What should you know about black eye discharge?

Discharge can look dark after tears, mucus or debris dries around the lashes. Irritation, blocked tear drainage and infection can all alter the amount and texture. Conjunctivitis often causes redness, watering or sticky discharge, while allergic conjunctivitis more often causes itching and watery discharge.

Colour is not enough to identify the cause. Note whether one or both eyes are affected, whether the discharge returns during the day, and whether you have pain, light sensitivity, swelling or blurred vision.

Wash your hands before and after touching the eye. Gently clean the lashes with clean lukewarm water and a fresh cotton pad for each eye; do not share towels, pillows or eye cosmetics. Avoid rubbing, contact lenses and eye makeup until symptoms have settled or a clinician advises otherwise.

Do not use leftover antibiotic or steroid eye drops. If discharge keeps returning, arrange an assessment and describe its colour, thickness and timing. More information is available in Eye Discharge.

Seek urgent eye care for severe pain, reduced or blurred vision that does not clear with blinking, strong light sensitivity, marked swelling, injury, chemical exposure, or a red eye with headache or nausea. Prompt review is also needed for a newborn with eye discharge or rapidly worsening symptoms.

Ask whether the discharge fits infection, allergy or irritation, whether you should pause contact lenses, and which cleaning method is suitable. Ask how long to monitor symptoms and which changes mean you should seek same-day eye care.