Red Eye without Pus

Symptom Definition

• Redness or pinkness of the white of the eye (sclera) and inner eyelids
• May have increased tearing (watery eye)
• No pus or other discharge
• Main cause: viral infection (part of a cold)
• Other common causes: allergic conjunctivitis from pollens or chemical conjunctivitis from irritants (e.g., chlorinated pool water, smoke, smog or sunscreen).

See More Appropriate Topic

• If feels like something got in eye, see Foreign Body in Eye
• If yellow or green pus in eye, see Eye Pus or Drainage
• If main symptom is itchy eyes, see Eye Allergy

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• Your child looks or acts very sick
• Eyelid is very red or very swollen
• Constant tearing or blinking
• Eye pain or blurred vision
• Age less then 12 weeks with fever > 100.4°F (38°C) rectally
• Age < 1 month old (newborn)
• Only 1 eye is red and present for > 24 hours

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 and 4) If

• You think your child needs to be seen

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

• You have other questions or concerns

Parent Care at Home If

• Red eye as part of a cold (viral conjunctivitis) and you don’t think your child needs to be seen
• Red eye caused by mild irritant (e.g. soap, sunscreen, food) and you don’t think your child needs to be seen

Home Care Advice for Viral Eye Infections

1. Eye Cleansing: Cleanse eyelids with warm water and a clean cotton ball at least every 1 to 2 hours while your child is awake and at home. This usually will keep a bacterial infection from occurring.
2. Eye Drops: Neither antibiotic nor vasoconstrictor eye drops help viral eye infections.
3. Contacts: Children with contact lenses need to switch to glasses temporarily. (Reason: to prevent damage to the cornea)
4. Contagiousness: Pink eye with a watery discharge is harmless and mildly contagious. Children with viral conjunctivitis do not need to miss any day care or school.
5. Expected Course: Pink eye with a cold usually lasts about 7 days.
6. Call Your Doctor If
   • Yellow or green discharge develops
   • Redness lasts > 1 week
   • Your child becomes worse or develops any of the “Call Your Doctor” symptoms

Home Care Advice for Mild Irritants
(e.g., smoke, smog, chlorine, perfume, food, soap, sunscreen)

1. Face Cleansing: Wash the face, then the eyelids, with a mild soap and water. This will remove any irritants.
2. Eye Irrigation: Irrigate the eye with warm water for 5 minutes.
3. Vasoconstrictor Eye Drops: Red eyes from irritants usually feel much better after the irritant has been washed out. If they remain uncomfortable and bloodshot, instill some long-acting vasoconstrictor eye drops (no prescription needed). Use 2 drops every 6 to 8 hours as necessary.
4. Expected Course: After removal of the irritant, the eyes usually return to normal color in 1 to 2 hours.
5. Prevention: Try to avoid future exposure to the irritant.
6. Call Your Doctor If
   • Develops pus in the eye
   • Redness lasts > 7 days
   • Your child becomes worse or develops any of the “Call Your Doctor Now” symptoms