Eye care

Red eye - associated with infective conjunctivitis

Red eye is probably the most common eye complaint for which sufferers seek advice from their pharmacist or general practitioner.
The general term for redness and inflammation of the eye is Conjuctivitis. There are many causes of redness, some of which are serious conditions, so it is important that the cause of the symptoms is identified before the choice of treatment is made.

Unlike dryness and allergy, infections usually only affect one eye initially, but are often spread from one eye to the other by rubbing.
The affected eye is usually red, sore and has either a watery discharge if the infection is due to a virus, or a thick, yellowish discharge if the cause is bacterial.
The discharge may cause the eyelids to stick together, particularly if the eyelids have been closed for some time, such as overnight.

The advice of a pharmacist or general practitioner should be sought in these cases.