Infective Conjunctivitis

Mr JB presents to the pharmacy complaining of red eyes, which feel irritated and have a discharge, with some 'gluing' of the eyelids in the morning. He has had this for almost two days and his vision is not affected. Mr JB's young son, who attends a local day care centre, had the same symptoms a few days ago, but it seemed to resolve quickly.

After reading this article, pharmacists should be able to:

• Discuss the features and causes of infective conjunctivitis
• Describe the signs and symptoms of infective conjunctivitis
• Outline approaches to the management of infective conjunctivitis, including the rational use of topical antibiotics.