Conjunctivitis and a sticky eye: what to know

Conjunctivitis inflames the eye surface. The eye may water more, and mucus or pus can collect along the lashes while you sleep, leaving the lids stuck together on waking. Viral, bacterial and allergic forms may all cause discharge, although the amount and texture can differ. Sticky discharge is therefore a clue rather than a diagnosis. Redness, itch, gritty discomfort and watering can add useful context.

Discharge from the eye is a common presentation of conjunctivitis, but a sticky eye with marked pain, reduced vision or intense light sensitivity should not be managed as simple conjunctivitis without assessment.

Soften crusts with clean lukewarm water, then wipe from the inner corner outward with a fresh pad. Use a new pad for each eye and wash hands thoroughly afterwards. Avoid rubbing, eye makeup and shared towels. Do not squeeze discharge from the eyelids. Contact lenses should be removed and kept out until symptoms have settled and a clinician confirms that restarting them is appropriate. A GP consultation can assess the eye and decide whether any medicine is suitable. Antibiotic treatment is reserved for selected bacterial infections and will not treat viral or allergic irritation.

Seek urgent help for severe pain, a change in vision, strong light sensitivity, an injury, chemical splash, or swelling that makes the eye difficult to open. Contact-lens wearers with a painful red eye need prompt assessment. Arrange a GP review when discharge is increasing, symptoms are not settling, or episodes recur. Do not use old prescription drops unless a clinician advises it.

Ask what the discharge suggests, whether both eyes are involved, how to clean the lids, when you can return to contact lenses or cosmetics, and whether anyone in the household needs advice because conjunctivitis can spread through hand and surface contact.