Conjunctivitis care in Reservoir
Conjunctivitis: practical care for pink, sticky eyes.
A pink, watery or sticky eye can be uncomfortable and disruptive. Knowing the likely cause helps you choose appropriate care and reduce the chance of passing an infection on.
Reservoir Spectacles can assess red-eye symptoms and explain the next step. Call and tell us about any pain, light sensitivity, contact lens wear or change in vision.
First, check the warning signs
Some red eyes need urgent assessment.
Eye pain, reduced vision, painful sensitivity to light or a large amount of pus needs prompt assessment. A red eye in a contact lens wearer also deserves particular care. Remove the lenses and seek same-day advice; do not assume it is simple conjunctivitis.
Seek urgent medical care for a newborn with a red or discharging eye, or a child with fever and increasing swelling around the eye. If we are closed or cannot assess you promptly, contact an available clinician or emergency department. Sudden vision loss or severe symptoms need emergency care. Do not wait for an online booking.
For other causes and triage advice, see our red-eye guide.
What does conjunctivitis mean?
It is inflammation of the thin lining over the white of the eye and inside the eyelids. The cause may be infectious or non-infectious. Symptoms overlap, so appearance alone cannot reliably tell you which type you have.
Viral
Often watery or gritty, sometimes alongside a cold. It can spread easily between people. Antibiotic drops do not treat a virus.
Bacterial
Sticky discharge and lashes stuck together can occur. A clinician may recommend antibiotic treatment when appropriate.
Allergic
Itching and watering often affect both eyes. This type is not contagious. Our eye allergy guide covers this in more detail.
Simple hygiene makes a difference.
Clean hands
Wash hands before and after touching the eye area or applying drops. Avoid rubbing your eyes.
Keep personal items separate
Do not share towels, pillowcases, eye makeup or eye drops. Give an affected child a fresh towel and pillowcase and wash used linen normally.
Clean gently
For mild crusting, gently wipe closed eyelids from the nose side outwards with clean cotton wool dampened with warm water. Use a fresh piece for each wipe and each eye; do not clean inside the lids.
If drops are recommended, follow the specific directions supplied. Our eye-drop technique guide explains handling and avoiding contamination.
Assessment and treatment depend on the cause.
Tell us when symptoms began, whether one or both eyes are affected, and what drops you have already tried. Mention recent illness, allergies and contact lenses. We can check vision and examine the eye, then discuss care or referral as needed.
Viral conjunctivitis often settles without antibiotics. Lubricating drops or a cool compress may help symptoms when suitable. Do not choose a treatment solely from the colour of the discharge. If symptoms worsen or have not begun improving after one to two days, arrange a review sooner rather than repeatedly changing drops yourself.
For lens wearers, use glasses while the eye is affected and ask when it is safe to restart lenses and which lenses or care items need replacing. Read our contact lens care guide.
Questions families often ask.
Can my child go to school or childcare?
For infectious conjunctivitis, keep your child home until the eye discharge has cleared, unless their clinician advises otherwise. Check with the school or childcare service about its return arrangements. Allergy-related conjunctivitis is not infectious.
How long will it take to settle?
The timing varies with the cause; viral conjunctivitis can take one to three weeks. New pain, light sensitivity or reduced vision needs prompt reassessment even if conjunctivitis was diagnosed earlier.
Does every sticky eye need antibiotic drops?
No. Antibiotics do not help viral or allergic conjunctivitis. The examination and history guide whether medicine is appropriate.
Talk to us about your eye symptoms.
Call Reservoir Spectacles at 2C Edwardes Street, Reservoir VIC 3073. Explain what has changed so we can advise on the appropriate next step. Routine bookings are also available online.
Patient guidance: Healthdirect on conjunctivitis and Royal Children’s Hospital family advice. Urgent warning signs are also informed by the RCH acute red-eye guideline.