What should you know about Boots conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis affects the thin surface covering the white of the eye and inner eyelids. It can cause redness, watering, gritty discomfort, itching or sticky discharge. Viral conjunctivitis may accompany a cold, while allergy often causes itching and affects both eyes. Bacterial infection can produce thicker discharge, but symptoms overlap, so appearance alone cannot identify the cause.

A red eye is not always conjunctivitis. Contact-lens wear, injury, a foreign body or inflammation inside the eye can require different care.

Wash your hands before and after touching the eye, avoid rubbing, and gently clean discharge with clean water and a fresh cotton pad. Do not share towels, pillows, cosmetics or eye drops. Pause contact lenses until the eye is comfortable and a clinician or pharmacist says they are suitable again; discard lenses or solutions that may be contaminated.

Lubricating drops or an allergy treatment may help in selected cases. Antibiotic treatment is useful only when a clinician considers a bacterial cause; it does not treat viral or allergic conjunctivitis.

Get prompt medical advice for eye pain, reduced or blurred vision, marked light sensitivity, injury, a foreign body, or significant swelling. Contact-lens users with a painful or very red eye should seek urgent assessment. Arrange a GP consultation if symptoms are worsening, persistent, recurrent or affecting a newborn.

What cause is most likely from my symptoms? Should I stop lenses or use a particular drop? Could this spread to other people? Which changes mean I need an urgent eye assessment?