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Original poster

Daughter - Eye infection

34 replies

CM1897 · 09/02/2023 21:50

Hello,

My 15 year old daughter is due to go Iceland in the morning with her school. Her eye has swollen up (possibly conjunctivitis), it’s very painful and is probably going to be worse when she wakes up. Would you recommend going to A&E tonight, or just let it heal naturally? I feel awful for her, she’s been looking forward to this trip for so long

OP posts:
NCcantthinkofanewone · 09/02/2023 21:52

Bathe in cooled boiled water for the time being.

Is it gunky? Red? Stye?

SlB09 · 09/02/2023 21:55

Absolutely NOT a+e for a possible conjunctivitis. Find a pharmacy that's open until midnight (there one in each area) and get her seen. Or go first thing. You can get eye drops over the counter for conjunctivitis.

Unless she has problems with her vision, lights hurt her eyes, she's got headaches and it's not continuously swelling then please do not go to a+e for a minor problem.

CC4712 · 09/02/2023 21:56

What do you mean her eye has swollen? The lid, eye ball itself of something else? Did she hit her eye? Is he vision affected? Conjunctivitis generally causes irritation, like a gritty feeling in the eye and sticky/stuck discharge when you wake up. Was it sticky this morning?

Is there a late night pharmacy open for advice tonight? Or one en-route to airport tomorrow?

Original poster
CM1897 · 09/02/2023 21:59

SlB09 · 09/02/2023 21:55

Absolutely NOT a+e for a possible conjunctivitis. Find a pharmacy that's open until midnight (there one in each area) and get her seen. Or go first thing. You can get eye drops over the counter for conjunctivitis.

Unless she has problems with her vision, lights hurt her eyes, she's got headaches and it's not continuously swelling then please do not go to a+e for a minor problem.

I would never normally consider A&E for this, but I’m panicking because I don’t want this to ruin her holiday 🙈

OP posts:
Original poster
CM1897 · 09/02/2023 22:01

CC4712 · 09/02/2023 21:56

What do you mean her eye has swollen? The lid, eye ball itself of something else? Did she hit her eye? Is he vision affected? Conjunctivitis generally causes irritation, like a gritty feeling in the eye and sticky/stuck discharge when you wake up. Was it sticky this morning?

Is there a late night pharmacy open for advice tonight? Or one en-route to airport tomorrow?

It’s her eye lid, really swollen and her eye is 2 and gloopy. She thinks it may be spreading to her other eye. She has to leave for the airport at 2:45 am. I’m pretty sure it’s conjunctivitis, but it’s hurting enough to make her cry

OP posts:
Rummikub · 09/02/2023 22:02

chloramphenicol eye ointment works quickly for my dd. Quickly meaning over 2/3 days. Get it without prescription from pharmacy.

Johnnysgirl · 09/02/2023 22:03

CM1897 · 09/02/2023 22:01

It’s her eye lid, really swollen and her eye is 2 and gloopy. She thinks it may be spreading to her other eye. She has to leave for the airport at 2:45 am. I’m pretty sure it’s conjunctivitis, but it’s hurting enough to make her cry

Show quote history

There'll be a pharmacy at the airport, hopefully. Otherwise you'll just have to charge one of the teachers with getting her some medical attention when she arrives.
Poor girl.

Original poster
CM1897 · 09/02/2023 22:04

Johnnysgirl · 09/02/2023 22:03

There'll be a pharmacy at the airport, hopefully. Otherwise you'll just have to charge one of the teachers with getting her some medical attention when she arrives.
Poor girl.

Show quote history

Thank you

OP posts:
SellFridges · 09/02/2023 22:05

Just a warning that there is a shortage currently of the eye drops and the ointment you can buy over the counter. I went around 7 pharmacies in a major city last week to get some. I was successful in a pharmacy next to a walk in centre so maybe try one like that if you can.

Get some Blephaclean wipes as well. They worked well to clean mine up.

Rummikub · 09/02/2023 22:07

Yes I had same difficulty getting the chloramphenicol. Boots had stock. Can check on line.

WolfFoxHare · 09/02/2023 22:07

You need to try to get some chloramphenicol from a late night pharmacy.

SlB09 · 09/02/2023 22:07

If you manage to source some tonight from pharmacy apply every two hours if at all possible for the first 24hrs and this will relieve symptoms quickly before reducing dosage

Rummikub · 09/02/2023 22:09

Tbh if it’s spreading I dont think I’d send her.

Original poster
CM1897 · 09/02/2023 22:11

Rummikub · 09/02/2023 22:09

Tbh if it’s spreading I dont think I’d send her.

There is no way she can miss it, she will be heart broken, and it would be a complete waste of £1500

OP posts:
Johnnysgirl · 09/02/2023 22:13

CM1897 · 09/02/2023 22:11

There is no way she can miss it, she will be heart broken, and it would be a complete waste of £1500

Show quote history

God, don't let her miss it. They have medical facilities in Iceland too, she'll be better just as quickly there with treatment as she would be here.

Rummikub · 09/02/2023 22:14

Is there an eye a and e near you?

when my dd had similar to this untreated she ended up in hospital. They told me next time to take her to eye a and e.

How much swelling? Eye lid or all around? Vision obscured?

MyCreation · 09/02/2023 22:18

When you say it hurts enough to make her cry, does the pain feel like it's around or behind her eye socket, in her face?
My DD had an eye infection when she was about 10 and was crying and couldn't stand the light. I took her to GP who were closed to patients over lunch so I asked for an afternoon appointment if poss. One of the GPs walked through reception and saw DD and me and told us toncome straight in. He put her on oral antibiotics and eye drops and said if she was not in any less pain by end of afternoon to take her to A&E as she might need IV antibiotics. Luckily she was a little better so we didn't need to do that. Eye infections can spread into the face and behind the eye so I'd be concerned if she is crying with pain. I really hope she's ok . What rotten timing

Original poster
CM1897 · 09/02/2023 22:19

Rummikub · 09/02/2023 22:14

Is there an eye a and e near you?

when my dd had similar to this untreated she ended up in hospital. They told me next time to take her to eye a and e.

How much swelling? Eye lid or all around? Vision obscured?

This is what it looks like

Daughter - Eye infection
OP posts:
Earlgreyandcake · 09/02/2023 22:21

Can you post picture of open eye?

piglets29 · 09/02/2023 22:22

My teenage dd has had a couple of eye infections- kind of a spot inside the eyelid and very swollen. Both times, the gp has had a very low threshold for prescribing oral antibiotics. 2nd time we watched and waited with a back up prescription and it resolved with eye baths. In your situation, I think I would try my best to seek medical or pharmacy advice before she leaves. I feel for you!

Rummikub · 09/02/2023 22:24

Poor girl. Does look v swollen.

As @MyCreation said I had similar with my dd but she did end up on iv drip.
Now with my dd ages v good at spotting early signs so we use that eye ointment.

Call 111? Or eye a &e as she is in pain. re assess when she wakes up?

LIZS · 09/02/2023 22:26

Hot compress. Which airport and what time is the flight?

Restlessinthenorth · 09/02/2023 22:26

I'd go to A and E for swelling like that , especially if painful enough to make her cry!

Restlessinthenorth · 09/02/2023 22:28

I doubt school will even allow her to go unless the swelling goes down. She wouldn't likely be insured either, as the problem has started here before leaving. Go get her seen!

Wolfiefan · 09/02/2023 22:30

I too doubt they will take her if she’s got an eye swollen due to an undiagnosed problem and it’s making her cry in pain.