Red, watery, painful eye sensitive to light: what should you know?

Simple Conjunctivitis can cause redness, watering, irritation, and discharge, but pronounced pain or light sensitivity is less typical and should not be dismissed. Allergic Conjunctivitis usually causes itching and watering in both eyes after an allergen exposure. Pain with light sensitivity can also occur when the clear front surface of the eye is scratched or inflamed, or when inflammation affects deeper structures. A clinician needs to examine the eye, check vision, and ask about contact lenses, injury, chemicals, and recent infection.

Remove contact lenses and do not wear them again until an eye professional says it is safe. Avoid rubbing the eye and use sunglasses if light is uncomfortable. If a chemical entered the eye, rinse continuously with clean lukewarm water while arranging emergency help. Do not patch the eye or use leftover antibiotic, steroid, or numbing drops. Avoid driving if pain or blurred vision affects your ability to see safely.

Seek same-day medical or eye-care assessment for this symptom combination, especially if it started suddenly or is worsening. Emergency help is needed for reduced or lost vision, severe headache with nausea, an irregular pupil, a penetrating injury, chemical exposure, or marked swelling. Contact-lens wearers should treat pain and light sensitivity as particularly urgent because corneal infection can progress quickly.

Is the cornea scratched or inflamed? Has my vision changed? Do I need an eye specialist today? When can I resume contact lenses, and which drops are safe?