Conjunctivitis

Symptoms of conjunctivitis

While there are a few different causes of conjunctivitis, they often share similar symptoms. You may only get symptoms in one eye, or you might get them in both. Pink eye can start in one eye, but then spread to the other. Here are some of the most common signs of conjunctivitis we see at our stores in the UK:

• Red or pink eye – This is the most obvious symptom of conjunctivitis. When your body tries to fight off an infection, it sends more blood to the affected area (this is known as inflammation). If the infection is in your eye, the blood vessels in the eye expand. This means the tiny veins in your eyes suddenly become much more visible.

• A burning sensation – Inflammation can also make your eye feel warmer as more blood is flowing to the eye.

• Watery eyes – If you have conjunctivitis, your eyes may produce more tears than usual, and they'll feel especially watery. If the pink eye is caused by an allergy or another irritant on the surface of the eye, this can help to flush it out.

• Gritty feeling – You might notice you get a gritty sensation in your eye. This may be because the conjunctiva swells a little bit when it becomes inflamed. Learn more about the feeling of something in your eye.

• Itchy eye – Your eye might feel especially itchy. This is particularly common if the conjunctivitis is caused by an allergy. Your body releases a substance called histamine, which makes blood vessels expand, and this can cause that itchy feeling.

• Sticky or crusty eyelashes – You might get a sticky or crusty substance on your eyelashes, and it can feel like your eyes are stuck together when you wake up. This is particularly common with bacterial conjunctivitis. You might notice a yellow fluid called pus on your eyelashes.

How is conjunctivitis diagnosed?

Conjunctivitis often clears up on its own in a week or two, so you don’t usually need to see a doctor. But if your symptoms are bothering you, speak to your optometrist, GP or pharmacist. They’ll ask about your symptoms and check your eyes to see if it’s conjunctivitis or something else. Sometimes they might take a swab to send to a lab. They can also recommend ways to ease your symptoms and help your eyes feel better.

Treatment of conjunctivitis

At Specsavers, we'll decide how to treat conjunctivitis based on the severity of your symptoms and the underlying cause. Very often, pink eye conjunctivitis will just clear up by itself within a couple of weeks. Often, no treatment is necessary. But if it's lasting longer or is causing you a lot of discomfort, there are quite a few options available. 

Home remedies for conjunctivitis 

Home remedies are often a good first step for treating pink eye conjunctivitis. They can often be very effective.

• Don't wear contact lenses – 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.

• Avoid rubbing your eyes – Conjunctivitis can make your eyes itchy and sore, so it's natural to want to rub them. But this won't resolve the issue and can cause more damage and irritation to your eyes.

• Clean your eyelashes – Use warm water and cotton wool to gently clean sticky eyelids and lashes. Avoid soaps or chemicals – warm water is usually enough.

• Avoid allergens – If pollen, pet hair or dust mites trigger your conjunctivitis, try to avoid them. Keep pets out of the bedroom and clean regularly to reduce dust mites.

Over‑the‑counter relief 

There are a few kinds of products that can help relieve conjunctivitis symptoms. You can find these at Specsavers stores or at many local pharmacies:

• Antihistamines – Taken as pills or eye drops, they block histamine and help with allergy‑related pink eye conjunctivitis.

• Artificial tears – Over‑the‑counter artificial tears can relieve the symptoms of inflammation (such as heat or soreness).

• Eye compresses – Eye masks can be used both hot and cold. You place them over your eyelids, and this can relieve symptoms of itchiness, soreness and inflammation. We offer a range of antibacterial eye compresses and heat masks at Specsavers stores.

• Eyelid wipes – Available as wipes or solutions that you apply with a cotton pad, eyelid wipes can help to gently remove built‑up pus and crust on your eyelids. We provide a range of wipes and solutions at our stores. 

More medical treatments 

If your conjunctivitis doesn't clear up within a couple of weeks, speak to your optometrist or GP. They may advise using more advanced treatments:

• Antibiotics – If bacteria are behind your pink eye conjunctivitis, antibiotics (as pills or eye drops) can help. Always finish the full course, even if you start to feel better.

• Antivirals – Most viral pink eye conjunctivitis clears up on its own. But if it’s caused by herpes, chickenpox, shingles or an STI, your GP or a specialist independent prescriber optometrist may prescribe antiviral treatment.

• Immunosuppressants – If your conjunctivitis is caused by an autoimmune disorder (this is quite rare), then your doctor may prescribe you with immunosuppressants. These stop your body's immune system from attacking itself.

Can I prevent conjunctivitis?

You can reduce your chances of getting conjunctivitis by using the following steps. If you already have viral or bacterial conjunctivitis, you should also bear these ideas in mind so you can reduce the chances of spreading it to others.

• Consider time off – Viral conjunctivitis spreads easily, so a few days off work or school might help stop it from passing on, especially in young children.

• Good hygiene – Wash your hands often and avoid sharing towels or close contact. This helps stop pink eye spreading, especially during an outbreak.

• Allergy management – Antihistamines help, but it’s best to avoid triggers. Keep pets out of the bedroom, clean often, and during pollen season, close windows and stay in on high pollen days.

• Avoid eye irritants – Bin old eye makeup, wear eye protection with chemicals, and use mild products in the shower – rinsing suds away quickly.

Stopping the spread of pink eye conjunctivitis among children 

If a child has conjunctivitis, they don't always need to take time off school. Often, its spread can be prevented with simple hygiene: regular handwashing, not sharing towels and regular cleaning of shared items (like toys or pens). That said, younger children may not understand why they can't share items or take part in physical play. If so, it may be best to keep them out of school until they're better.