Excess eye discharge: what to know

Watery discharge may occur with irritation or allergy. Itching, redness, and symptoms in both eyes can fit allergic conjunctivitis, while sticky or pus-like discharge with redness can occur with conjunctivitis. A blocked tear duct, dry eye, eyelid inflammation, or a foreign body can also cause excess material. Colour alone cannot confirm the cause.

Eye discharge with marked pain, light sensitivity, swelling around the eye, or reduced vision needs more cautious assessment because problems affecting the cornea or deeper tissues may be present.

Wash your hands before and after touching the eye. Gently clean discharge with clean water and a fresh cotton pad or clean cloth, using a separate pad for each eye. Do not share towels, cosmetics, or eye drops, and pause contact lenses until symptoms have settled and a clinician advises they are safe to resume. Avoid rubbing the eyes.

Get urgent eye care for severe pain, reduced or blurred vision, strong light sensitivity, injury, a chemical splash, a stuck object, or swelling that makes eye movement difficult. Seek prompt review when discharge is worsening, the eyelids repeatedly stick together, symptoms affect a newborn, or there is no clear improvement.

Tell the clinician when discharge began, whether it is watery or sticky, whether one or both eyes are affected, and whether itching, pain, vision change, contact-lens use, or recent exposure to someone with conjunctivitis is present.