Bacterial/Viral Conjunctivitis

[sophie_1003]

Yesterday I had a small eyelash in my right eye; I removed it and felt fine so put my contact lenses in but the one in my right started to feel funny so as soon as I got home I took them out. My eye started to go all red and gunky and this morning when I woke up my eyelashes on the right eye were stuck together and all crusty and yuk. Have been to the doctors and told her all this and she asked me if I've had a cold; I said I've had a cough but not a cold, she then checked to see if my glands were swollen (which they weren't), shined a light in my eye and decided I've got viral conjunctivitis, she prescribed some drops which she said will help with the gunk but obviously she can't do anything about the virus. I looked up the symptoms and to me it sounds more like bacterial, which I'm hoping it is as it sounds like that clears up quicker. Can anyone advise please; I was planning to go out on Saturday for my birthday but don't want to put everyone at risk of catching it!

[Mosaic]

keep putting in the drops as per the dose. Going on my own experience, I'd say most contact lens wearers are prone to flare-ups from time to time. That red-top Optrex is quite useful if your drops run out. It should die down as quickly as it arrived but go gentle on your eye surface. Keep hands, towels etc clean. Any handkerchiefs - blow and throw, wash hands afterwards. No eyemakeup until infection dies down. Resist all urges to rub at your eyes but if you do wash your hands afterwards.
I think that's about all you can do.

[sophie_1003]

Thanks Mosaic; those are the eye drops I've got as she wrote me a prescription but then said it would be cheaper to buy over the counter so I did that. Am keeping my hands way from my face and have got a clean towel for hand washing!

[york310]

Bacterial conjunctivitis - generally sticky, greenish discharge worse on waking,
Viral conjunctivitis - generally watery discharge.

The drops given are probably chloramphenicol which are for bacterial infections and not viral.
Clean your eyes with cooled boiled water and use the drops as prescribed. It is a self limiting condition which usually resolves within 7 days and evidence has been that actually the drops don't speed up the resolution that much.
It always looks worse than it is but cleaning regularly is the best management although if your eyes are slightly gritty too then try some artificial tears such as liquified to reduce the symptoms.

Happy birthday.

[joannie10]

I had similar last week and got ointment from the pharmacist - when I went to her I advised I had been flushing it out with cooled boiled salty water. she advised me to keep doing this outwith the times I was using the ointment. The problem started on the Wednesday and was the Thursday night before I got the ointment and really was pretty much gone on the Saturday. Good luck - no reason you can't go out on Saturday. good hygiene advise given by Mosaic.

[Sqad]

I agree with york......almost certainly bacterial..........you will be fine for Saturday.

[sophie_1003]

Yes she did say that they weren't for viral but said they might help stop the gunk and any irritation. York and Joannie, do you mean actually putting the water in my eyes? Thanks for all the advice, and Yay! Thanks Sqad, was starting to feel quite depressed. If it is bacterial when can I go back to work? I've already told them that the doctor said to have a week off but to go back if it clears up.

[Jemisa]

Awww! Sophie, how annoying these things always turn up when you've got plans, its (cold sores with me) Sophie use your own clean flannal & towels too you don't want to re-infect yourself.
Good luck for Saturday.

jem

[sophie_1003]

Yep; bloomin typical! Clean towel everytime I wash my hands?? Will run out of towels before the end of the day! Maybe I should use kitchen roll? Will definitely use clean flannel though!

[Sqad]

sophie.....if it is bacterial and if you have antibiotic drops, then you should be fit to return to work on Monday at the earliest.

[sophie_1003]

OK; thanks! I've told them I definitely won't be in tomorrow then will see how I am on Monday; have got lots to do so fingers crossed it will be cleared up by then!

[joannie10]

you could either use an eye bath or I put some cotton wool and wiped but remember only do that once with each bit of cotton wool and then throw away.

[sophie_1003]

Thanks, don't have an eye bath so will go with the cotton wool option; it's spread to the other eye now as well, grrr!

[sophie_1003]

My eyes feel much better today but how long should I avoid using make up for?