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Conjunctivitis while travelling causes red or pink, gritty, watery or sticky eyes and usually clears within a week or two without treatment. Clean the eyelids gently, use cool compresses, stop wearing contact lenses and avoid sharing towels. Eye pain, light sensitivity, changes in vision or a red eye in a contact lens wearer need a doctor promptly.
Why eyes suffer on a trip
Travel exposes your eyes to several irritants at once:
- Dry cabin air on flights and air-conditioned rooms
- Chlorinated pools and sea water
- Sun, wind and dust, especially on ferries and rooftop terraces
- Pollen in spring and early summer
- Colds and viruses caught on planes and crowded transport
- Contact lenses worn for longer than usual, or while swimming
Conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the thin layer covering the white of the eye, can be caused by a virus, bacteria or an allergy. Irritation from chlorine or dryness can look similar.
Recognising conjunctivitis
NHS guidance lists typical symptoms:
- Red or pink eyes
- A burning, itchy or gritty feeling
- Watery eyes
- Pus or a sticky coating that makes the eyelashes stick together, especially in the morning
It can start in one eye and spread to the other. Itchy, watery eyes with sneezing point to an allergy; sticky discharge points to an infection. Your vision should be normal once you blink away any discharge.
Caring for a red eye on the road
Most cases settle on their own. NHS guidance suggests:
- Clean the eyelids gently with cotton wool soaked in boiled water that has cooled down, one piece per wipe.
- Use a cool, clean compress to soothe the eye.
- Do not wear contact lenses until the eye is completely better, and throw away lenses you wore when it started.
- Ask a pharmacist (Eczane) about lubricating drops or allergy treatment; "göz damlası" means eye drops.
- Wear sunglasses outdoors to reduce glare and wind.
Protecting the people around you
Infective conjunctivitis spreads easily. Wash your hands after touching your eyes, use your own towel and pillowcase, and avoid swimming pools until it has cleared. Do not share make-up or eye drops.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor, at your accommodation or a clinic, if:
- The eye is not improving after a few days, or is getting worse
- You wear contact lenses and your eye is red and sore
- You have a lot of discharge or swollen eyelids
- A baby or young child has red, sticky eyes
- You have a weakened immune system
A doctor visit at your hotel includes an examination of the eye and a decision on whether treatment is needed. If you mainly want advice, an online medical consultation can help you decide, and you can share a photo.
A bright red patch with no pain
A sudden, sharply outlined patch of bright red blood on the white of the eye, with no pain and normal vision, is usually a burst blood vessel (subconjunctival haemorrhage). It often follows coughing, sneezing, vomiting or straining, and can look alarming, but it is generally harmless and fades over one to two weeks without treatment. See a doctor if it followed an injury, keeps happening, or you take blood-thinning medicine.
Contact lens care while travelling
Contact lens wearers are at higher risk of serious eye infections, and travel makes good habits harder:
- Never rinse or store lenses in tap water, and do not swim or shower in them.
- Wash and dry your hands before handling lenses.
- Pack spare lenses, fresh solution and your glasses, so you can switch the moment an eye feels sore.
- Do not sleep in lenses unless they are designed for it, even after a long flight.
- Replace your lens case regularly and never top up old solution.
A red, painful eye in a lens wearer is not something to wait on: take the lenses out, keep them in their case to show the doctor, and get the eye checked the same day.
Useful words at the pharmacy
- Göz: eye
- Gözüm kızardı: my eye is red
- Göz damlası: eye drops
- Lens solüsyonu: contact lens solution
Protecting your eyes in the sun and sea
Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet light on ferries and at the beach, and goggles when swimming in pools. Rinse your eyes with clean water if sea water or sunscreen gets in them.
Red flags: when a red eye is urgent
Some red eyes are not conjunctivitis and need urgent assessment the same day:
- Eye pain, rather than grittiness
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision or changes in vision, such as wavy lines or flashing lights
- A very red eye in someone who wears contact lenses
- A red eye after an injury or a blow to the head
- Severe headache with nausea and a red, painful eye
Related Services
- Hotel Doctor in Istanbul — an eye examination at your hotel, Airbnb or residence.
- Online Medical Advice — a remote view, with photos, on whether you need to be seen.
- Travel Health Essentials — travel basics delivered to your accommodation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does conjunctivitis last?
- It usually clears within a week or two without treatment. See a doctor if it is not improving after a few days or gets worse.
- Can I swim with conjunctivitis?
- Avoid swimming pools until it has cleared, both to protect others and to avoid further irritation from chlorine.
- Should I stop wearing contact lenses with a red eye?
- Yes. Stop until the eye is completely better, and see a doctor promptly if a red eye is also painful.
- When is a red eye an emergency?
- Eye pain, light sensitivity, changes in vision, a chemical splash or an eye injury need urgent care the same day.
If your eye is red and you are not sure whether it needs a doctor, send a WhatsApp message with a photo and where you are staying.