Red scratchy eye: what to know

A gritty or scratchy feeling can happen when the eye surface is dry or irritated by dust, smoke, cosmetics, or contact lenses. Allergic conjunctivitis often brings itching, watering, and symptoms in both eyes. Conjunctivitis can cause redness, discharge, crusting, and discomfort, and may spread between people depending on its cause. A scratchy sensation after something enters the eye can also reflect a surface injury. Redness alone cannot show which explanation applies.

Do not rub the eye. Wash your hands, pause contact-lens wear, and remove eye makeup until the irritation has settled or a clinician advises otherwise. Rinse away loose dust with clean water or sterile saline; do not try to remove an embedded object. A cool clean compress may soothe watering or itch. Avoid using someone else's eye drops, particularly drops left from an earlier infection.

Seek urgent assessment for reduced or blurred vision, marked light sensitivity, significant pain, an injury, chemical exposure, a trapped object, or redness around a contact-lens-related eye problem. Get immediate help if swelling affects vision or the eye cannot open. Arrange review when discharge, redness, or scratchiness is worsening or not settling.

Ask whether the surface of the eye needs checking, when contact lenses can be worn again, whether others may be exposed, and which drops are appropriate for your symptoms.