Eyes
Medicines for Conjunctivitis
Inflammation of the thin membrane covering the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids — most often caused by a viral or bacterial infection or an allergy — which is usually self-limiting but occasionally signals a more serious eye problem that needs urgent assessment.
Education and reference only. This explains which medicines are used and why, in plain language — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always discuss your own treatment with a qualified clinician, and check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.
Quick answer
What is Conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis means inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane that covers the white of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids. It makes the eye look red or pink, feel gritty or itchy and produce more discharge or watering than usual, and it often affects one eye first before spreading to the other.
- How it is treated: For most infective conjunctivitis the guiding principle is reassurance and simple self-care, because viral and many bacterial cases clear up on their own without specific treatment — bathing the lids, using lubricating drops for comfort and good hand hygiene to limit spread are often all that is needed.
- Self-care: Bathing the eyelids with cooled boiled water, using a clean towel and washing hands often help comfort and prevent spread, and contact-lens wearers should stop wearing lenses until the eye has fully recovered.
- When to seek help: Seek urgent eye assessment if a red eye comes with pain in the eye (rather than just grittiness), marked or spreading redness, reduced or blurred vision, or sensitivity to light, as these can point to a more serious problem such as inflammation deeper in the eye or a corneal infection (keratitis).
What it is
Conjunctivitis means inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane that covers the white of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids. It makes the eye look red or pink, feel gritty or itchy and produce more discharge or watering than usual, and it often affects one eye first before spreading to the other. The common causes fall into three groups: viral infection (the most frequent infective cause, often alongside a cold), bacterial infection (which tends to produce stickier, yellow-green discharge) and allergy (typically itchy, watery and affecting both eyes, often with hay fever). It can usually be recognised from the pattern of symptoms without special tests, and most infective and allergic cases are mild and settle on their own. Importantly, however, a red eye can occasionally be due to a more serious problem affecting the eye, so certain warning signs are taken seriously rather than assumed to be simple conjunctivitis.
How it is treated
For most infective conjunctivitis the guiding principle is reassurance and simple self-care, because viral and many bacterial cases clear up on their own without specific treatment — bathing the lids, using lubricating drops for comfort and good hand hygiene to limit spread are often all that is needed. A topical antibiotic is reserved for bacterial cases that are troublesome or not settling, rather than used routinely, since most resolve regardless. Allergic conjunctivitis is treated differently: the aim is to calm the allergic reaction and relieve itch, so antihistamine eye drops (and avoiding the trigger where possible) are the mainstay, sometimes alongside treatment for associated hay fever. Throughout, the key safety principle is to distinguish ordinary conjunctivitis from a more serious red eye — pain, marked redness, reduced vision, sensitivity to light, contact-lens wearers and newborn babies all need prompt eye assessment rather than over-the-counter treatment.
For this condition, these medicines
Medicine classes used for Conjunctivitis
Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.
Symptom checker
Symptoms that can point to Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis can be one cause of these symptoms. Each guide explains the other possible causes and the red-flag warning signs that mean you should get urgent help:
Beyond medication
Lifestyle and self-care
Bathing the eyelids with cooled boiled water, using a clean towel and washing hands often help comfort and prevent spread, and contact-lens wearers should stop wearing lenses until the eye has fully recovered.
When to get help
When to see a doctor
Seek urgent eye assessment if a red eye comes with pain in the eye (rather than just grittiness), marked or spreading redness, reduced or blurred vision, or sensitivity to light, as these can point to a more serious problem such as inflammation deeper in the eye or a corneal infection (keratitis). Contact-lens wearers with a red, painful eye should be assessed promptly. Any newborn baby (in the first month) with red, sticky or discharging eyes needs urgent, same-day assessment, as conjunctivitis in a newborn can be a serious, sight-threatening infection. Also see someone if symptoms are severe, are not improving after a week or two, or keep coming back.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
Answers
Conjunctivitis: frequently asked questions
What medicines are used for conjunctivitis?
It depends on the cause. Most infective conjunctivitis, whether viral or bacterial, settles on its own and needs only simple self-care, so antibiotics are not routine. A topical antibiotic eye drop or ointment, such as chloramphenicol, is used for bacterial cases that are troublesome or not clearing. Allergic conjunctivitis is treated instead with antihistamine eye drops to ease itch and watering, sometimes with an oral antihistamine if hay fever is present. A pharmacist can advise, but any red eye with pain, reduced vision or light sensitivity needs proper assessment first.
Do I need antibiotics for conjunctivitis?
Usually not. Viral conjunctivitis does not respond to antibiotics at all, and most bacterial conjunctivitis clears up on its own within a week or two without them. For that reason antibiotic eye drops are reserved for cases that are particularly troublesome or slow to settle, rather than used for every red, sticky eye. Simple measures — bathing the lids, lubricating drops and good hand hygiene — are often all that is needed.
How can I stop conjunctivitis spreading to others?
Infective conjunctivitis, especially the viral kind, spreads easily. Wash your hands often, avoid rubbing or touching your eyes, do not share towels, flannels or pillows, and clean away discharge with a fresh piece of cotton wool each time. Wait until the eye has recovered before wearing contact lenses again. These simple steps also help stop the infection passing from one eye to the other.
When is a red eye more than just conjunctivitis?
Ordinary conjunctivitis is gritty or itchy but not truly painful, and your vision stays normal. Warning signs that point to something more serious include genuine pain in the eye, marked redness, reduced or blurred vision, and sensitivity to light. A painful red eye in a contact-lens wearer, or any eye problem in a newborn baby, also needs prompt attention. These features can signal conditions such as a corneal infection or inflammation inside the eye, which need urgent assessment rather than over-the-counter drops.
Keep reading
Related articles
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Conjunctivitis — infective; Conjunctivitis — allergic.
- NICE CKS: Conjunctivitis.
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