Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is also known as red or pink eye.
It usually affects both eyes and makes them:
- red
- burn or feel gritty
- produce pus that sticks to lashes
- itch
- water
If you’re not sure it’s conjunctivitis
There are things you can do to help ease the symptoms of conjunctivitis.
- Wash your eyelids with clean water. Boil the water and let it cool down, then gently wipe your eyelashes with a clean cotton wool pad to clean off crusts (1 piece for each eye).
- Hold a cold flannel on your eyes for a few minutes to cool them down.
Do not wear contact lenses until your eyes are better.
A pharmacist can help with conjunctivitis
Speak to a pharmacist about conjunctivitis. They can give you advice and suggest eyedrops or antihistamines to help with your symptoms.
If you need treatment for a child under 2 years old, you’ll need a prescription from a GP.
There are things you can do to stop conjunctivitis spreading to other people.
Do
-
wash your hands regularly with warm soapy water
-
wash your pillow cases and face cloths in hot water and detergent
-
cover your mouth and nose when sneezing and put used tissues in the bin
Don’t
-
do not share towels and pillows
-
do not rub your eyes
You do not need to stay away from work or school unless you or your child are feeling very unwell.
See a GP if:
- your baby has red, sticky eyes – get an urgent appointment if your baby is less than 30 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 conjunctivitis and your symptoms have not cleared up within 7 days
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 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 30 days old with red, sticky eyes
These can be signs of a more serious eye problem.
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Treatment will depend on the cause of your conjunctivitis.
If it’s a bacterial infection, you might be prescribed antibiotics. But these will not work if it’s caused by a virus (viral conjunctivitis) or an allergy.
Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can cause conjunctivitis. This type takes longer to get better.
14 May 2025
