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Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

The symptoms are similar for both infective and allergic conjunctivitis. In allergic conjunctivitis, both eyes are usually affected at the same time. In infective conjunctivitis, the infection may start in one eye, but it usually spreads to both.

Symptoms include:

• Reddening of the affected eye. This happens as a result of the irritation and widening of the tiny blood vessels in the conjunctiva.
• Watering eyes. The conjunctiva contains thousands of cells that produce mucus and tiny glands that produce tears. Irritation causes these to become overactive, so they water and leak mucus.
• Scratchy, gritty feeling in the eyes.
• Swollen eyelids.
• Sticky feeling. It may be hard to open your eyes in the mornings.
• Slight soreness. If you have worsening pain, contact your GP.

In infective conjunctivitis, the mucus coming out of the eyes often contains many white cells from the blood (pus cells). The pus tends to clump together on the lashes, making them stick together.

Symptoms can be more serious depending on the type of infection. For example, if the herpes virus or chlamydia bacteria get into the eye, the symptoms tend to be more severe and last longer.

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