Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is an eye condition caused by infection or allergies. It usually gets better in a couple of weeks without treatment
Check if you have conjunctivitis:
Conjunctivitis is also known as red or pink eye.
It usually affects both eyes and makes them:
- bloodshot
- burn or feel gritty
- produce pus that sticks to lashes
- itch
- water
How to treat conjunctivitis yourself:
There are things you can do to help ease your symptoms.
Use clean cotton wool (one piece for each eye). Boil water and then let it cool down before you:
- gently rub your eye lashes to clean off crusts
- hold a cold flannel on your eyes for a few minutes to cool them down
Staying away from work or school:
You don't need to avoid work or school unless you or your child are feeling very unwell.
A pharmacist can help with conjunctivitis:
Speak to a pharmacist about conjunctivitis. They can give you advice and suggest eye drops or antihistamines to help with your symptoms.
See a doctor if:
- your baby has red eyes – get an urgent appointment if your baby is less than 28 days old
- your symptoms haven't cleared up after 2 weeks