Hemorrhagic conjunctivitis: symptoms and care

This form of conjunctivitis can make the white of the eye look bright red because small surface blood vessels leak beneath the clear covering. Irritation, watering, swelling, gritty discomfort, and discharge may occur. The appearance can be alarming, but the visible patch does not by itself show how serious the cause is.

Infectious conjunctivitis can spread through hands, towels, cosmetics, and shared surfaces. Eye pain, marked light sensitivity, or blurred vision is less typical of simple surface irritation and should change how quickly you seek care.

Wash your hands before and after touching the face, avoid rubbing the eye, and do not share towels, pillows, eye drops, or makeup. Clean discharge gently with fresh water and a clean pad, using a new pad for each eye. Pause contact lens use until a clinician says it is safe.

A GP or eye clinician can examine the surface and vision and decide whether treatment is needed. Antibiotic treatment is not useful for every cause, so do not use someone else’s drops or any medicine left from an earlier eye problem.

Get urgent medical help for severe eye pain, reduced or blurred vision, strong light sensitivity, an eye injury, chemical exposure, or inability to open the eye. Seek prompt assessment if you wear contact lenses, symptoms worsen, or redness spreads with swelling around the eye. Emergency symptoms take priority over waiting for the redness to fade.

Ask whether the pattern fits conjunctivitis, whether you should stay away from close contact, and how long to avoid lenses or eye makeup. Ask which changes in vision, pain, or discharge should trigger an urgent review.