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Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva — the thin, transparent membrane that covers the white of the eye and lines the inner eyelids. It is one of the most common eye conditions seen in all age groups, from infants to older adults.
Most people know it as pink eye or eye flu. The eye looks red or pink because the blood vessels in the conjunctiva dilate during inflammation.
Conjunctivitis is not usually dangerous. But it is uncomfortable, often contagious, and sometimes confused with other eye conditions that need urgent attention.
Dr Shibal Bhartiya is a fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist and Mayo Clinic Research Collaborator with over 25 years of experience. Her approach focuses on identifying risk before damage is irreversible, simplifying treatment decisions, and protecting vision long-term. Emphasis on early detection, risk assessment, and continuity of care. She is rated 5 stars across 1,500+ patient reviews on Google.
Types of Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is not one condition. The cause determines the treatment.
Viral conjunctivitis is the most common type. It spreads easily from person to person and is often associated with a cold or upper respiratory infection. It usually resolves on its own within one to two weeks.
Bacterial conjunctivitis causes a sticky yellow or green discharge. It responds to antibiotic eye drops. Without treatment, it can persist and occasionally spread to the cornea.
Allergic conjunctivitis is not infective and not contagious. It is triggered by dust, pollen, pet dander, or other allergens, and can cause intense itching. It is often seasonal. You can read more about it on the eye allergy page.
Chemical or irritant conjunctivitis results from exposure to chlorine, smoke, fumes, or foreign bodies. It is not contagious and resolves once the irritant is removed.
Symptoms of Conjunctivitis
Symptoms vary slightly by cause but the common features include:
- Redness of one or both eyes
- Watering or discharge
- Gritty or sandy feeling in the eye
- Swelling of the eyelids or conjunctiva
- Sticky eyelids on waking, especially with bacterial infection
- Transient blurring of vision
- Intense itching, more common in allergic conjunctivitis
When to See a Doctor Immediately
Most conjunctivitis is mild. But some symptoms need prompt attention:
- Severe pain in the eye
- Significant reduction in vision that does not clear with blinking
- Intense sensitivity to light
- Symptoms that worsen rapidly or do not improve after a week
- Conjunctivitis in a newborn
These symptoms may point to a more serious condition such as corneal involvement, uveitis, or acute glaucoma — all of which need urgent evaluation.
Management of Conjunctivitis
Treatment depends on the cause.
For viral conjunctivitis, antibiotics are not effective. Treatment focuses on comfort — preservative-free lubricating eye drops reduce irritation, and cold compresses ease swelling. Most cases resolve within 7 to 14 days.
For bacterial conjunctivitis, your doctor will prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment. Complete the full course even if symptoms improve early.
For allergic conjunctivitis, antihistamine eye drops and avoidance of triggers form the core of treatment. Anti-inflammatory drops help in more severe cases.
In some situations — particularly in diabetic or immunocompromised patients — a doctor may prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic even for a viral infection to prevent secondary bacterial infection.
How to Limit the Spread
Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis spread through direct and indirect contact. These steps reduce transmission:
- Wash hands frequently, especially after touching the eyes
- Do not touch or rub the infected eye
- Do not share towels, pillowcases, or eye makeup
- Avoid contact lenses until your doctor confirms it is safe to resume
- Stay away from school or work if discharge is heavy — particularly in children
A Note on Self-Treatment
Many patients use over-the-counter antibiotic or steroid drops without a prescription. This is not advisable. Steroid drops used without examination can worsen viral infections and occasionally trigger serious complications including raised eye pressure and glaucoma. Always have a comprehensive eye examination before starting any treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions- Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Is conjunctivitis contagious?
Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can spread through:
• Hand contact
• Towels
• Cosmetics
• Eye rubbing
• Close contact environments like schools and offices
Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious.
Good hygiene significantly reduces transmission risk.
What is the treatment for conjunctivitis?
Treatment depends on the cause:
• Viral conjunctivitis → lubrication and hygiene
• Bacterial conjunctivitis → antibiotic drops when indicated
• Allergic conjunctivitis → anti-allergy medication, low dose steroids depending on severity
• Dry eye related redness → tear film stabilisation
Steroid eye drops should never be used without ophthalmologist supervision because they can worsen infections and may trigger glaucoma in susceptible individuals.
How long does conjunctivitis take to recover?
Recovery depends on cause:
• Viral conjunctivitis: 7–14 days
• Bacterial conjunctivitis: 5–10 days
• Allergic conjunctivitis: depends on allergen control
If symptoms persist beyond expected timelines, further evaluation may be needed to rule out masqueraders.
When should I see an eye specialist urgently?
Seek urgent consultation if you have:
• Reduced vision
• Severe eye pain
• Light sensitivity
• Recurrent episodes
• No improvement after 3–5 days
• History of glaucoma
• Contact lens use with redness
These may indicate conditions more serious than conjunctivitis.
