What should you know about vernal conjunctivitis signs?

Vernal conjunctivitis often affects both eyes and may flare in warmer seasons or around environmental triggers. Itching is usually prominent, with a red or gritty feeling, watery eyes and sometimes thick, stringy eye discharge. The inner eyelid may look bumpy. Symptoms can overlap with other forms of conjunctivitis, so a red eye is not enough to identify the cause. Contact lenses, cosmetics and rubbing can further irritate the eye surface.

Avoid rubbing your eyes, wash your hands before touching the face and use a cool clean compress for comfort. Limit exposure to smoke, dust and known triggers, and keep towels and pillowcases personal if discharge is present. An assessment can confirm the cause and check the cornea. Treatment may include prescribed anti-inflammatory or allergy medicines; antibiotics do not treat an allergic cause unless a clinician identifies a separate bacterial infection. Remove contact lenses until a clinician says they are suitable again.

Seek urgent eye care for significant eye pain, reduced or blurred vision that does not clear with blinking, marked light sensitivity, a cloudy-looking cornea, injury or chemical exposure. Prompt assessment is also needed if one eye becomes dramatically worse, swelling prevents the eye opening or symptoms occur in a contact-lens wearer. Do not rub the eye or use someone else’s drops while waiting for advice.

Does the pattern fit vernal conjunctivitis or another eye condition? Is the cornea affected? Which drops are appropriate, and for how long? When can I safely resume contact lenses?