Conjunctivitis: Common Myths and What Guidelines Say
Conjunctivitis: what people commonly get wrong, set against what published UK guidance says.
Most cases settle without treatment, and the important skill is distinguishing them from the red eye that is not conjunctivitis.
Key takeaways
- Viral: commonest; watery discharge, often both eyes, highly contagious
- Bacterial: sticky discharge; usually self-limiting
- Most useful single change: Bathe the eyes with cooled boiled water and clean cotton wool.
- Commonest mistake: Sharing towels, pillows or eye make-up.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
What the guidance actually says
The published position, before we get to what people believe instead.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Viral | commonest; watery discharge, often both eyes, highly contagious |
| Bacterial | sticky discharge; usually self-limiting |
| Allergic | itchy, seasonal, both eyes |
| Antibiotic drops | not routinely needed for most cases |
Where people go wrong
Common beliefs that the figures do not bear out.
- Sharing towels, pillows or eye make-up
- Wearing contact lenses through an episode
- Assuming any red eye is conjunctivitis
What to do instead
- Bathe the eyes with cooled boiled water and clean cotton wool
- Wash hands frequently and do not share towels
- Stop wearing contact lenses until it has fully settled
- Use antihistamine drops if it is clearly allergic
The part that is genuinely uncertain
Guidance changes, and it changes because evidence does. The figures above reflect current UK guidance from the bodies named at the foot of this page; where those bodies revise their position, theirs is the account to follow rather than this one.
Where to go next
- The Evidence on Conjunctivitis, Without the Hype
- Making Sense of Conjunctivitis
- Conjunctivitis — the reference entry
- Children's Vision: What the Evidence Actually Says
- What the Guidance Really Says About Contact Lens Safety
When to speak to a doctor
Seek same-day help for a red eye with pain rather than irritation, reduced vision, marked light sensitivity, a foreign body sensation that will not clear, or if you wear contact lenses — contact lens wearers can develop sight-threatening corneal infection. Red eye in a newborn needs urgent assessment.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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