Self-medication by patients presenting to an ophthalmic casualty department

This study examines the outcome of a period of self-medication prior to presentation at an ophthalmic casualty department. One hundred patients who had self-medicated completed a questionnaire at the time of presentation. Eleven different products/brands were used in self-medication, the most popular being Brolene drops or ointment (n = 55). Forty-five patients had sought advice from a community pharmacist, eight from a nurse and four from an optometrist. Forty-three patients had taken no professional advice. The period of self-medication was judged by an ophthalmologist to be insignificant in 73 of the cases, beneficial in four and detrimental in 23. Of the 23 cases judged “detrimental”, self-medication was considered in 19 cases to have delayed the treatment of a painful condition, and in four cases to have potentially threatened the visual outcome.