EYE HEALTH
ONE IN THE EYE FOR
WHILE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THEY SHOULD BE VISITING THE OPTICIAN AT LEAST ONCE EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS FOR A CHECK-UP, NOT EVERYONE KEEPS TO THIS TIMETABLE, AND SO EYE CONDITIONS CAN FLARE UP UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING THE PATIENT TO CALL IN TO THE PHARMACY FOR ADVICE
AND POTENTIALLY FOR TREATMENT. When you consider that, according to the Royal National Institute of Blind People, over half of all sight losses could have been prevented, it goes without saying that community pharmacy can play a crucial role in helping patients with both advice and, in some cases, over-the-counter treatment.
CONJUNCTIVITIS While pharmacists are not experts 50 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST Common even in childhood,
in treating eye conditions, you are in a position to give patients advice based upon the symptoms presented and explain the correct use of the medications.
Among the most common eye conditions are:
conjunctivitis is the infl ammation of the conjunctiva: the moist, transparent membrane that covers the eyeball and inner eyelid. It tends to only affect one eye at fi rst, but usually affects both after a few hours.
The infl ammation is usually the result of:
• A bacterial or viral infection – this is known as infective conjunctivitis. This may be viral or bacterial in origin. Acute bacterial conjunctivitis characterised by a copious discharge and mild-to-moderate pain. Other symptoms include a red eye, with the sensation of a foreign body in the eye. Patients complain of the eye feeling ‘glued shut’ particularly in the morning on waking.
• An allergic reaction to a substance such as pollen or dust mites –this is known as allergic conjunctivitis. This is usually caused by pollen or other allergens and it’s estimated that
PHARMACY
around 70 per cent of patients with this condition will also suffer from asthma and/or allergies
• The eye coming into contact with things that can irritate the conjunctiva. This could include such things as shampoo, chlorinated water in swimming pools, a stray eyelash, or smoke or fumes. This is known as irritant conjunctivitis.
In most people, conjunctivitis runs its course and the infl ammation tends to clear up within a few days. Treatment isn’t usually needed for conjunctivitis, because the symptoms often clear up within a couple of weeks. If treatment is needed, the type of treatment will depend on the cause.
If treatment IS required, then the type of treatment will depend on the cause.
For infective conjunctivitis, cold compresses and aqueous artifi cial tear substitutes have proven to be useful in relieving
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