Eyes and ears

Question 1

I’m experiencing sore eyes can you take a look for me?

What symptoms should you look for in conjunctivitis?

Answer 1

Eye redness - blood vessels dilate
Discharge - inflamed glands that produce tears
Irritated eyes - not painful

Question 2

How can you differentiate between viral and bacterial conjunctivitis?

Answer 2

Viral - both eyes affected with watery discharge and gritty sensation, perhaps with associated cold symptoms

Bacterial - one or both eyes affected with sticky discharge and gritty sensation

Allergic - both eyes affected, watery and clear discharge with itching

Question 3

Referral for conjunctivitis

Answer 3

Do you have blurred vision? Yes
Any pain? Yes
How long as this been going on? 7+ days
Are you sensitive to light? Yes

Question 4

How can you treat viral conjunctivitis?

Answer 4

Boil water and let it cool
Then using a clean cotton wool piece, clean the crusts off the eyes
Do this regularly throughout the day
Use a cold flannel when necessary to soothe eyes
Wash hands regularly
Do not share towels and pillows
Do not rub eyes
No contact lenses until 24h after infection cleared and treatment stopped

Question 5

How can you treat bacterial conjunctivitis?

Answer 5

Chloramphenicol eye drops or ointment

e.g. Opticrom

Question 6

Can I use a cotton bud to clean my ears?

Answer 6

It is not recommended because the cotton bud only pushes the wax further towards the ear drum, which can lead to the wax becoming compacted and blocking the ear, this can lead to hearing loss if not treated

Question 7

What are the symptoms of ear wax build up?

Answer 7

Discomfort 
Full feeling in ear
Sensation that ear is blocked
Temporary hearing loss
Ringing in ears
Rare: itching, pain, dizziness and tinnitus

Question 8

How can you treat ear wax build up?

Answer 8

Ear drops
- Carex virgin olive oil drops
Use twice a day for up to 7 days, 2-3 drops in ear and massage in
- Carex sodium bicarbonate drops
3-4 drops into ear using dropper for up to 7 days
- No cotton buds
- Wear swimming cap if swimming 
- Keep shampoos out of ear
- Dry ear canal after showering 

How to put drops in

• Warm drops to room temperature
• Put affected ear uppermost
• Pull pinna back and up (adult)
• Pull pinna down and back (child)
• Give drops and stay still for 5 minutes

Question 9

Referral for ear wax build up

Answer 9

• Trauma
• Foreign body present
• Dizzy, pain, tinnitus
• Severe pain
• Discharge
• Fever and malaise in children
• When syringing needed