What is conjunctivitis?
In short
- Red, gritty, watery or sticky eyes, usually in both eyes. Most cases clear in a couple of weeks without treatment.
- Eyes which are red, burning or gritty, itchy or watering.
- A pharmacist can suggest drops or antihistamines.
Also called: Pink eye, Red eye
- Part of the eye
- Surface of the eye
- Group
- Common conditions
- Vision functions involved
- Light and glare, Contrast and detail
- Main source
- NHS
Conjunctivitis, also called red eye or pink eye, is inflammation of the thin layer which covers the white of the eye and lines the lids. Infection or allergy causes most cases. Allergic conjunctivitis, such as with hay fever, is not catching.
How conjunctivitis can affect day-to-day life
You may recognise some of these situations, or none of them. The point is to find help with the things you want to do.
Waking with sticky eyes
Lashes can be glued together with dried pus and the eye feels gritty for a while.
Wipe gently with cooled boiled water on a clean pad, one pad per eye, then wash your hands.
Hay fever season
Itchy, watery eyes return each year with the pollen.
Ask a pharmacist about antihistamine drops or tablets. Allergic conjunctivitis is not catching.
Contact lens wearers
Lenses make a red eye worse and can hide a more serious infection.
Leave lenses out until the eye is clear. A painful red eye in a lens wearer needs same-day advice.
Changes you may notice
- Eyes which are red, burning or gritty, itchy or watering.
- Pus which sticks the lashes together, especially first thing in the morning.
Everyone is different. Symptoms on their own cannot identify a condition.
What to do about a new or sudden changeAssessment and care
A pharmacist can suggest drops or antihistamines. Antibiotic drops only help a bacterial infection, so they are not always needed. A child under 2 needs a GP prescription. See a GP if it has not cleared in 7 days, if a baby has red sticky eyes, or if you wear contact lenses and have spots on your eyelids.
When to get urgent help
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111 if you have eye pain, sensitivity to light, changes in vision such as wavy lines or flashing, very red eyes, or a baby under 30 days old with red sticky eyes. These can be signs of a more serious eye problem. Call 111 for a child under 5.
How vision is affected
These topics explain the parts of vision involved. They do not predict your sight, diagnose anything or show the condition itself.
Light and glare
Glare can be uncomfortable and can wash out detail. Where the light comes from matters as much as how much light there is.
Open the light and glare labContrast and detail
Sharp edges only help when they stand out from the background. Contrast, print size and blur each change how easy a task is.
Open the contrast and detail labEveryday support
Boil water and let it cool, then wipe crusts from the lashes with a clean cotton wool pad, one pad per eye. A cold flannel held on the eyes helps. Wash your hands often, do not share towels or pillows, and wash pillowcases hot. Do not wear contact lenses until your eyes are better. You do not need to stay off school or work unless you feel very unwell.
Driving: you must tell DVLA about an eye condition which affects both eyes, or your only seeing eye. Driving and your eyesight
Common questions
Is conjunctivitis contagious?
Infective conjunctivitis spreads by touch, so wash your hands and keep towels and pillows separate. Allergic conjunctivitis, such as with hay fever, is not catching.
Do I need antibiotic drops?
Only for a bacterial infection, and most cases clear on their own in a couple of weeks. A pharmacist can advise. Antibiotics do nothing for viral or allergic conjunctivitis.
Should my child stay off school?
No, unless they feel very unwell. Call 111 for a child under 5, and see a GP urgently if a baby under 30 days old has red, sticky eyes.
A question to take to your appointment
Is this infection or allergy, and do I need drops at all?Prepare your appointment checklist
Sources and review status
- Written by
- The Omnirx.io team, from the sources above
- Sources checked
- Page updated
- Next review due
- Clinical review
- Not yet. No clinician has endorsed this page.
- Reading level
- About 14 words a sentence, 190 words of guidance
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Cite this page
Glanced (2026) Conjunctivitis: what the name means, care and support. Omnirx.io team for Medstack Ltd. Available at: https://www.glanced.co.uk/condition/conjunctivitis/ (Accessed: ). Source checked 4 October 2026.
Educational information. Follow the advice of your own eye-care team.