- GENERAL EYE CONDITION
- Medical Management
Conjunctivitis
Inflammation of the eye’s outer surface that causes redness, discharge and irritation.
- Very common
- Usually clears within 1–2 weeks
- Non-surgical treatment
- Can affect one or both eyes
Clinical photograph. Presentation varies by cause and isn’t intended for self-diagnosis.
What is Conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. It’s one of the most common eye conditions, often triggered by a virus, bacteria or an allergic reaction, and it tends to come on quickly rather than build up gradually.
The inflamed tissue swells and produces extra tears or discharge, which is what turns the white of the eye pink or red (NHS conditions: conjunctivitis). Viral and bacterial cases are usually contagious and spread easily through contact, while the allergic type isn’t contagious and often affects both eyes at once.
Most cases clear up on their own within a couple of weeks. But because a red eye can also signal something more serious, a specialist assessment confirms the cause and rules out anything that needs closer attention.
Symptoms to Look Out For
- Redness across the white of the eye, in one or both eyes
- Watery eyes, or a sticky yellow-green discharge
- Gritty, itchy or burning sensation
- Crusting on the eyelashes, especially on waking
- Mild sensitivity to light
- Slightly blurred vision that clears with blinking
- Swollen or puffy eyelids
Could it be something else?
Similar symptoms can point to something else. Crusty, persistently red eyelid margins are more often blepharitis, ongoing grittiness without much redness may be dry eye, and a firm, localised eyelid lump is more likely a chalazion or stye than conjunctivitis.
- When to seek help
If you have real eye pain, reduced vision or symptoms in a newborn, seek same-day advice.
Redness combined with pain, light sensitivity or blurred vision that doesn’t clear can point to something more serious and is worth a same-day assessment.
What Causes Conjunctivitis?
It has several possible triggers, and treatment differs by cause. A specialist assessment identifies which one is behind your symptoms.
Viral infection
The most common cause, often alongside a cold, and highly contagious.
Bacterial infection
Produces a thicker, yellow-green discharge, and responds well to antibiotic drops.
Allergic reaction
Triggered by pollen, dust or pet dander, usually itchy in both eyes.
Irritants
Chlorine, smoke, chemicals or a foreign body can all inflame the conjunctiva.
Redness Alone Doesn't Tell You the Cause. Here's How We Find Out.
Most people reach for whatever drops are in the cabinet, and for a mild case that’s often fine. But viral, bacterial and allergic cases need different treatment, and treating the wrong one can prolong symptoms or spread an infection further. Mr Aziz examines the eye directly rather than working from a description alone, so treatment matches the actual cause.
1
Thorough examination
A close look at the eye, eyelids and any discharge under magnification.
2
Identify the type
Viral, bacterial, allergic or irritant: each one is treated differently.
3
Targeted treatment plan
Drops or advice matched to the actual cause, not a guess.
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on the cause, and is usually short and straightforward.
Supportive care
Cool compresses and lubricating drops ease symptoms while a viral infection runs its course.
Antibiotic drops
Prescribed for a confirmed bacterial infection, usually clearing symptoms within days.
Antihistamine drops
Reduce itching and redness from an allergic reaction, alongside avoiding the trigger where possible.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions.
Is conjunctivitis contagious?
Often, yes. Viral and bacterial cases spread easily through contact with hands, towels or pillowcases, and viral cases in particular can pass around a household quickly. The allergic type isn’t contagious at all, since it’s a reaction rather than an infection.
Will it come back?
It can, especially the allergic type if you’re exposed to the same trigger again, or a new viral infection picked up from a different source. A bacterial infection that’s properly treated is less likely to recur unless re-exposed.
Will I need surgery?
No. It’s managed with drops, compresses or simple hygiene measures. Surgery has no role in treating it.
How long does treatment take to work?
A bacterial infection usually improves within a few days of starting antibiotic drops. The viral type has no direct cure and typically settles on its own within one to two weeks. Allergic cases often improve within a day or two of starting antihistamine drops.
Can I wear contact lenses with conjunctivitis?
No, not until it’s fully cleared. Lenses can worsen irritation, slow healing and, in bacterial or viral cases, harbour the infection. Switching to glasses during a flare-up is the safer option.
What does conjunctivitis look like?
The white of the eye looks pink or red, sometimes with visible small blood vessels. Bacterial cases often bring a thick yellow-green discharge that can crust the lashes shut overnight, viral cases tend to be watery, and allergic cases usually look puffier and itchier than sore.
How do you get conjunctivitis?
Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis spread through contact with infected fluid, whether that’s touching an affected eye and then a surface, or close contact with someone who has it. The allergic type develops on exposure to a trigger like pollen or pet dander, with no infection involved.
How is it treated?
Treatment depends on the cause. Bacterial cases respond to antibiotic drops, allergic cases to antihistamine drops, and viral cases mainly to time, cool compresses and lubricating drops while it runs its course.
How can I get rid of conjunctivitis faster?
There’s no way to speed up a viral infection beyond supportive care, but good hand hygiene stops you reinfecting yourself or spreading it further. For a bacterial or allergic case, starting the right drops promptly makes the biggest difference to how quickly it clears.
Is conjunctivitis the same as pink eye?
Yes. “Pink eye” is simply the common name for conjunctivitis, used more often in everyday conversation than in clinical settings.
Should I just wait it out, or see someone?
A mild, watery case in an otherwise well eye often does settle on its own. But if there’s pain, light sensitivity, reduced vision, or symptoms haven’t improved within a week, an assessment confirms what you’re dealing with rather than leaving it to guesswork.
Can babies get conjunctivitis?
Yes, and it needs prompt attention. In a newborn’s first month, it can signal an infection that needs urgent treatment, so it’s always worth same-day advice rather than waiting to see.
What's the difference between conjunctivitis and blepharitis?
Conjunctivitis inflames the clear membrane covering the eye itself, while blepharitis inflames the eyelid margins where the lashes grow. The two can look similar and sometimes occur together, which is part of why a proper assessment is the only reliable way to know which one you have.
Can I go to work or school with conjunctivitis?
It depends on the cause. Bacterial and viral cases are contagious, so many schools and nurseries ask you to stay away until symptoms clear or treatment has started. The allergic type isn’t contagious, so there’s no need to stay off for that reason alone.
What eye drops should I use?
That depends on the cause, which is exactly why a quick assessment helps. Over-the-counter lubricating drops ease mild, watery cases, but a bacterial infection needs a prescription antibiotic, and an allergic reaction responds best to a specific antihistamine drop rather than a general one.
How can I stop it spreading to others?
Wash your hands often, avoid touching or rubbing the affected eye, and don’t share towels, pillows or makeup while symptoms last. Contact lens wearers should switch to glasses until it clears.
Can I wear makeup while I have it?
It’s best to avoid eye makeup until symptoms have cleared, and to throw away anything used just before or during the infection. Old mascara or eyeliner can reintroduce bacteria and trigger it again.
Does conjunctivitis cause any lasting damage to vision?
Rarely, and almost never with a straightforward viral, bacterial or allergic case. Severe or repeatedly untreated infections can occasionally affect the cornea, which is one more reason persistent or worsening symptoms deserve a proper look rather than continued self-treatment.
What's the difference between conjunctivitis and dry eye?
Dry eye tends to build up gradually and causes a gritty, dry discomfort without much discharge, while conjunctivitis often comes on quickly with redness, watering or a sticky discharge. The two can overlap, so an assessment settles which one is driving your symptoms.
Not Sure If This Is What You Have?
A specialist assessment will give you clarity — and a plan.