Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva that causes a red, watery, and sometimes sticky eye. It is one of the most common eye complaints and can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or allergy. In most cases it settles on its own or with simple care.
The self-care basics are cleaning the eyes, good hand hygiene, and preventing spread. Viral conjunctivitis usually clears on its own, allergic conjunctivitis improves when the allergen is avoided, and bacterial conjunctivitis may need antibiotic drops.
Recognising the symptoms#
Viral conjunctivitis usually causes watery discharge, redness, and a gritty feeling in the eye. It often starts in one eye and spreads to the other within a few days. A cold or upper respiratory infection is often part of the same illness.
Bacterial conjunctivitis typically produces thicker discharge. The eyelids may stick together overnight, and the redness is often stronger. In children, bacterial conjunctivitis is relatively more common than in adults.
Allergic conjunctivitis causes strong itching, watering, and swelling. It usually affects both eyes at the same time and often follows the pollen or animal allergy season.
Discharge, itching, or pain#
The type of symptom helps point to the next step. Heavy sticky discharge and lids stuck together often suggest bacterial conjunctivitis. Watery eyes with cold symptoms often fit a viral cause. Strong itching points more toward allergy.
Pain, light sensitivity, and reduced vision are different from ordinary redness. If they are present, the eye should not be treated as simple conjunctivitis at home. This is especially true for contact lens wearers.
Conjunctivitis or another eye problem#
A suddenly red eye can have other causes too. Corneal inflammation causes more pain and light sensitivity than conjunctivitis. Acute glaucoma causes strong eye pain, headache, and vision loss.
In conjunctivitis, vision usually does not drop much, and pain is mild or absent. If the eye hurts a lot or vision gets worse, it may be a more serious problem.
Contact lenses and a red eye#
For a contact lens wearer, a red, painful, or light-sensitive eye should be assessed more easily. The lens can irritate the eye surface and raise the risk of corneal inflammation.
Take the lenses out as soon as symptoms begin and use glasses until the eye settles. The lens case and lenses can also keep irritation going if they are contaminated.
Self-care#
Wiping the eyes with a clean damp cloth removes discharge and often helps comfort. Use a clean cloth for each wipe, moving from the inner corner outward.
Wash hands carefully before and after touching the eyes. Do not share towels or pillowcases. Do not wear contact lenses during the infection, and replace the lens case after recovery.
A cool compress can help with swelling and itching. For allergic conjunctivitis, antihistamine drops can reduce itching. Lubricating eye drops can also help with the gritty feeling and irritation.
Preventing spread#
Viral conjunctivitis is very contagious, and the risk stays present while the eye is still producing discharge. Good hand hygiene matters a lot, and close contact with others should be considered carefully while the infection is active.
One common mistake is using the same drop bottle for both eyes when only one eye is affected. The bottle tip can spread the infection.
When to seek care#
Seek care if vision gets worse, light sensitivity becomes strong, pain is severe, pressure builds in the eye, or symptoms do not improve within a few days. Newborn eye infections always need professional assessment. Contact lens wearers should seek review with a lower threshold.
Further reading and sources#
Further reading: