--- title: "Conjunctivitis: pharmacy, GP or 111? | HealthAnswers" description: "Red, watery or sticky eyes are often conjunctivitis. A pharmacist can often advise. Vision loss, severe pain, newborns and worsening contact-lens red eye…" url: https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/conjunctivitis/ robots: noindex --- # Conjunctivitis: pharmacy, GP or 111? | HealthAnswers Health A–Z Red, watery or sticky eyes are often conjunctivitis. A pharmacist can often advise. Vision loss, severe pain, newborns and worsening contact-lens red eye need urgent help. Written by HealthAnswers editorial team Medically reviewed by [Mr Mohamed Mohyudin MBChB, FRCOphth](https://healthanswers.co.uk/our-doctors/mohamed-mohyudin/) · GMC 7039600 Reviewed 13 August 2026 ## Quick answer When is a red eye more than conjunctivitis? Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the front of the eye, often called red or pink eye. It is usually infective or allergic and often settles in a couple of weeks. A pharmacist can often advise. Use 111 or a GP for vision loss, severe pain, a newborn, or worsening contact-lens red eye. Sudden vision loss is 999. ## Who is this page for? This page is for people in the UK who want a plain-English overview of Conjunctivitis, including when to seek help and what NHS care usually involves. It explains general information, not what is wrong with you personally. ## Who should skip this page? Skip this page if you need a diagnosis, a prescription, or emergency care. It cannot replace a GP, pharmacist, NHS 111 or 999. If you are in immediate danger, call 999; for urgent advice that is not life-threatening, call 111 in England, Scotland or Wales, or use your GP out-of-hours service in Northern Ireland. On this page 8 sections ## Key facts about conjunctivitis - Conjunctivitis makes the eye red, watery or sticky and is usually mild. - Infective conjunctivitis spreads easily on hands and towels; allergic conjunctivitis does not. - A pharmacist can often advise on cleaning the eyelids and on drops. - Newborns with a red eye, severe pain, or reduced vision need prompt assessment. - Contact-lens red eye that is getting worse is not a wait-and-see pharmacy day. - Sudden vision loss is an eye emergency — call 999 or go to emergency eye care. ## Should I use this page, or skip it? Use this page if an eye is red, watery or sticky and you want to know whether a pharmacist is enough. Skip it and get emergency help for [sudden vision loss](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/sudden-vision-loss/), a chemical splash, or an extremely painful eye. This page cannot examine you or rule out a corneal ulcer. Contact-lens red eye that is getting worse, a newborn’s red eye, and severe pain with light hurting are 111 or same-day care, not a weekend of cotton wool. ## What is conjunctivitis and what does it feel like? Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the thin layer covering the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. The eye looks pink or red, waters, and may glue shut in the morning. It can feel gritty, itchy or burning. One or both eyes can be involved. Infective causes spread on hands and towels. Allergic causes, often with [hay fever](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/hay-fever/), itch and are not catching. Irritants such as chlorine can mimic it. Sticky lashes do not automatically mean you need antibiotic drops. ## Can I see a pharmacist first? Yes, for many typical cases in otherwise well people. A pharmacist can advise on eyelid cleaning, lubricating drops, and anti-allergy treatment, and will check for red flags before you self-treat. Find a GPhC-registered pharmacy on [Pick My Pharmacy](https://pickmypharmacy.co.uk/). Pharmacy access varies across the UK. 111 in England, Scotland and Wales can signpost; Northern Ireland uses GP out-of-hours via nidirect. Do not share towels, and wash hands. Take lenses out. ## Who should not wait on pharmacy self-care? Use 111 or a GP the same day for reduced vision, severe pain, marked light sensitivity, a newborn, or contact-lens related red eye that is getting worse. A corneal infection can look like “just conjunctivitis” at the start and then threaten sight. Shingles around the eye, a recent injury, or a very red painful eye with nausea is not a cotton-wool job. See [pharmacy, GP, 111 or A&E](https://healthanswers.co.uk/guides/pharmacy-gp-111-or-ae/) if you are stuck on the door. Do not sleep in contact lenses while the eye is red. ## How do I look after it at home? Boil water, let it cool, and wipe eyelids from the inner corner out with clean cotton wool, using a fresh piece each time. Use a separate towel, throw away disposable lenses used during the infection, and avoid rubbing the eye. Most cases settle in one to two weeks. If you were given drops, follow the label. Do not use leftover antibiotic drops from a previous illness unless a clinician has