacted the doctor recently about a similar issue I was advised to make an appointment with the optometrist in the first instance. It was blepharitis and they gave me medicated wipes, eye drops and an eye mask.

I scratched my eye a while ago and was in agony, and tried the chemist and high street opticians. I couldn't see an optician at any of the places i tried but the worst was Specsavers. They were useless.

In the end I walked to the nearest eye clinic (about 3 miles away - no biggie but bear in mind I was in a lot of pain) and they were great.

That was for an injury, not an infection.