Eyes
Sticky or discharging eye
A sticky, crusty or running discharge from the eye — which can be watery, mucky or pus-like — usually caused by conjunctivitis, a blocked or inflamed lid or dry eye, and only rarely a sign of a more serious eye problem.
Education and reference only. This explains the common causes of sticky or discharging eye and the warning signs that need urgent help, in plain language — it is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a clinician. If you feel very unwell or are worried, seek medical help.
Quick answer
What is sticky or discharging eye?
A discharging or sticky eye means the eye is producing more fluid or mucus than usual, often leaving the lashes crusted or the lids gummed together, particularly on waking. The character of the discharge offers clues: a thick, yellow or green pus-like discharge typically points to a bacterial infection of the surface of the eye, a watery discharge with itching and redness suggests an allergic or viral cause, and a stringy mucous discharge is common in dry eye and in inflammation of the lid margins.
- Get urgent help: Seek same-day assessment for a discharging eye with eye pain, blurred or reduced vision, or marked sensitivity to light, as this can mean a deeper, sight-threatening problem. Seek urgent help for a newborn baby with a red, sticky or discharging eye.
- Self-care: Most sticky eyes can be soothed at home while they settle.
About sticky or discharging eye
A discharging or sticky eye means the eye is producing more fluid or mucus than usual, often leaving the lashes crusted or the lids gummed together, particularly on waking. The character of the discharge offers clues: a thick, yellow or green pus-like discharge typically points to a bacterial infection of the surface of the eye, a watery discharge with itching and redness suggests an allergic or viral cause, and a stringy mucous discharge is common in dry eye and in inflammation of the lid margins. Most discharging eyes come from conjunctivitis or from problems of the eyelids and tear film, and these are uncomfortable but not sight-threatening. The features that change the picture are eye pain, blurred or reduced vision and marked sensitivity to light, and a red, discharging eye in a newborn baby — these need same-day assessment rather than home care.
When to get help
Call 999 or go to A&E if sticky or discharging eye comes with any of these warning signs:
- Seek same-day assessment for a discharging eye with eye pain, blurred or reduced vision, or marked sensitivity to light, as this can mean a deeper, sight-threatening problem.
- Seek urgent help for a newborn baby with a red, sticky or discharging eye.
- Seek urgent help for a discharging eye with a hot, red, swollen eyelid, bulging of the eye or trouble moving the eye.
- Seek prompt assessment for a discharging eye in a contact lens wearer with pain or a white spot on the surface of the eye.
- Seek urgent help for an eye discharge that follows an injury or a chemical or foreign body entering the eye.
When to see a doctor
Many sticky, discharging eyes are due to conjunctivitis or lid problems and settle with gentle cleaning and time, so you can often manage them at home or with a word from a pharmacist. Seek same-day help if the discharge comes with eye pain, blurred or reduced vision, or sensitivity to light, or if a newborn baby develops a red, discharging eye, as these can indicate a more serious problem. Contact lens wearers with a painful, discharging eye should remove their lenses and seek urgent advice, and any discharge after an injury or chemical exposure needs prompt assessment.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
What can cause it
Common causes of sticky or discharging eye
Sticky or discharging eye has many possible causes. Each links to a full, plain-language guide to that condition — what it is, how it's treated and when to seek help.
What helps
Self-care and what you can do
Most sticky eyes can be soothed at home while they settle. Gently clean away crusts and discharge with cooled boiled water or saline on a clean piece of cotton wool, using a fresh piece for each eye and each wipe to avoid spreading infection. Wash your hands before and after touching your eyes, avoid sharing towels, flannels or pillows, and do not wear contact lenses or eye make-up until the eye is back to normal. A warm compress held against the lids helps blepharitis and styes, while cool compresses ease the itch of an allergic eye. Conjunctivitis is often self-limiting, but if symptoms are severe, persistent or affect your vision, see a clinician rather than continuing self-care.
Answers
Sticky or discharging eye: frequently asked questions
Is a sticky, discharging eye contagious?
It can be. Conjunctivitis from a bacterial or viral infection spreads easily through hands, towels and shared items, so wash your hands often, use separate towels and avoid touching or rubbing the eye. Allergic and dry-eye discharge is not infectious.
How do I clean a sticky eye safely?
Use cooled boiled water or saline on a clean piece of cotton wool, wiping gently from the inner corner outward, and use a fresh piece for each wipe and each eye. Wash your hands before and after, and do not reuse the same cotton wool, as this can spread infection.
When should a discharging eye be seen the same day?
Seek same-day assessment if there is eye pain, blurred or reduced vision, or marked sensitivity to light, if a newborn baby has a red, sticky eye, or if a contact lens wearer has a painful, discharging eye, as these can signal a more serious problem.
Can dry eyes really cause discharge?
Yes. A poor tear film can make the eye produce stringy mucus and water excessively as it tries to compensate, so a dry eye can paradoxically feel sticky and watery. Lid hygiene and treating the dry eye usually help.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Conjunctivitis - infective.
- Royal College of Ophthalmologists: red and sticky eye.
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