Parents’ Guide to Red Eye Infections
Red eye (also known as conjunctivitis) is a common cause of school absences and can spread quickly in schools. Help your kids know how to keep from getting red eye and other infections.
Bacterial and viral red eye
If one or both of your eyes are red and uncomfortable, it could be allergic red eye, viral red eye or bacterial red eye. Sometimes it’s easy to figure out what kind of red eye you have and other times only a doctor can tell what’s causing the problem.
• Viral red eye is like a common cold in the eye. There is no treatment for the virus and usually you just have to let it heal on its own. Viral red eye should go away within a week or two without treatment.
• Bacterial red eye usually produces more mucus or pus than viral or allergic red eye. Bacterial red eye can be treated with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.
• Allergic red eye is conjunctivitis caused by allergies. It is important to identify the source of the allergy and stop contact with it. Allergic red eye is not contagious. You can still go to work or school with allergic conjunctivitis and no one else will catch it.

How long does red eye last?

Most red eye will go away on its own in a week or two. You can make that time more comfortable by trying the remedies described below.

• Take ibuprofen or another over-the-counter pain killer.
• Use over-the-counter lubricating eye drops (artificial tears).
• Put a warm, damp washcloth over your eyes for a few minutes, several times a day. Use a clean washcloth each time so you don’t spread the infection. If your eyelids are sticking together, a warm washcloth can loosen the dried mucus so you can open your eyes.
• For allergic red eye, in addition to the above measures, you can take allergy medicine

Sometimes you need to see a doctor for red eye. It depends on what kind of red eye you have and how bad it is. See an ophthalmologist right away if:

• You are in pain or are having trouble seeing
• You become sensitive to light
• Your symptoms have continued for a week or more, or are getting worse
• Your eye is producing a lot of pus or mucus
• You have any other symptoms of an infection, like fever or achiness

Red eye is easy to catch. Here’s how to avoid spreading it:

Basic hygiene is enough to keep from spreading the infection to other people or your other eye.

• Change beddings and towels every day.
• Wash your hands often, especially after you touch your eyes.
• Don’t wear contact lenses until your eyes are back to normal.
• Don’t share anything that touches your eyes.

Whatever kind of red eye you have, never use eye-whitening drops, that are marketed as beauty products. These kinds of eye drops may be very uncomfortable if you have an infection. They also could make your symptoms worse.

Eye infections in young children can be very serious—even blinding. Don’t delay seeing a doctor and don’t rely only on folk remedies. Never put anything in your eye that isn’t approved by a doctor. Foods and herbal extracts are not sterile and can make eye conditions much worse.

Dr. Juliet Otiti Sengeri is the Medical Director and lead surgeon at Georgina Eye Clinic. Her surgical specialty is cataract and anterior segment. She has extensive experience in the treatment of cataracts, corneal conditions and glaucoma. She is a member of the American Association of Ophthalmology and an alumnus of the Harvard Medical School.