Can conjunctivitis affect vision permanently?
Most cases recover fully. However delayed diagnosis, inappropriate steroid use, or missed alternative diagnoses may rarely cause complications.
Early diagnosis helps prevent unnecessary risk.
How do ophthalmologists differentiate conjunctivitis from more serious causes of red eye?
Clinical examination typically includes:
• Visual acuity testing
• Slit lamp examination
• Corneal evaluation
• Anterior chamber assessment
• Eye pressure measurement when needed
• Risk stratification based on symptoms
The key clinical question is often not just how to treat redness, but whether this is truly conjunctivitis or something more serious.
How can conjunctivitis be prevented?
Prevention strategies include:
• Hand hygiene
• Avoid eye rubbing
• Avoid sharing towels
• Replace eye cosmetics after infection
• Proper contact lens care
• Early consultation if symptoms worsen
Preventive eye care remains the most effective strategy to avoid complications.
Is pink eye the same as conjunctivitis?
Yes. Pink eye is the common name for infective conjunctivitis. The term refers to the characteristic redness caused by dilated surface blood vessels.
Can steroid eye drops treat conjunctivitis?
Steroid drops should only be prescribed by an eye doctor after examination. Used incorrectly, steroids can worsen viral conjunctivitis, delay healing, and raise eye pressure — increasing the risk of glaucoma.
How is conjunctivitis different from dry eye or allergy?
All three cause red, uncomfortable eyes. Dry eye causes burning and grittiness, worse with screen use. Allergy causes intense itching, often with sneezing. Infective conjunctivitis typically causes discharge and may affect one eye first. An eye examination is the reliable way to distinguish them.
Read the research articles
This article was written by Dr Shibal Bhartiya, fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist and Mayo Clinic Research Collaborator, Clinical Director at Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram, known for ethical, patient-centred glaucoma care and independent glaucoma second opinions. This article was edited in April 2026.
She has published peer-reviewed research on eye care, examining how treatment decisions should balance medical evidence, patient preferences, and long-term vision outcomes.
As Editor-in-Chief of Clinical and Experimental Vision and Eye Research and Executive Editor of the Journal of Current Glaucoma Practice (Pubmed Indexed, official journal of the International Society of Glaucoma Surgery), Dr Shibal Bhartiya brings editorial and research depth to every clinical decision. Her 200+ publications, including 90+ PubMed-indexed publications and 28 edited textbooks span glaucoma biology, surgical outcomes, health equity, and emerging diagnostics.
Her work can be accessed on Pubmed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate and ORCID.
Dr Shibal Bhartiya
Glaucoma • Second Opinion • Advanced Care
www.drshibalbhartiya.com
+91 88826 38735
Patient reviews Google Business Profile
Eye Injuries: First Aid, Types, and When to Go to Emergency
Eye injuries range from a minor corneal scratch to a ruptured globe. The difference between saving and losing vision often comes down to what you do, and do not do, in the first few minutes.
This page covers the most common eye injuries, the correct first aid for each, and the signs that tell you this needs emergency attention right now.
Dr Shibal Bhartiya is a fellowship-trained eye specialist and Mayo Clinic Research Collaborator with over 25 years of experience. Her approach focuses on identifying risk before damage is irreversible, simplifying treatment decisions, and protecting vision long-term. Emphasis on early detection, risk assessment, and continuity of care. She is rated 5 stars across 1,500+ patient reviews on Google.
The First Rule for Every Eye Injury
Do not rub the eye.
This applies to every type of eye injury without exception. Rubbing can convert a surface scratch into a deeper injury, drive a foreign body further into the eye, or cause a partial perforation to become complete. Put your hand down. Then read the relevant section below.
Foreign Body in the Eye
A speck of dust, a metal chip, an eyelash, or a wood particle on the surface of the eye is the most common eye injury seen in clinics. It causes intense pain, watering, and a feeling that something is stuck.
What to do:
Do not rub. Blink rapidly: natural tearing may wash the particle out. You may gently rinse the eye with clean water or saline. Look in a mirror and pull the lower lid down to see if the particle is visible on the inner surface. If it is not visible or does not wash out, see an eye doctor the same day.
What not to do:
Do not try to remove the particle with your fingertip, a cotton bud, or a tissue. Do not continue working or driving. Metal particles in particular must be removed promptly: iron and steel fragments begin to rust on the cornea within hours and leave a rust ring that is harder to remove.
See a doctor immediately if:
The particle entered the eye at high speed, from grinding, drilling, hammering, or a machine. High-velocity fragments can penetrate the eye wall without causing dramatic pain. This is a true emergency.
