Eye infection with yellow discharge: what to know

Yellow material may be a mixture of mucus, tears, and inflammatory cells on the eye surface. Conjunctivitis may also cause redness, watering, gritty discomfort, and crusting that makes the lashes stick together. Different forms include viral, bacterial, allergic, and irritant causes, and the same colour can appear in more than one situation. Itching suggests an allergic pattern, while pain, light sensitivity, or vision change needs closer assessment. The Eye Discharge guide can help you describe the timing, texture, and associated symptoms.

Clean your hands, then soften crusts with a clean damp cloth and wipe from the inner corner outward. Use separate clean cloths for each eye and do not share towels, pillowcases, cosmetics, or eye drops. Pause contact-lens wear and eye makeup while symptoms continue. Do not start leftover antibiotics: treatment depends on the cause, and some drops are unsuitable if the cornea is affected. If symptoms followed dust, a product, or a splash, rinse as directed for that exposure and seek advice when needed.

Seek prompt advice if discharge is heavy, recurring, or accompanied by increasing redness. Urgent assessment is needed for significant pain, blurred or reduced vision, marked light sensitivity, swelling around the eye, injury, or chemical exposure. Contact-lens wearers with pain, redness, or vision change should seek urgent eye care. A clinician may need to examine the eye before recommending drops.

Ask whether the pattern suggests conjunctivitis or another eye problem, and whether both eyes are involved. Mention contact lenses, recent illness, allergies, injury, new products, and when the discharge started. Ask how to clean the eye, whether treatment is needed, and when normal lens use can resume.