Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis
Overview
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Conjunctivitis (or red eye) is a common eye condition. It usually gets better in a few weeks without treatment.
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
Phone an optometrist urgently if you have:
- pain in your eyes
- sensitivity to light
- changes in your vision, like wavy lines or flashing
- very red eyes (1 eye or both eyes)
- a baby less than 28 days old with red eyes
These can be signs of a more serious eye problem.
If your optometrist is closed phone 111.
Speak to an optometrist if:
- your baby has red eyes – get an urgent appointment if your baby is less than 28 days old
- you wear contact lenses and have conjunctivitis symptoms as well as spots on your eyelids – you might be allergic to the lenses
- you have symptoms that haven’t cleared up after 2 weeks
Causes
Conjunctivitis develops when the conjunctiva, the thin layer of cells covering the front of your eyes, becomes inflamed. There are 3 main reasons this happens:
- an infection (infective conjunctivitis)
- an allergic reaction (allergic conjunctivitis)
- something irritating the eye, like a loose eyelash (irritant conjunctivitis)
Treatment
Do
- boil water and let it cool before you gently wipe your eyelashes to clean off crusts, using a clean cotton wool pad (1 piece for each eye)
- hold a cold towel over your eyes for a few minutes
- wash your hands often, especially after touching your eyes
- use lubricant eye drops, available at pharmacies or on prescription
Don't
- do not rub your eyes
- do not wear contact lenses until the symptoms have cleared up
- do not reuse old lenses once the infection is gone, as they could cause re-infection
- do not share pillows or towels
You do not need to take time off school or work for conjunctivitis unless you feel very unwell.
Get advice from a pharmacist
A pharmacist can advise you on conjunctivitis and suggest eyedrops or antihistamines to ease your symptoms.
Treatments for conjunctivitis
Treatment depends on what is causing the conjunctivitis.
If it is a bacterial infection, you may be prescribed antibiotics, but these will not help if the cause is a virus or an allergy.
Allergic conjunctivitis usually responds to antihistamines, and it also helps to avoid whatever triggered the allergy where possible.
Irritant conjunctivitis settles once the irritating substance is removed.
Conjunctivitis caused by some STIs takes longer to clear up.
Eye problems self-help guide
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