said to. ## When is it 111 or 999? Use 111 or same-day GP or eye casualty for vision change, severe pain, a newborn, or worsening contact-lens red eye that is not settling. Call 111 in England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland uses GP out-of-hours via nidirect. Call 999 or go to A&E or emergency eye care for [sudden vision loss](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/sudden-vision-loss/), a chemical in the eye (irrigate while you get help), a penetrating injury, or an eye that is extremely painful with vomiting. Sight-threatening problems do not wait for a weekday optician slot. ## Do NHS doors differ across the UK? Call 111 in England, Scotland and Wales if you need urgent advice and are not in immediate danger; Northern Ireland uses GP out-of-hours via nidirect rather than a general 111 service. Pharmacy schemes and what is free also vary by nation and local area, so ask rather than assuming last year’s rule still applies. 999 is the same emergency number everywhere. A sexual health clinic, GP or pharmacist in any UK nation can still start the right pathway even if the branding of the minor-illness scheme is different. Take a list of medicines and allergies with you. If vision drops suddenly, that is [sudden vision loss](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/sudden-vision-loss/) territory — 999 or emergency eye care, not a wait for the pharmacist to open. ## Who should skip this page? Skip this page if vision has suddenly gone or the eye has been burned or stabbed — that is emergency care. It is not a glaucoma lecture, not a children’s fever page, and not permission to sleep in contact lenses because the other eye looks fine. ## ! When to see a GP about conjunctivitis A pharmacist can often advise on typical conjunctivitis. Use NHS 111 or a GP the same day if vision is reduced, pain is severe, light hurts badly, a newborn has a red eye, or contact-lens related red eye is getting worse. Call **999** or go to A&E or emergency eye care for sudden vision loss, a chemical in the eye, a penetrating injury, or an eye that is extremely painful with vomiting. Do not wait for a routine slot. ## Common questions about conjunctivitis Is conjunctivitis contagious? Infective conjunctivitis caused by viruses or bacteria spreads easily via hands, towels and pillows. Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious and often comes with hay fever. Wash hands, use a separate towel, and do not share eye drops. Children with sticky eyes may need school exclusion advice from the pharmacist or NHS page for your area. How do I treat it at home? Clean sticky eyelids with cooled boiled water and clean cotton wool, wiping from the inner corner outwards, using a fresh piece each time. A cool compress can soothe. Take contact lenses out until the eye is better. A pharmacist can advise on lubricating or anti-allergy drops. Find a GPhC-registered pharmacy on [Pick My Pharmacy](https://pickmypharmacy.co.uk/). How long does it last? Many cases settle within one to two weeks. If it lasts longer, keeps returning, or you develop pain or vision change, get it checked. Viral conjunctivitis can feel slow. Bacterial cases may have more gluey discharge. Do not start leftover antibiotic drops from a previous illness unless a clinician has said to. When is a red eye serious? Severe pain, light sensitivity, reduced or sudden vision loss, a newborn's red eye, or contact-lens red eye that is worsening can be more than simple conjunctivitis. Sudden vision loss is 999 or emergency eye care — see the sudden vision loss page. A mildly gritty, watery cold-in-the-eye is a different order of problem. I wear contact lenses — what should I do? Stop wearing the lenses until the eye is white and comfortable, and do not use that pair again without advice. A red, painful contact-lens eye that is getting worse can be a corneal infection and needs same-day 111, GP or eye-casualty advice, not another night in lenses. Take the lens case with you if you are seen. Can hay fever cause this? Yes. Allergic conjunctivitis usually itches, waters, and affects both eyes, often with sneezing. A pharmacist can advise on anti-allergy drops or tablets if you can take them. It is not catching. If vision drops or pain is severe, do not assume it is hay fever. Treat typical seasonal itch as allergy only when the eye otherwise feels safe. Does a baby with sticky eyes always need a GP? A newborn with a red or sticky eye should be assessed promptly — this is not a routine pharmacy chat. Older babies with a blocked tear duct can have sticky eyes without true conjunctivitis; a GP or health visitor can advise. If a baby is unwell, not feeding, or the eyelids are swollen shut, use 111 or 999. ## Sources - [NHS — Conjunctivitis](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/conjunctivitis/) - [NHS — How pharmacies can help](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/)