Medically reviewed by Dr Sulaiman Shah, GMC No. 7038832 — The GP Clinic, 124 City Road, London.
Last updated: September 12, 2026
Quick answer: Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is inflammation of the clear membrane covering the white of the eye, causing redness, discharge, and irritation. The good news is that the vast majority of cases are mild and clear up on their own within one to two weeks, without any lasting effect on your vision. See a GP if symptoms are severe, worsening, or affecting your vision.
Conjunctivitis is one of the most common eye conditions seen in UK general practice and pharmacies, particularly among children, where it spreads easily in nurseries and schools. Despite how common it is, many people aren’t sure whether their symptoms mean they need antibiotics, whether they’re contagious, or whether they can still go to work — and getting these answers right matters for both your recovery and everyone around you.
Working out exactly which type you have — and what to actually do about it — is where our online GPs can help.
Symptoms vary depending on the cause, but generally include:
The type of discharge and accompanying symptoms are the biggest clues to what’s actually causing your conjunctivitis:
This is a helpful starting guide, but a GP or pharmacist can confirm which type you’re dealing with if you’re unsure, since treatment differs meaningfully between them.
Several eye conditions share overlapping symptoms, which is exactly why so many people get confused about what they’re dealing with:
| Condition | Key Distinguishing Signs |
|---|---|
| Conjunctivitis | Redness across the whole eye surface, discharge, often both eyes eventually affected |
| Dry eye | Gritty, burning sensation, worse by end of day, minimal itching, no significant discharge |
| Stye | A distinct, painful bump on the eyelid edge, usually one eye, localised rather than across the whole eye |
| Allergic reaction (without infection) | Intense itching as the dominant symptom, watery eyes, often with nasal symptoms, no crusting or sticky discharge |
This depends entirely on the type. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are both contagious, spreading through contaminated hands, shared towels, pillows, or cosmetics, and through close contact with someone who’s infected. Viral conjunctivitis is typically contagious for around 10 to 14 days, while bacterial conjunctivitis stops being contagious roughly 24 hours after starting antibiotics, or around a week if left untreated. Allergic and irritant conjunctivitis are not contagious at all, since they aren’t caused by infection.
This is one of the most commonly asked questions, and the answer often surprises people. UK health guidance does not generally recommend staying away from work, school, or nursery because of conjunctivitis, unless you or your child are feeling particularly unwell, or there’s a known outbreak within the setting. Good hygiene — regular handwashing and avoiding shared items — is considered sufficient to reduce the spread in most everyday situations, rather than exclusion being necessary.
If you wear contact lenses and develop conjunctivitis:
If you develop repeated episodes linked to lens wear, this could indicate giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC), which needs a proper assessment rather than repeated short-term treatment.
While the vast majority of conjunctivitis cases are mild, a couple of specific types need faster attention:
These are uncommon, but worth knowing about so they’re not mistaken for routine pink eye.
In most cases, a GP can diagnose conjunctivitis simply by examining your eye and asking about your symptoms, including how quickly they developed, whether one or both eyes are affected, the colour of any discharge, and whether you have accompanying cold or allergy symptoms. A swab test is rarely needed for routine, mild cases — it’s generally reserved for symptoms that are severe, aren’t improving, or keep recurring, so there’s no need to worry that a swab will automatically be part of your appointment.
Just like a cold or viral sore throat, viral conjunctivitis is caused by a virus, not bacteria — and antibiotics only work against bacterial infections. Taking antibiotics for viral conjunctivitis won’t speed up recovery and can contribute to antibiotic resistance over time. This is why a GP may recommend simple home care rather than a prescription if your symptoms point to a viral cause.
Book an online GP appointment if:
Conjunctivitis is usually straightforward and mild, but knowing exactly which type you’re dealing with makes all the difference to getting the right treatment quickly. Our online GPs are available 7 days a week — get diagnosed, get the right treatment, and get back to normal faster.
NHS England — Conjunctivitis Published: November 2023 | Last Reviewed: November 2023
NICE Guidelines NG81 — Conjunctivitis (Infective): Antimicrobial Prescribing Published: February 2018 | Last Updated: February 2018
Viral conjunctivitis is typically contagious for 10 to 14 days. Bacterial conjunctivitis stops being contagious around 24 hours after starting antibiotics, or about a week if untreated. Allergic conjunctivitis isn’t contagious at all.
In most cases, yes. UK health guidance doesn’t generally recommend staying off work or school unless you’re feeling particularly unwell, as good hygiene is usually enough to reduce the spread.
Only if it’s bacterial. Viral conjunctivitis, the most common type, doesn’t respond to antibiotics and simply needs time and home care to clear.
Yes, viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can spread between adults and children through close contact, shared towels, or touching the eyes with unwashed hands.
Bacterial conjunctivitis often improves within a few days, especially with antibiotics. Viral conjunctivitis can take two to three weeks to fully clear, even with proper home care.
It’s rare for conjunctivitis to cause any lasting damage to vision. However, persistent or worsening symptoms should always be assessed to rule out other, more serious eye conditions.
Yes, particularly with bacterial and viral conjunctivitis, it’s common for one eye to be affected first before spreading to the other within a day or two.
It’s best to avoid eye makeup until your symptoms have fully cleared, and to discard any makeup used since symptoms began, as it may harbour bacteria.
Conjunctivitis affects the whole surface of the eye with redness and discharge, while a stye is a distinct, painful, localised bump on the eyelid.
Yes, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is common during high-pollen periods and tends to recur annually if the underlying allergy isn’t managed.
Yes, any disposable lenses worn since your symptoms started should be discarded, and reusable lenses should be thoroughly cleaned or the case replaced before wearing them again.
Newborns with any eye discharge, redness, or swelling should be assessed urgently, as neonatal conjunctivitis can occasionally affect vision if treatment is delayed.
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