Eye infections, allergies and injuries: symptoms and treatment options
Conjunctivitis, styes, allergic eye disease and injury to the surface of the eye. Most are not refractive questions, and some of them need to be seen urgently rather than booked.
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Conjunctivitis, styes, allergic eye disease and injury to the surface of the eye. Most are not refractive questions, and some of them need to be seen urgently rather than booked.
General educational information about a subject, not an assessment of your own eyes. Suitability and treatment decisions are made by a qualified ophthalmologist who has examined you.
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Eye infections, allergies and injuries
Conjunctivitis, styes, allergic eye disease and injury to the surface of the eye. Most are not refractive questions, and some of them need to be seen urgently rather than booked.
Also known as conjunctivitis, eye infection, stye, chalazion, eye allergy, allergic conjunctivitis, chemical injury
Questions about Eye infections, allergies and injuries
Each answer below is the short version; the question links to the page that carries it in full, with sources.
- What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the clear membrane covering the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. It can be infective, allergic or irritant, and the treatment differs substantially between those.
- When is a red eye urgent?
A red eye needs urgent assessment when it is accompanied by significant pain, reduced vision, light sensitivity, a feeling that something is stuck in the eye, or contact lens wear.
- What is a stye or chalazion?
A stye is an infection at the base of an eyelash, and a chalazion is a blocked oil gland in the eyelid. Both produce a tender or firm lump, and most settle with warm compresses.
- Why are my eyes itchy and watery?
Itchy, watery eyes usually point to allergy rather than infection, and allergy treatment differs from infection treatment. The itch is the distinguishing feature for most people.
- Can contact lenses cause eye infections?
Yes. Contact lens wear is a recognised risk factor for corneal infection, and the risk rises sharply with overnight wear, with tap water contact and with poor lens case hygiene.
- What should I do if a chemical gets in my eye?
Rinse the eye immediately with clean running water or saline for as long as is practical, then seek emergency care. Immediate irrigation matters more than waiting to be seen.
- Is conjunctivitis in children serious?
Conjunctivitis in children is usually self-limiting or easily treated. It should be assessed if the eye is painful, if vision is affected, if the child is unwell with it, or if it is not settling.
- What is blepharitis?
Inflammation of the eyelid margins, usually involving the oil glands that open along the lid edge. It causes crusting, redness, a gritty sensation and fluctuating vision, and it is chronic and managed rather than cured: lid hygiene and warm compresses are the mainstay.
All 34 Eye conditions questions, searchable
Related subjects
- Dry eye
The tear film is unstable or insufficient, so the surface of the eye is uncomfortable and the vision can fluctuate. It matters before surgery because it is also one of the things refractive surgery can temporarily make worse.
- Red or bloodshot eye
A red eye has many causes, most of them minor and self-limiting. Pain, light sensitivity, reduced vision or a red eye with a contact lens in place change the assessment entirely.
- Dubai
The emirate where most of the UAE refractive surgery capacity is, and the one most international patients travel to. Licensing, clinic choice and what a quote should contain are the local questions.
- Dryness and grittiness
A burning, scratchy or gritty feeling at the front of the eye. It can make vision fluctuate through the day, and it is one of the reasons a surgeon examines the tear film before operating.
- Light sensitivity
Discomfort in ordinary light. It is expected for a short period after refractive surgery and is also a sign of surface problems, so a sudden change is worth having looked at.
- Eye pain
Pain in or around the eye. Surface irritation, a foreign body, an infection and raised pressure feel different from one another, and the character of the pain is part of how it is triaged.
- Contact lenses
Lenses worn on the surface of the eye. They correct the same errors as glasses, and they change the shape of the cornea while worn, which is why wearing has to stop before a surgical measurement.
This page describes what is generally true about eye infections, allergies and injuries. It is not a diagnosis, and it cannot say whether a treatment is suitable for you, because suitability depends on measurements taken during an examination.
Sources & further reading
We prefer primary sources. Where a claim comes from a manufacturer, a single study or a regulator, it is labelled as such below.
- Eye Health Information Patient information National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health (US)
Condition-by-condition eye health information from a US government research institute, written for patients rather than for clinicians.
Used for Plain-language explanations of eye conditions and their symptoms; Healthy vision and screening guidance.
Link checked 23 September 2026
- EyeSmart: eye health information for the public Patient information American Academy of Ophthalmology
Patient-facing material from the largest ophthalmology professional body, covering conditions, tests and treatments outside refractive surgery.
Used for Cross-checking patient-facing explanations of non-refractive eye conditions; Describing what tests such as dilation and OCT involve.
Link checked 23 September 2026
- Cataracts in adults: management (NG77) Clinical reference National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK) · 2017
Clinical guidance on when cataract surgery is indicated, what should be discussed before it, and what follow-up is expected.
Used for When cataract surgery is considered appropriate rather than cosmetic timing; What patients should be told before cataract surgery.
Link checked 23 September 2026