What causes pink eye?

Viral conjunctivitis often causes watery discharge and may accompany a cold; it can spread through close contact and contaminated hands or towels. Bacterial conjunctivitis may produce thicker discharge and eyelids that stick together. Allergy can cause marked itching, watering, and symptoms in both eyes, often alongside sneezing. Smoke, dust, cosmetics, contact lenses, or chemicals can irritate the conjunctiva without causing an infection. Redness alone cannot identify the cause, and pink eye is not the same as every condition that produces a red eye.

Wash hands often, avoid rubbing your eyes, do not share towels or eye cosmetics, and pause contact-lens use until symptoms have settled and advice has been given. A GP consultation can help distinguish infection, allergy, and irritation. Antibiotic treatment is only useful for selected bacterial cases; it does not treat viral or allergic conjunctivitis. A cool clean compress may soothe irritation, but avoid putting homemade solutions into the eye.

Seek urgent eye care for significant eye pain, reduced vision, intense light sensitivity, injury, chemical exposure, or a severely swollen eyelid. Arrange prompt assessment if symptoms affect a contact-lens wearer, are worsening, or include heavy discharge. Newborns with eye discharge need urgent medical advice.

Ask which cause is most consistent with your discharge and itching, whether you should stop contact lenses, how long you may be contagious, and whether treatment or an eye examination is needed.