Corneal Abrasion (Scratched Eye)
A scratch on the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, causes sharp pain, intense sensitivity to light, watering, and difficulty keeping the eye open. It can happen from a fingernail, a tree branch, a contact lens, or a piece of paper.
What to do:
Keep the eye closed. Do not rub. Do not patch the eye tightly. See an eye doctor the same day. Corneal abrasions heal quickly with the right treatment: antibiotic drops to prevent infection, and sometimes a bandage contact lens for comfort. Most heal within 24 to 48 hours.
What not to do:
Do not wear contact lenses until the eye is fully healed and your doctor confirms it is safe. Do not apply any eye drops or ointments from a previous prescription without asking your doctor first.
Blunt Trauma (Hit in the Eye)
A blow to the eye from a ball, an elbow, a fist, or any blunt object can cause a range of injuries: from simple bruising around the eye to more serious internal damage.
What to do:
Apply a cold compress, ice wrapped in a cloth, not directly on the skin, to reduce swelling. See an eye doctor the same day, even if vision seems normal.
Internal injuries from blunt trauma include:
Bleeding inside the eye (hyphema or blood in the front chamber between the cornea and iris). This appears as a red fluid level inside the eye and requires urgent evaluation and rest.
Raised eye pressure following the injury, which can permanently damage the optic nerve if not treated.
Retinal tear or detachment, which may not cause symptoms immediately but can cause sudden vision loss later if untreated.
Lens dislocation, which can cause blurred or double vision.
Orbital fracture, where the bone around the eye socket breaks. This can trap eye muscles and affect eye movement.
See a doctor immediately if:
Vision is reduced or distorted. There is double vision. The eye looks sunken or the patient cannot move it normally. There is blood visible inside the eye. The injury involved a hard or fast-moving object.
Cuts and Penetrating Injuries
A sharp object: broken glass, a knife, a metal edge, a pencil that cuts or penetrates the eye is a serious emergency.
What to do:
Cover the eye gently with a clean, dry cloth or the bottom of a paper cup. Do not press on the eye. Go to the nearest eye emergency immediately.
What not to do:
Do not wash the eye. Do not try to remove any object that is stuck in the eye. This can cause further damage and allow the internal contents of the eye to escape. Do not apply pressure. Do not eat or drink anything, surgery may be needed urgently under general anaesthesia.
Chemical Splash
A chemical splash to the eye: acid, alkali, cleaning fluid, construction lime, or industrial chemicals is the most time-critical eye injury. Alkali injuries (bleach, cement, lime, ammonia) are more dangerous than acid injuries because alkali continues to penetrate deeper into the eye even after the initial exposure.
What to do immediately:
Wash the eye with large amounts of clean water. Start immediately. Do not wait to find eye wash solution. Use a tap, a bottle of water, or any clean water available. Hold the eye open and let water flow across the eye surface continuously for at least 15 minutes. Remove contact lenses during irrigation if possible.
After irrigation, go to emergency immediately. Do not drive yourself.
What not to do:
Do not rub the eye. Do not apply any eye drops, milk, or other substances. Do not bandage the eye. Do not delay irrigation to seek medical care: irrigation comes first.
Time matters: Every minute of irrigation before arrival at hospital significantly improves the outcome. Alkali injuries can cause permanent corneal opacification, glaucoma, and vision loss if irrigation is delayed.
Fireworks and Explosive Injuries
Fireworks injuries are a significant cause of serious eye trauma in India, particularly during Diwali. These injuries can involve burns, blast injury, and penetrating trauma simultaneously.
What to do:
Cover the eye gently without pressure. Go to emergency immediately. Do not wash the eye, there may be a penetrating injury alongside the burn.
The safest approach is to never hold a burning firework directly and to keep bystanders at a safe distance. Protective eyewear during fireworks handling prevents most of these injuries.
Signs That Require Immediate Emergency Attention
Go to an eye emergency immediately. Do not wait for a clinic appointment if any of the following are present:
- Visible cut or wound on the eyeball
- Object embedded in the eye
- Chemical splash (after starting irrigation)
- Sudden loss of vision after an injury
- Double vision following trauma
- Blood visible inside the eye
- Severe pain that is not improving
- High-velocity injury to the eye (metal chip from grinding or drilling)
- Fireworks or explosive injury
- Eye that looks misshapen or sunken
Injuries That Can Cause Glaucoma Later
This is something many patients do not know. A significant eye injury, even one that was treated successfully and healed well, can cause glaucoma months or years later. Blunt trauma and chemical injuries in particular can damage the drainage structures of the eye, leading to raised eye pressure and silent optic nerve damage long after the original event.
If you have had a significant eye injury in the past, periodic eye pressure checks and optic nerve evaluation are important, even if your vision remains normal. This is a commonly missed risk factor for glaucoma.
Eye Injury Prevention
Most serious eye injuries are preventable.
