Red, gritty eyes with sticky pus on your lashes in the morning may be conjunctivitis. The NHS says it is caused by an infection or allergies and usually gets better in a couple of weeks without treatment. At home it says clean your eyelids with boiled water that has cooled, hold a cold flannel on your eyes for a few minutes, and don’t wear contact lenses until your eyes are better. See a GP if symptoms have not cleared up within 7 days; get urgent help for eye pain, sensitivity to light, changes in your vision, very red eyes, or a baby less than 30 days old with red, sticky eyes. This sets out the NHS page “Conjunctivitis”.
1. It usually gets better in a couple of weeks without treatment. Antibiotics won’t work for viral or allergic conjunctivitis.
2. Clean your eyelids with cooled boiled water, no contact lenses until better, don’t share towels or pillows.
3. Not cleared within 7 days: GP. Eye pain, light sensitivity, vision changes or very red eyes: urgent help — and for a baby under 30 days old.
Symptoms — NHS
The NHS says conjunctivitis usually affects both eyes, making them red, burning or gritty, itchy and watery, with pus that sticks to the lashes. It is also called red or pink eye.
What to do and not do at home — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Do | Gently wipe your eyelids and lashes with a clean cotton wool pad and boiled water that has cooled — a new pad for each eye | So you don’t carry it from one eye to the other (our gloss) |
| Do | Hold a cold flannel on your eyes for a few minutes | — |
| Don’t | Wear contact lenses until your eyes are better | — |
| Don’t | Rub your eyes | — |
| Don’t | Share towels or pillows | — |
A pharmacist can suggest eyedrops or antihistamines, but a child under 2 needs a prescription from a GP. A lump on the eyelid is covered in stye.
When to get help — NHS
| If | Where | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Symptoms have not cleared up within 7 days | GP | — |
| Your baby has red, sticky eyes | GP | Under 30 days old: urgent |
| You wear contact lenses and have symptoms plus spots on your eyelids | GP | You may be allergic to the lenses |
| Pain in your eyes or sensitivity to light | Urgent GP or 111 | Can be a sign of a more serious eye problem |
| Changes in your vision, like wavy lines or flashing | Urgent GP or 111 | In Korea, a same-day eye clinic (our gloss) |
| Very red eyes (1 eye or both) | Urgent GP or 111 | — |
| A baby less than 30 days old with red, sticky eyes | Urgent GP or 111 | — |
Causes and treatment — NHS
| Cause | Treatment | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Bacterial infection | Antibiotics may be used | — |
| Virus | Antibiotics won’t work | — |
| Allergy | Antibiotics won’t work | Antihistamines: see the pharmacist note |
| Some sexually transmitted infections | Takes longer to clear | — |
Avoiding spreading it — NHS
- Wash your hands often with warm soapy water — see handwashing
- Wash pillowcases and face cloths in hot water with detergent
- Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing, and bin used tissues
The NHS says you do not need to stay away from work or school unless you or your child feel very unwell. Korean nurseries and schools may set their own attendance rules (our gloss — we did not check them this time).
Checklist
- ☐ Cooled boiled water, a new pad for each eye
- ☐ No contact lenses until better; don’t rub
- ☐ Own towels and pillows; wash hands often
- ☐ Not cleared within 7 days: GP
- ☐ Eye pain, light sensitivity, vision changes, very red eyes or a baby under 30 days old: urgent help
Questions that remain
Do I need antibiotic eyedrops?
The NHS says antibiotics may be used for a bacterial infection but won’t work for viral or allergic conjunctivitis. A pharmacist or doctor can tell which it is.
Can my child go to nursery?
The NHS says there’s no need to stay away unless they feel very unwell. We didn’t read Korean rules this time, so ask the nursery or school.
Are dry, scratchy eyes conjunctivitis?
The NHS thresholds for dry eyes are in dry eyes.
Sources
- NHS — Conjunctivitis — source (page shows: reviewed 23 April 2024, next review 23 April 2027; checked 19 October 2026). Symptoms, recovery time, 2 dos and 3 don’ts, pharmacist, 3 GP and 5 urgent reasons, 4 causes, avoiding spread, work and school.
- Not read. Korean agency guidance on conjunctivitis; Korean nursery and school attendance rules.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column and the Korean care gloss.
Where else to check
- An eye clinic — if it hasn’t cleared within 7 days, or with eye pain or vision changes.
Written on 19 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.
