Conjunctivitis (red or pink eye)

Conjunctivitis is a really common condition, affecting one or both eyes, that’s caused by inflammation of the thin layer of tissue that covers the front of the eye and inner surfaces of the eyelid, called the conjunctiva. You may have also heard it referred to as pink or red eye.

Conjunctivitis symptoms

Symptoms of conjunctivitis can be different depending on its underlying cause. Generally, symptoms could include:

Pink, red, bloodshot or puffy eyes
A burning or gritty feeling in the eye
Itchiness
Watery eyes
Sticky or crusty eyelashes – it can feel like your eyes are stuck together when you wake up
Eye twitching

If you experience any eye pain, light sensitivity, vision problems or intense red eyes, then contact your optician, GP or NHS 111 as soon as possible as these symptoms could be a sign of a more serious eye condition.

Types and causes of conjunctivitis

There are three general types of conjunctivitis: infective (either viral or bacterial), allergic and irritant.

Viral vs bacterial conjunctivitis

Viral conjunctivitis

This is the most common cause of conjunctivitis and happens most in adults. It’s often caused by the adenovirus, which also causes things like common colds and flu, and is very contagious. You’ll usually get watery eyes with this type, rather than the pus discharge more common with bacterial conjunctivitis.

Bacterial conjunctivitis

This can be caused by a variety of bacteria, but it’s usually caused by bacteria found on your skin or from your nose or throat. This type is more common in children and is usually much milder than the viral type. You might also get bacterial conjunctivitis from someone else, touching your eyes with unclean hands, or using contact lenses that have come into contact with water or other infections.

Allergic conjunctivitis

Allergic reactions are another common cause of pink eye. This can happen when things like pollen, animal fur, dust, make‑up or other chemicals come into contact with the eye and trigger your body’s immune system to fight it off – which is what causes the inflammation.

Irritant conjunctivitis

Sometimes, conjunctivitis might develop after the eye comes into contact with something that irritates it, like shampoo, chlorinated water or a loose eyelash.

How is conjunctivitis diagnosed?

If symptoms are bothering you, get in touch with your optician, GP or pharmacist. They’ll ask you some questions and take a good look at your eyes to determine whether you have conjunctivitis.

They’ll also be able to advise you on the best way to clear your symptoms and make you feel more comfortable.

Conjunctivitis in children (advice for parents)

Pink eye is quite common in children, particularly in those under five, and is usually caused by an infection or allergy.

What should I do if my child has conjunctivitis?

Treatment isn’t usually necessary for children with conjunctivitis, so home treatment will usually do the trick. That involves gently cleaning the affected eye or eyes with cotton balls soaked in cooled, boiled water.

It’s also important to make sure everyone in the household regularly washes their hands, and your child doesn’t share any towels or pillowcases to prevent it from spreading to other family members.

If symptoms get more severe (eye pain, sensitivity to light, changes in vision, headache, vomiting, blisters on the skin around the eye) or last longer than two weeks, then you should take them in to see their GP as soon as possible.

Can my child go to school with conjunctivitis?

Advice on this can vary by area but according to official advice from Public Health England, there’s no need to take your child out of school if they have conjunctivitis. Just make sure to remind your child not to rub their eyes and to regularly wash their hands.

The only time it might be necessary to take them out of school is if there is a wider outbreak of infective conjunctivitis at their school. It’s also worth noting that some schools have policies in place around conjunctivitis, for example, staying off school for 24‑48 hours – so it’s best to give them a call to check.

When should I seek advice?

You should take your child to see their optician, GP or pharmacist if:

They’ve had symptoms and sticky eyes for longer than two weeks
They have increasing irritation or uncomfortable eyes for longer than two days.

You should seek immediate advice from your optician, GP, pharmacist or NHS 111 (or equivalent) if:

They’re under four weeks old
They have painful symptoms
They’re very sensitive to light (photophobia)
Their vision is blurry
They have a rash
You think there might be something in their eye
They have a bad headache and keep being sick.

Conjunctivitis treatment

Treatment for conjunctivitis will depend on what’s causing it. In many cases, symptoms will usually clear up on their own after a couple of weeks, so treatment isn’t always necessary.Other treatment options include:

Home remedies for conjunctivitis

When dealing with conjunctivitis, opting for home remedies is a good first step in tackling this eye condition. There are a few things you can do at home to help make your eyes feel more comfortable:

If you wear contact lenses, it’s best not to irritate your eyes any further, so avoid wearing them while you have symptoms and wear your specs instead.
Lubricating or moisturising eye drops can help to soothe your eyes.
You can gently wipe and clean sticky eyelids and lashes with some cotton wool soaked in warm water (cooled from boiling).
Try a heat compress eye mask like our Antibacterial Dry Eye Compress to soothe any painful symptoms.

Eye drops for conjunctivitis

Eye drops for conjunctivitis can provide relief from dry eyes and other symptoms of the condition. There are three types of eye drops you can use to help ease symptoms;

Antibiotic eye drops

Conjunctivitis antibiotic eye drops are sometimes given to people with more severe cases of bacterial conjunctivitis to help clear up the infection. You can also get this as an eye ointment instead if you struggle with eye drops.

Antihistamine eye drops

Antihistamine eye drops or tablets might be prescribed for certain types of allergic conjunctivitis. This helps to stop the body from reacting to any allergens you’re sensitive to.

Moisturising eye drops

Lubricating eye drops can be used to help soothe eyes when you are experiencing conjunctivitis symptoms. We offer a range of preservative free eye drops, like Blephasol Duo, that can be bought in our Specsavers stores that can help provide you some relief and comfort.

Treatment for conjunctivitis in children

Most children who develop conjunctivitis have the bacterial type, which usually clears away on its own after a few days or a couple of weeks. So the best thing to do is often with daily care at home. Using cotton balls soaked in cooled, boiled water, gently clean the eyes by wiping outwards from the bridge of the nose in one direction. Make sure to replace the cotton ball each time.

If your child gets more severe symptoms, then contact your GP to get it checked out.

Conjunctivitis prevention

As conjunctivitis is often contagious, you can help to prevent it spreading by:

Regularly washing your hands with warm soapy water
Not touching or rubbing your eyes
Not sharing towels, flannels or pillows – and regularly cleaning ones you do use
Not sharing make‑up with other people
Practise good eye hygiene by using eyelid wipes and solutions (wipes can also help remove pollen that could be contributing to allergic conjunctivitis).
If you wear contact lenses, get in touch with your optician for advice. Unless directed otherwise, you shouldn’t wear your lenses until the symptoms have completely gone.

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Conjunctivitis (red or pink eye)

Conjunctivitis symptoms

Types and causes of conjunctivitis