Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis (or red eye) is a common eye condition. It usually gets better in a few weeks without treatment.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis usually causes symptoms in both eyes like:

• inflammation
• redness
• itching
• a burning or gritty feeling
• watering
• pus that sticks to the eyelashes

Causes of conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis happens when the conjunctiva becomes inflamed. This is a thin layer of cells covering the front of your eyes.

The 3 most common causes of this inflammation are:

• infection (infective conjunctivitis)
• an allergic reaction (allergic conjunctivitis)
• something irritating the conjunctiva, like a loose eyelash (irritant conjunctivitis)

Treating and preventing conjunctivitis

Do

• boil water and let it cool down before you gently wipe your eyelashes to clean off crusts with a clean cotton wool pad (1 piece for each eye)
• hold a cold towel over your eyes for a few minutes
• wash your hands regularly – this is particularly important after touching your eyes
• use lubricant eye drops – these are available at pharmacies or they may be prescribed for you

Don’t

• do not rub your eyes
• do not wear contact lenses until the symptoms have cleared up
• don’t re-use old lenses after the infection has gone – they could cause re-infection
• do not not share pillows or towels

You don’t need to take time off school or work if you have conjunctivitis unless you’re feeling very unwell.

Get advice from a pharmacist

Speak to a pharmacist for advice about conjunctivitis. They can suggest eyedrops or antihistamines to help with your symptoms.

Find your nearest pharmacy

Phone an optometrist urgently if you have:

• pain in your eyes
• sensitivity to light
• changes in your vision, like wavy lines or flashing
• very red eyes (1 eye or both eyes)
• a baby less than 28 days old with red eyes

These can be signs of a more serious eye problem.

If your optometrist is closed phone 111.

Speak to an optometrist if:

• your baby has red eyes – get an urgent appointment if your baby is less than 28 days old
• you wear contact lenses and have conjunctivitis symptoms as well as spots on your eyelids – you might be allergic to the lenses
• you have symptoms that haven’t cleared up after 2 weeks

Treatments for conjunctivitis

Treatment for conjunctivitis will depend on what’s causing it.

You may be prescribed antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection. But these won’t work if the symptoms are caused by a virus or an allergy.

Allergic conjunctivitis can usually be treated with antihistamines. If possible, you should also try to avoid the substance that triggered the allergy.

Irritant conjunctivitis will ease when whatever is causing the symptoms is removed.

Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can cause conjunctivitis. This type takes longer to get better.

Eye problems self-help guide

Complete our self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next.

Eye problems

Before using this guide

If you’re asking on behalf of someone else, please make sure the person is:

• conscious and alert
• responding normally to you

If not, phone 999 and ask for an ambulance.