What should you know about conjunctivitis from contacts?

A lens, its storage case, or a cleaning routine can irritate the eye. Wearing lenses during an eye infection may also keep the surface inflamed. Conjunctivitis may cause redness, tearing, itching, or discharge, but contact-lens wearers with a red or painful eye need a lower threshold for assessment because the cornea can also become involved.

A lens that feels uncomfortable should not be forced into place. Do not assume that removing it proves the problem is simple. Tell the clinician the lens type, wearing schedule, cleaning solution, and whether you slept or showered while wearing lenses.

Remove the lenses and leave them out while the eye is red, painful, swollen, producing discharge, or otherwise uncomfortable. Do not rinse a lens and reinsert it to test the eye. Use glasses instead, wash hands before touching the area, and do not share eye drops, towels, or cosmetics.

Keep the lens and case available if a clinician asks about them, but do not reuse them without specific advice. Do not start antibiotic drops from an old prescription. A GP consultation can direct you to suitable eye assessment, and antibiotic treatment is appropriate only for selected causes.

Arrange prompt same-day advice for a painful red eye in a contact-lens wearer, new light sensitivity, blurred or reduced vision, marked discharge, or a feeling that something is stuck on the eye. Urgent help is needed if symptoms are severe or vision changes suddenly. Do not wait for symptoms to settle while continuing lens use.

Ask whether the cornea needs checking, when lenses can be replaced or resumed, whether the case and solution should be discarded, and which symptoms mean urgent eye care. Mention every product used near the eye and any recent lens hygiene difficulty.