Ways to treat pink eye

Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, affects the thin surface covering the white of the eye and inner eyelids. Watery discharge and a gritty feeling can occur with viral irritation, while thicker discharge may occur with bacterial infection. Itching in both eyes can point towards allergy. Symptoms alone do not always identify the cause, so a clinician may examine the eye and ask about contact with illness, allergies, lenses, or irritants.

A red eye may settle with simple care, but pain, reduced vision, or marked sensitivity to light needs a more careful assessment because those features can involve structures deeper than the conjunctiva.

Wash your hands before and after touching the eye, avoid rubbing, and clean discharge gently with a fresh damp cloth. Do not share towels, pillowcases, eye cosmetics, or eye drops. Pause contact lens use until the eye has recovered and a clinician confirms it is sensible to restart. Lubricating drops may ease dryness or grittiness; ask a pharmacist which type suits you.

Antibiotic treatment may be considered when a bacterial cause is suspected, but antibiotics do not treat viral or allergic conjunctivitis. Do not use another person’s drops or leftover medicine. A GP consultation can help distinguish causes and check whether another eye problem needs attention.

Arrange prompt medical assessment for significant eye pain, blurred or reduced vision, strong light sensitivity, injury, chemical exposure, or a red eye while wearing contact lenses. Seek urgent help if the eye is rapidly worsening, the eyelids are very swollen, or you cannot keep the eye open. A baby with a red or sticky eye should be assessed by a clinician. If symptoms do not improve, recur, or affect one eye severely, book a GP consultation.

Ask what cause is most consistent with your examination, whether you should stop contact lenses, whether drops are appropriate, and how long to avoid sharing towels or close face-to-face contact. Tell the clinician about pain, light sensitivity, vision changes, allergies, recent illness, and any products or chemicals that touched the eye.