Why Does Your Baby Have Red Eyes? Causes, Care and Red Flags

• Most red eyes in babies are viral conjunctivitis, a blocked tear duct, mild irritation or a harmless burst blood vessel — these settle with simple care.
• Any red eye in a baby under 28 days old is a same-day emergency, because birth-acquired infections can threaten sight within hours.
• Clean a sticky eye only with cooled boiled water or sterile saline — never use kajal, surma, breast milk, honey, ghee or shop-bought drops.
• Most red eyes do NOT need antibiotic drops; only a doctor-confirmed bacterial or neonatal infection does.
• See a doctor urgently for a cloudy cornea, a white pupil, severe swelling, light sensitivity, eye injury or a red eye with high fever.
• A blocked tear duct is the most common cause of recurrent watery, sticky eyes in babies under one year and usually clears on its own with gentle massage.

Understanding a little about the eye helps you read what redness means. The white outer layer is the sclera, covered by a thin transparent membrane called the conjunctiva that also lines the inside of the eyelids. The conjunctiva carries tiny blood vessels that are normally invisible — but when the eye is irritated, inflamed or infected, these vessels swell and become visible, producing the pink-to-red look that parents notice. The clear front window of the eye is the cornea. It should always be crystal clear; if it ever looks cloudy, hazy or has a white spot, that is far more serious than redness of the surrounding white.

Tear production usually starts around the second to third week of life, which is why many newborns cry without tears in the first week or two. Tears wash across the eye, then drain through a tiny opening at the inner corner of each eyelid down a narrow channel (the nasolacrimal duct) into the nose. When this duct is not fully open at birth — a very common situation, affecting around six in every hundred babies — tears pool, the eye waters constantly, and stagnant tears repeatedly turn mildly infected. This is the single most common cause of recurrent mild redness with sticky discharge in babies under twelve months, covered in detail in our guide to baby watery eyes and a blocked tear duct.

Redness itself simply means the conjunctival blood vessels have dilated in response to irritation, infection, allergy or injury. The pattern is a useful clue. Diffuse redness across the whole white with itch and watery discharge points to allergic or viral conjunctivitis. Diffuse redness with thick yellow-green discharge and crusted lashes on waking points to bacterial conjunctivitis. A sharply outlined bright-red patch with no discharge or pain is usually a burst surface blood vessel (a subconjunctival haemorrhage). Redness with severe pain, light sensitivity or visible injury suggests something more serious.

Two things make a baby's eye more vulnerable than an older child's. Babies under about three months have an immature immune system and tend to develop more severe infections. And in the first 28 days specifically, the eye can carry organisms picked up during birth — Chlamydia, gonorrhoea or herpes — that can be sight-threatening. This is why the first month is a high-risk window in which any red eye deserves prompt medical review.

There is one more reason to be cautious with a baby's eyes: the surface absorbs medication into the body more readily than an older child's, so eye drops can have effects beyond the eye. This is why no eye drops — not even over-the-counter lubricants or anti-allergy drops marketed as gentle — should go into a baby's eye without the paediatrician's say-so.

India has a strong safety net for serious baby eye problems. Tertiary paediatric ophthalmology services exist at AIIMS, Sankara Nethralaya (Chennai), the Aravind Eye Hospital network, LV Prasad Eye Institute (Hyderabad), Narayana Nethralaya (Bengaluru) and most government medical college eye departments, while district hospitals handle routine issues. Paediatric ophthalmology is a recognised subspecialty, and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) has issued specific guidance on newborn eye care and red flags.

Viral conjunctivitis is the most common cause of red eyes in babies and children, in India and worldwide, and it often comes alongside or just after a common cold. Usually caused by adenovirus, it starts as redness and watery discharge in one eye and spreads to the other within a day or two. The discharge is watery or slightly mucky (not thick yellow-green), the lids feel gritty, the white may look a little puffy, and there is often a runny nose, cough or low-grade fever too. It is highly contagious for the first one to two weeks and spreads easily in crèches and joint families through shared towels, pillows and hand-to-eye contact. It is self-limiting, clears in seven to fourteen days, and antibiotics do not help.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is the next most common cause and looks different — thick yellow or green discharge that glues the lashes together overnight so the eye is 'stuck shut' in the morning, more intense redness, and often both eyes affected. Common organisms in babies include Staphylococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae (much rarer now thanks to the IAP-recommended Hib vaccine on the baby vaccination schedule) and Moraxella. It responds well to paediatrician-prescribed antibiotic drops or ointment, usually clearing in five to seven days.

Allergic conjunctivitis causes both eyes to go red, itchy and watery, often with a stringy clear mucus and lots of rubbing, alongside a runny nose and sneezing. It is seasonal in India — worse during pollen-heavy spring and autumn and in dusty, polluted cities. Babies under two get classical allergic conjunctivitis less often than older children but can react to dust and smoke. Treatment is avoiding triggers, cool compresses and, in older children, prescription anti-allergy drops. If your baby has other allergy symptoms, our guide to common baby allergies in India explains assessment and management.

A blocked tear duct (dacryostenosis) affects around six in a hundred newborns and is the most common cause of persistent discharge and on-and-off redness in babies under twelve months. Tears pool at the inner corner, the eye looks watery and tear-stained, and it intermittently turns mildly infected with yellow discharge. Over nine in ten cases resolve by twelve months. Care is gentle massage of the tear sac, cleaning discharge with cooled boiled water, and short antibiotic courses only for active infection; if it has not cleared by twelve months a paediatric ophthalmologist may recommend probing. The persistent tear-staining this causes is covered in our guide to tear stains under a baby's eyes.

