Patients usually come into the pharmacy with painful, red eyes or eyelids due to allergy or infection.

A minor eyelid infection known as a "stye" appears as a red swelling on the wet surface or the eyelid or under the eye. Conjunctivitis occurs as a painful, gritty sensation in the eye with redness and a discharge and is nearly always in both eyes.

Your eyes may be painful, red and itchy if you are suffering from hay fever. In this case you may have associated allergic symptoms.

Severe pain in and around the eye, or any change in vision with or without redness should be seen by a G.P.

Any child under 3 years suffering from sore eyes should be brought to the pharmacist or GP.

Styes and bacterial conjunctivitis will normally resolve within a few days and can be helped by over-the-counter medicines.