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Conjunctivitis (pink eye): what actually helps?
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Conjunctivitis is one of the most common eye complaints — and one of the most over-treated. The vast majority resolves by itself, without antibiotics. What you can do, how to spare the rest of the household, and which situations are the exception: that is what this article covers.
In short
- The conjunctiva is the transparent membrane over the white of the eye and inner eyelids; inflamed, it turns red and irritated.
- A virus is usually the cause: contagious, but self-limiting (one to two weeks).
- Antibiotic drops only help bacterial forms — a minority — and are rarely needed.
- See a doctor with: pain, light sensitivity, reduced vision, symptoms in lens wearers, or an unwell young child.
⚠ Acute symptoms?Sudden vision loss, an eye injury, chemicals in the eye, severe pain, or new blind spots in your visual field? Don't wait for an online explanation — call your GP (huisarts), the out-of-hours GP service, or 112 immediately.
What is the conjunctiva and what happens?
The conjunctiva is the thin, transparent membrane lining the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. When irritated or infected, its blood vessels dilate — the eye turns red — and the membrane produces more fluid and mucus: watering, stickiness, lashes glued together after the night.
Virus, bacteria or allergy?
Three main forms, three characters. The viral form is by far the most common: watery discharge, often starting in one eye and jumping to the other, frequently in the wake of a cold. Highly contagious, but self-limiting. The bacterial form produces more pus (yellow or green discharge that keeps returning) and thicker sticking. The allergic form involves both eyes at once, with itch in the lead role, often seasonal and accompanied by sneezing or a runny nose.
The distinction matters for the approach, but is less sharp than the classification suggests — even doctors cannot always tell from the outside.
What actually helps?
For the viral form: time, and comfort measures. Wipe discharge away with a clean, damp cotton pad (inner corner outward, a fresh pad per wipe), use artificial tears against the gritty feeling and a cool compress against swelling. Antibiotics do nothing against a virus. For the bacterial form a doctor can prescribe drops or ointment; with mild symptoms that form, too, usually resolves spontaneously. For the allergic form, antihistamines (drops or tablets) and avoiding the trigger work.
Better avoided: patching the eye shut (a covered eye becomes a greenhouse), 'redness relief' drops, and wearing lenses or eye make-up while the eye is irritated.
How do you limit spread?
The viral form travels via hands, towels and pillowcases. The measures are homely but effective: frequent hand washing, no eye rubbing, your own towel and washcloth, a fresh pillowcase daily, and discarding eye make-up and lens solution from the infectious period. Children do not need to stay home from school or daycare; good hand hygiene suffices.
When should you see a doctor?
With pain deeper than burning, poor tolerance of light, blurrier vision, a heavily swollen lid or fever, symptoms not improving after two weeks — and always in contact lens wearers with a red painful eye (lens out immediately) and in newborns with pus from the eye. In those situations it is not about riding it out but about being assessed.
Frequently asked questions
How long is viral conjunctivitis contagious?
As long as the eye is red and watering, on average one to two weeks, most strongly in the first days. Hand hygiene and separate towels are the main brakes.
When can I wear my lenses again?
Wait until the eye has been completely quiet for at least 24–48 hours, use a fresh pair (dailies) or thoroughly cleaned lenses with new solution, and throw the old lens case away.
My child keeps getting sticky eyes. What could that be?
In babies a narrow or blocked tear duct is a common cause of recurring stickiness without a truly red eye — it usually resolves within the first year. In older children with recurring complaints, a doctor can look into allergy or lid margin inflammation.
Can conjunctivitis damage my sight?
The ordinary viral and bacterial forms do not — unpleasant but harmless. The exceptions (infections in lens wearers, herpes virus) almost always come with pain, light sensitivity or reduced vision: exactly the signals that send you to a doctor.
Sources and further reading
This article is general explanation, not medical advice about your situation. For acute symptoms: call your GP, the out-of-hours GP service, or 112.