Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Red, gritty, watery or sticky eyes from a virus, bacteria or allergy. Most cases clear within 1–2 weeks without treatment. Eye pain, light sensitivity or blurred vision suggest something more serious.
The conjunctivitis ladder
Clean, cool and wait for most infections. Antibiotic drops speed up bacterial cases a little. Antihistamines for allergy. Anything painful goes to a doctor.
- Step 1 · Self-careClean, cool and lubricateWipe lids with cooled boiled water on a clean cotton pad (a new one for each eye), use a cool cloth, and try lubricating eye drops. No contact lenses until it clears.
- Works
- Comfort care while it settles. Even bacterial conjunctivitis clears by day 4–9 in about 55 in 100 people with no antibiotic
- Cost
- Free, or about $10–15 for lubricating drops
- How long
- Usually 1–2 weeks
- Watch for
- Pain, light sensitivity or blurred vision are not self-care symptoms.
Boiled water, a cotton pad and patience. Glamorous it isn’t.
- Step 2 · PharmacyAntihistamine drops or tablets (allergic type)For itchy, watery eyes with hay fever or another allergy.
- Works
- Help itchy allergic eyes; no use for infections
- Cost
- About $10–25
- How long
- As needed through allergy season
- Watch for
- Itch is the big clue for allergy. Sticky pus points to infection instead.
If it itches like hay fever, treat it like hay fever.
- Step 3 · PharmacyAntibiotic eye drops or ointment (such as chloramphenicol)For likely bacterial conjunctivitis with thick, sticky discharge. Available from pharmacists in Australia for adults and older children.
- Works
- About 68 in 100 cleared by day 4–9, vs 55 in 100 with dummy drops: roughly 1 extra person helped for every 7 treated
- Cost
- About $10–20
- How long
- As directed on the pack, usually several days
- Watch for
- No help for viral or allergic conjunctivitis. Children under 2 should see a doctor.
A modest head start, not a miracle.
- Step 4 · GPGP or optometrist checkFor symptoms lasting more than a week, contact lens wearers, babies, repeated episodes, or a possible sexually transmitted infection.
- Works
- Not a trial question: checks for other causes that need different treatment
- Cost
- GP visit often bulk billed or about $40–80 gap; optometrist visits often bulk billed
- How long
- Usually one visit
- Watch for
- Mention contact lenses and any cold sores or rash near the eye.
Not every red eye is pink eye.
- Step 5 · SpecialistEye specialist (ophthalmologist) or eye emergencyFor painful red eyes, reduced vision, injury, chemicals, or infection in a newborn.
- Works
- Not a trial question: prompt specialist care protects vision
- Cost
- Free through public hospital emergency departments; private fees vary
- How long
- Same day when urgent
- Watch for
- Don’t wait to see if a painful eye settles.
Your eyes are not a wait-and-see organ when they hurt.
Save your money
Popular, heavily marketed or often asked about, but the evidence is weak or says no.
- Antibiotic drops for viral or allergic pink eyeThey only work on bacteria, and most pink eye isn’t bacterial.
- Steroid eye drops without an eye examinationThey can worsen some eye infections, such as herpes, so they’re only for use under a doctor’s care.
What you can do
- Wash your hands often, especially after touching your eyes.
- Don’t share towels, face cloths or pillows; wash them on a hot cycle.
- Try not to rub your eyes.
- Leave contact lenses out until your eyes are back to normal.
- Childcare: in Australia, children usually stay home until the discharge has stopped. In the UK, children don’t need to miss school unless they’re unwell.
See your GP if
- Symptoms last more than 7 days
- You wear contact lenses and have a red or sore eye
- A baby has red, sticky eyes
- It keeps coming back
- You may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection
Get same-day help (GP, optometrist or emergency department) for eye pain, sensitivity to light, blurred or reduced vision, a very red eye, an eye injury or chemical in the eye, a painful rash or blisters around the eye, or a newborn under 4 weeks with red, sticky eyes.
Common questions
What are the symptoms of conjunctivitis?
Red, pink or bloodshot eyes that feel gritty or burn, with watering or sticky discharge that can glue the lashes together in the morning. Often both eyes. Vision should be normal once you blink away any discharge.
How can I tell what type it is?
Viral: watery, often with a cold. Bacterial: thick yellow or green discharge. Allergic: itchy and watery, both eyes, often with hay fever. There’s overlap, so a pharmacist or GP can help sort it out.
How is it diagnosed?
Usually by looking at the eyes and asking about symptoms. A swab is only needed for severe, unusual or repeated infections, or in newborns.
How long is it contagious?
Infective conjunctivitis spreads through eye discharge, hands and shared towels. Treat it as catching while the eyes are still discharging. Allergic conjunctivitis isn’t contagious.
Helpful resources
- NHMRC Staying Healthy: ConjunctivitisOne-page guide for families and childcare on spread and exclusion. Free, Australia.
- NHS: ConjunctivitisClear guide to self-care, pharmacy options and urgent warning signs. Free, UK.
Evidence and more information
- NHS: Conjunctivitis
- AAFP: Antibiotics for acute bacterial conjunctivitis (Cochrane 2023 summary)
- Cochrane (2023): Antibiotics versus placebo for acute bacterial conjunctivitis
- NHMRC Staying Healthy: Conjunctivitis
maladywise.com/conjunctivitis/