What should you know about heavy eye discharge?

Conjunctivitis can cause sticky or watery discharge, redness, and eyelids that stick together. Allergic Conjunctivitis more often causes itching and watering, commonly affecting both eyes. The colour and amount of discharge do not reliably distinguish the cause, and discharge by itself does not prove a bacterial infection. Contact lenses, a foreign body, or an irritated eyelid can also need specific care.

Wash your hands before and after touching the eye. Gently clean crusts with clean water and a fresh pad for each eye, then discard the pad. Do not share towels, pillows, eye drops, or cosmetics, and avoid rubbing your eyes. Stop wearing contact lenses until symptoms have cleared and a clinician or optometrist confirms it is safe. Do not use leftover antibiotic drops.

Seek urgent eye care for significant eye pain, reduced or blurred vision, marked light sensitivity, injury, chemical exposure, a swollen eyelid with fever, or symptoms in a contact-lens wearer. Emergency help is needed for sudden vision loss or a chemical splash; rinse with clean running water while arranging help.

Ask whether the discharge pattern fits infection, allergy, or another eye problem, whether testing is needed, and when you can restart contact lenses. Mention one-eye or two-eye involvement, itching, pain, vision changes, recent illness, new cosmetics, and lens use.