Pink eye in a 3-month-old baby

Arrange an assessment rather than using leftover drops. Until then, gently clean discharge and watch whether the eyelids swell, the baby avoids light, feeding changes or the baby becomes generally unwell.

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the thin membrane covering the white of the eye and inner eyelids. It can present with redness, watering, irritation and discharge. Viral and bacterial infections can resemble each other, while irritation may also redden the eye.

A blocked tear duct often causes watering or stickiness with little redness of the eyeball. A clinician uses the pattern of redness, discharge, swelling and the baby's general health to decide what is more likely and whether treatment is needed.

Wash your hands before and after touching the baby's face. Use clean cotton or gauze dampened with cooled boiled water to wipe discharge from the inner corner outward, using a fresh piece for each wipe and each eye.

Do not share towels, and wash items that touch the baby's face. Avoid breast milk, homemade solutions, adult eye products and previously opened drops in the eye. Antibiotic drops only help certain bacterial infections and must be chosen and dosed by a clinician.

Seek urgent medical care if the eye appears painful, the baby is very sensitive to light, cannot open the eye, has marked eyelid swelling, has a cloudy-looking front surface of the eye, or the redness followed an injury or chemical exposure.

Prompt assessment is also needed if redness spreads around the eye, the baby has fever, feeds poorly, is unusually sleepy or seems unwell. Emergency help is appropriate for difficulty waking, breathing problems, or a serious chemical exposure; rinse the eye with clean water while help is arranged.

Tell the clinician when redness or discharge began, whether one or both eyes are involved, and whether anyone nearby has similar symptoms. Ask how to clean the eye, whether medicine is indicated, how to apply it safely and when the baby should be rechecked.