Are You Sick?

Eye - Pus or Discharge

Is this your symptom?

Yellow or green discharge (pus) in the eye
Eyelids are stuck (matted) together with pus after sleep
After being wiped away, the pus comes back during the day

Symptoms of Bacterial Eye Infection

Lots of yellow or green pus in the eye that keeps coming back during the day
The eyelids and eyelashes are stuck together after sleep
Caution: a little dried pus on the eyelids and eyelashes can be normal with a cold
The whites of the eye may or may not be red or pink
The eyelids are often puffy

Causes of Eye with Pus

Viral Pink Eye is a viral infection of the eyes and is the most common cause of pink eye in adults. Main symptom is pinkness of the white parts of the eyes. The eyes are also watery. Most often, there is no pus or small amounts after sleep. Usually affects both eyes.
Bacterial Pink Eye is a bacterial infection of the eye. The main symptom is eyelids stuck together with pus after sleep. Also, the pus keeps coming back while awake. Can be present in 1 or both eyes.
Normal Discharge. A small amount of dried mucus only in the corner of the eye. A collection of mucus can be cream colored. Often due to an irritant that got in the eye from dirty hands. Needs no treatment except wiping it away with warm water.
Herpes Simplex/Cold Sore Virus (serious) can cause eye infections, long term changes to sight, blisters and pain. May cause a painful ulcer on the cornea (clear part at the front of the eye), the eyelid and deeper tissues inside the eye. Often happens to adults who have had cold sores. Seek care from a doctor right away to prevent vision damage.
Foreign Object in Eye (serious). Small bits of sand, dirt or sawdust can be blown into the eyes. The grit often gets stuck under the upper eyelid. If not removed, the eye reacts by making pus. The main clue is an eye infection that does not get better with using antibiotic eyedrops.
Eyelid Cellulitis (serious) is a deep infection of the eyelid and tissues around it. The main symptom is a red, swollen, very tender eyelid. The eye can be swollen shut; usually just on one side. This can be a problem caused by bacterial conjunctivitis. The eye infection spreads inward. More often this is caused by a sinus infection. That type occurs without any pus in the eye.

When to Call for Eye - Pus or Discharge

When to Call for Eye - Pus or Discharge
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now Eyelid is very red or very swollen Severe eye pain Vision is blurred (other than just due to pus or watering of the eye) Eye pain and you are more than 50 years old Fever or chills; feeling hot or shivery Nonstop tears or blinking Weak immune system. Examples are: diabetes, sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids, kidney problems. You feel weak or very sick You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent	Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Eye pain is more than mild Fever has lasted more than 3 days Using antibiotic eye drops more than 3 days and pus is still there Symptoms get worse over 1-2 days Headache Pus in the eye, but none of the symptoms above. Reason: you may need antibiotic eyedrops to treat it. You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

Eyelid is very red or very swollen
Severe eye pain
Vision is blurred (other than just due to pus or watering of the eye)
Eye pain and you are more than 50 years old
Fever or chills; feeling hot or shivery
Nonstop tears or blinking
Weak immune system. Examples are: diabetes, sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids, kidney problems.
You feel weak or very sick
You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

Eye pain is more than mild
Fever has lasted more than 3 days
Using antibiotic eye drops more than 3 days and pus is still there
Symptoms get worse over 1-2 days
Headache
Pus in the eye, but none of the symptoms above. Reason: you may need antibiotic eyedrops to treat it.
You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Care Advice for Pus In the Eye

What You Should Know About Bacterial Eye Infections:

Bacterial eye infections can occur with colds.
The main symptom is lots of pus that keeps coming back during the day.
They often need antibiotic eye drops, which need a prescription. Your doctor will decide.
They are not harmful to vision.
Until you get some antibiotic eye drops, here is some advice that should help.

Remove Pus:

Wash your hands first. Remove all the dried and liquid pus from the eyelids. Use warm water and wet cotton balls to clean the eye gently. Throw the cotton ball away after use. Use a new cotton ball for each eye.
Do this whenever pus is seen on the eyelids.
Remove the pus before the antibiotic eye drops are put in. Reason: the pus may prevent the drops from reaching the infection.
The pus can spread infection to others. So, throw the cotton ball into the trash.
Wash your hands well afterwards.
Do not share towels or wash cloths. The infection can easily be spread to others.
Wash your pillowcase, towels and wash cloths in hot water with detergent.

Contact Lenses:

If you wear contact lenses, you should switch to glasses until the infection is gone.
Reason: to prevent damaging the eye and making the infection worse.
Contact lenses that are not disposable should be disinfected. Do this before wearing them again after the infection is gone.
Disposable contact lenses should be thrown away.

Antibiotic Eye Drops: How to Use

Gently pull down on the lower lid. Put 1 drop inside the lower lid. Then close the eye for 2 minutes. Reason: allows time for the medicine to get into the tissues, rather than run out of the eye.
Another option is to lie down. Put 1 drop over the inner corner of the eye. If you open the eye or blink, the eye drop will flow in. If you don't open the eye, the drop will slowly seep into the eye anyway.
Avoid touching the eye with the end of the dropper.
Throw the drops away when the infection has cleared.

Return to Work and Other Activities:

You do not need to miss work, but you may want to do so until the pus is only a small amount.
Antibiotic eye drops should be used for at least 24 hours before going back.
Avoid swimming until the infection is gone.