hamster eye infection

Question
I noticed a week ago that my syrian hamster (9 months) had a swollen eye which was also red. I brought my hamster to the vet straight away and he prescribed n eye drops (fusidic acid). Although he couldnt put the drops in himself I managed to put them in when I got home and have done so twice daily. My hamster is still eating and drinking as normal and running around but his eye is worse. The eye is getting even redder and has a crusty bit of green in it today. I have started using boiled water (cooled) with a bit of salt to try and ease the infection. The vet was absolutely no help last week except for the prescription. He couldnt even handle my hamster and he is not aggressive as we handle him all the time. Can you please advise me if I'm doing anything wrong I dont want my hamster to lose his eye. His cage is always cleaned regularly and I have now removed his wood chippings as they might be making his eye worse and put his blue wool in instead. Please advise if I should do anything else. Thank you

Answer
Well I am not a hamster expert but if his eye is worse then you need a different antibiotic ointment for it. Not all antibiotics do the same thing or work on the same pathogens.

Rinsing his eye out twice daily is a good idea but forgo the salt. At this point it's too irritating for his eye.

Go back to the vet for another type of eye ointment, he owes you that at least.

You also might want to post to the hamster experts who have been through this. They always have some good advice.
Heather is one of them.

http://www.allexperts.com/ep/2005-34607/Gerbils-Hamsters/Heather.htm

There are others I believe.

I do hope you find something fast for his eye.