Use protective eyewear when using power tools, grinding or cutting metal, working with chemicals, or playing racquet sports and cricket. Polycarbonate lenses provide the best impact resistance. Standard prescription glasses do not protect against high-velocity fragments.
Children should wear protective eyewear for sports. Many eye injuries in children occur during play with sharp or projectile toys.
During festivals involving fireworks, maintain safe distances. Designate one adult to handle fireworks and ensure all bystanders, especially children, stand well clear.
FAQs: Eye Injuries
What should I do immediately if something goes into my eye?
Do not rub the eye. Blink rapidly and let natural tearing try to wash the particle out. You can rinse gently with clean water. If the particle does not come out, see an eye doctor the same day. If the injury occurred at high speed: from grinding, drilling, or a machine, go to emergency immediately as the particle may have penetrated the eye.
What should I do if a chemical splashes into my eye?
Start washing the eye with large amounts of clean water immediately, before anything else. Hold the eye open and let water flow continuously across the eye for at least 15 minutes. Then go to emergency. Do not wait to find eye wash solution. Do not delay irrigation to seek medical care. Every minute of washing before hospital arrival improves the outcome.
How do I know if my eye injury is serious enough for emergency?
Go to emergency immediately if there is a visible cut on the eyeball, an object embedded in the eye, sudden vision loss, double vision, blood visible inside the eye, severe pain, a chemical splash, or a high-velocity injury from metal grinding or drilling. When in doubt, go. Eye injuries that look minor can involve internal damage.
Can a blow to the eye cause permanent damage even if vision seems fine?
Yes. Blunt trauma can cause bleeding inside the eye, a retinal tear, raised eye pressure, or lens dislocation: none of which necessarily cause immediate vision change. Some of these, particularly retinal detachment and raised eye pressure, can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated. Always see an eye doctor after a significant blow to the eye even if vision feels normal.
What should I not do if there is something stuck in my eye?
Do not try to remove it with your finger, a cotton bud, or a tissue. Do not rub the eye. Do not apply pressure. If the object appears embedded in the eyeball rather than sitting on the surface, cover the eye gently without touching it and go to emergency immediately.
What is the right first aid for a cut or stabbing injury to the eye?
Cover the eye gently with a clean dry cloth or the bottom of a paper cup. Do not press on the eye. Do not wash it. Do not try to remove anything. Do not eat or drink: surgery may be needed urgently. Go to the nearest eye emergency immediately.
Can eye injuries cause glaucoma later?
Yes. Blunt trauma and chemical injuries can damage the eye’s drainage structures, leading to raised eye pressure and optic nerve damage months or years after the original injury. This is called traumatic glaucoma and can develop silently. If you have had a significant eye injury in the past, regular eye pressure checks and optic nerve evaluation are important even when vision seems normal.
Is it safe to wear contact lenses after an eye injury?
No. Do not wear contact lenses after any eye injury until your eye doctor confirms the eye has fully healed and it is safe to do so. Contact lenses on a healing eye surface increase the risk of infection and delayed recovery.
How can I prevent serious eye injuries?
Use polycarbonate protective eyewear when using power tools, grinding or cutting metal, working with chemicals, or playing racquet sports. Standard prescription glasses do not protect against high-velocity impact. Keep children away from sharp or projectile toys. During Diwali and firework events, maintain safe distances and ensure children stand well clear of any fireworks being lit.
Can a corneal scratch heal on its own?
Most corneal abrasions heal within 24 to 48 hours with proper treatment. See an eye doctor the same day — antibiotic drops prevent infection and a bandage contact lens can be placed for comfort. Do not self-treat with old prescriptions. Do not wear contact lenses until the eye is fully healed.
Read the research articles
This article was written by Dr Shibal Bhartiya, fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist and Mayo Clinic Research Collaborator, Clinical Director at Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram, known for ethical, patient-centred glaucoma care and independent glaucoma second opinions. This article was edited in April 2026.
She has published peer-reviewed research on glaucoma management, examining how treatment decisions should balance medical evidence, patient preferences, and long-term vision outcomes.
As Editor-in-Chief of Clinical and Experimental Vision and Eye Research and Executive Editor of the Journal of Current Glaucoma Practice (Pubmed Indexed, official journal of the International Society of Glaucoma Surgery), Dr Shibal Bhartiya brings editorial and research depth to every clinical decision. Her 200+ publications, including 90+ PubMed-indexed publications and 28 edited textbooks span glaucoma biology, surgical outcomes, health equity, and emerging diagnostics.
Her work can be accessed on Pubmed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate and ORCID.
Dr Shibal Bhartiya
Glaucoma • Second Opinion • Advanced Care
www.drshibalbhartiya.com
+91 88826 38735
Patient reviews Google Business Profile