Conjunctivitis: causes, contagion and care in Luxembourg

Conjunctivitis — often called pink eye — is an inflammation of the thin transparent membrane covering the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. It makes the eye red, watery and gritty, sometimes glued shut in the morning, and it is one of the most common reasons parents take a child to the doctor. Most cases are mild and clear up within days. In Luxembourg, a general practitioner or paediatrician handles simple forms; an ophthalmologist should see any case with pain, blurred vision, light sensitivity, in contact lens wearers or in very young babies.

Viral, bacterial or allergic: three different stories

The same red eye can hide three main causes, and a few clues usually point in the right direction — without replacing a doctor’s opinion.

Viral conjunctivitis

This is the classic cold-season scenario. The eye turns red and watery, often on one side first, with the other following a day or two later. The discharge is mostly clear and watery, and the child frequently has a runny nose or sore throat at the same time. It is the most contagious form and can sweep through an entire classroom or nursery.

Bacterial conjunctivitis

The main clue here is pus: thick, yellowish or greenish discharge that sticks the lashes together overnight, sometimes so much that the child cannot open the eye in the morning. It often affects one eye, at least at the start. Common in young children, it may need a topical treatment prescribed by the doctor, especially when the discharge is heavy or things do not improve on their own.

Allergic conjunctivitis

This one tells a different story: both eyes are affected at the same time, itching dominates — the child rubs their eyes constantly —, the tearing is clear and there is no pus. It tends to return at the same time every year, in spring with pollen, or after contact with an animal, dust or dust mites. Sneezing and an itchy nose often come along with it. It is not contagious at all.

Highly contagious: protecting the rest of the family

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis spread easily via the hands, and from one eye to the other. When someone in the household is affected, a few simple habits genuinely limit the spread:

• Wash hands often, and always after touching the affected eye or cleaning away discharge.
• Give the affected person their own towel and washcloth, changed daily.
• Do not share pillows, make-up or eye drops; throw away mascara and eyeliner used during the infection.
• Clean the eye from the outer corner inwards with a single-use compress — a fresh one for each eye.
• Teach the child not to rub their eyes: easier said than done, but hands are the main vehicle.

These precautions matter for as long as the eye is weeping. Once the discharge stops, the risk of contagion drops quickly.

When it is harmless — and when you really must see a doctor

A simple conjunctivitis is uncomfortable but not truly painful, does not affect vision and improves within a few days with regular saline rinses. In that case there is no emergency: an appointment with the GP or paediatrician is enough if symptoms persist or pus appears.

Some signs, however, are no longer a matter of ordinary pink eye and call for prompt ophthalmological advice:

• real eye pain, different from the mere gritty, sandy feeling;
• reduced or blurred vision that blinking does not clear;
• marked light sensitivity, when daylight becomes genuinely unbearable;
• intense redness concentrated around the cornea, or redness after an injury or a splash in the eye;
• any red or sticky eye in a baby under three months, who must be seen by a doctor without delay.

If a chemical splashes into the eye, rinse immediately and generously with water and contact emergency services — 112 if the situation requires it.

Contact lens wearers: a special case

In a contact lens wearer, a red eye is never trivial. Lenses favour infections of the cornea that can look like conjunctivitis at first but evolve far more seriously. The reflex: remove the lenses at the first symptoms, switch to glasses, do not reuse the potentially contaminated pair or case, and see an ophthalmologist if the redness comes with pain or light sensitivity, or does not improve within a day or two. Lens wear only resumes once the eye has fully healed, ideally with the doctor’s go-ahead.

Getting care in Luxembourg

For a simple conjunctivitis, the general practitioner or paediatrician is the right first port of call: they distinguish the three causes, prescribe a topical treatment if needed and check for warning signs. The ophthalmologist steps in for red-flag symptoms, contact lens wearers, cases that drag on or keep coming back, and significant eye allergies that may warrant testing. Consultations with GPs, paediatricians and ophthalmologists are covered by the national health fund under the usual health insurance rules; details are available on the CNS website. On Doctipro, you can book an appointment directly with a GP, paediatrician or ophthalmologist near you.