Boy is soft as blancmange - He doesn't do whirlwind of claw and fang.
^ Conjunctivitis sounds likely
I'm hoping that the cause if just mild bacterial infection, or even something that he rubs his head against, as opposed to something nastier and less easy to treat.
One of my cats had something similar, years ago. Can't remember what was wrong because it was years ago, but the vet gave me a little tube of eye gel for him, and he'd* shred the ever-loving fuck out of me every time I picked him up to apply it. A pair of these might help: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chain-Mail-Glove-/111570914284?pt=UK_BOI_ProtectiveGear_RL&hash=item19fa250bec
* the cat, i mean. not the vet.