A subconjunctival haemorrhage is a bright-red patch on the white from a tiny burst vessel under the conjunctiva. It looks dramatic but is completely painless, does not affect vision, and fades over two to three weeks like a bruise (sometimes passing through yellow and green). In babies it is commonly caused by the pressure of birth (very common after vaginal delivery and gone within the first week), hard crying, coughing or vomiting. It needs no treatment, only reassurance — unless there is bruising or bleeding elsewhere, in which case the paediatrician should check for a clotting problem.

Irritant exposure is common in Indian homes and cities — dust, cooking-fire and wood-stove smoke, vehicle pollution, chlorinated pool water, soap or shampoo splashed in the eye, and traditional eye products like kajal or surma. The right response is to flush the eye with cool clean water or saline for a few minutes, then watch for it to settle over a few hours. If redness lasts beyond several hours, if there is pain or visible injury, or if a strong chemical was involved (a cleaning product, kerosene or lime), get urgent eye care.

Conjunctivitis in the first 28 days of life has its own name — ophthalmia neonatorum — and is always treated as urgent, needing same-day review by a paediatrician or eye specialist. The reason is that organisms picked up during birth (Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes) can cause severe, sight-threatening infection if not treated quickly with the right specific therapy. Even a few days' delay can lead to corneal scarring, permanent vision loss or loss of the eye, especially with gonorrhoea or herpes.

Chlamydial conjunctivitis is the most common type in India, making up roughly a third to half of cases. It typically appears five to fourteen days after birth (sometimes later), with mixed mucus-and-pus discharge, moderate redness and lid swelling, and is acquired during vaginal birth from a mother with genital chlamydia. Treatment needs oral erythromycin or azithromycin for two weeks — drops alone are not enough, because the organism also sits in the nose and lungs and can cause pneumonia. The mother needs treatment too, and the partner should be tested. Maternal infection is often silent; our guide to chlamydia in Indian women explains why screening matters.

Gonococcal conjunctivitis is less common but is a true emergency — it can perforate the cornea and cause blindness within 24 to 48 hours. It usually appears in the first three to five days, with very rapid, severe redness, profuse thick yellow-green discharge and marked lid swelling, acquired during birth from a mother with gonorrhoea. The baby needs immediate hospital admission, intravenous ceftriaxone, saline eye irrigation and monitoring, while the mother needs treatment and partner notification (see gonorrhoea in Indian women). The routine Indian practice of applying antibiotic eye ointment to every newborn within the first hour prevents most cases.

Neonatal herpes eye infection is uncommon but very serious. It can show up as conjunctivitis with small blisters around the eye, can ulcerate the cornea, and can be part of widespread herpes affecting the brain and other organs. It needs immediate hospital admission and intravenous acyclovir. Mothers with active genital herpes at delivery are often offered a caesarean to reduce transmission, but any blistering rash around a newborn's eye is a same-day emergency — our guide to genital herpes in Indian women covers maternal management.

Ordinary bacterial conjunctivitis from Staphylococcus or Streptococcus can also occur in the first month and is usually milder, appearing after the first week. It responds to topical antibiotics, but telling it apart from chlamydial, gonococcal or herpetic infection needs a doctor and often an eye swab. Never try to manage neonatal conjunctivitis at home with over-the-counter drops or traditional remedies — get to the paediatrician the same day.

The IAP and WHO recommend prophylactic eye care for every newborn within an hour of birth — typically erythromycin 0.5% ointment or povidone-iodine 2.5% solution in both eyes — to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum. This is standard in Indian hospitals and PHCs and is one of the simple, high-impact steps in newborn care in the first week. If you are not sure your baby received it, ask at the first follow-up visit.

Some findings in a baby with a red eye need same-day paediatric ophthalmology review, and a few are hospital emergencies. Knowing these helps you escalate at the right moment instead of waiting and watching while something serious develops. The list below mirrors guidance from the IAP and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Any red eye in a baby under 28 days old needs same-day evaluation, however mild it looks — chlamydial, gonococcal and herpetic infection cannot be ruled out without a doctor, and delay can cost the eye.

Severe pain or marked light sensitivity — the baby cries in bright light, turns away from it or refuses to open the eye — suggests the cornea or deeper eye is involved and needs same-day specialist review. Babies cannot describe pain, so watch for crying, clamping the eye shut and rubbing.

Apparent vision loss is hard to judge but can show as a baby over six to eight weeks not fixing on and following a face, not blinking at a sudden hand movement, or seeming unable to see on one side. This is an emergency.

A cloudy or hazy cornea — the normally clear front window looking milky — is always abnormal and needs same-day review. Causes include congenital glaucoma, congenital cataract, corneal infection and injury.

A white pupil (instead of the normal orange-red glow seen on flash photos or with an ophthalmoscope) is a critical sign. It can be the first clue to retinoblastoma — an eye cancer most common under age three — or a congenital cataract. Any white reflection, seen in person or in a photo, needs urgent referral. Indian retinoblastoma centres include the Tata Memorial Centre (Mumbai), AIIMS Delhi, Sankara Nethralaya and LV Prasad.

Severe eyelid swelling that spreads to the cheek or forehead, especially with fever and an unwell baby, can mean orbital cellulitis — a deep infection behind the eye needing admission, IV antibiotics and a scan. Even swelling limited to the eyelid skin needs same-day review.

Eye injury or trauma needs same-day or emergency care depending on severity. A gritty foreign body the baby keeps rubbing needs gentle inspection and rinsing; a metal sliver, glass, sharp object or chemical splash needs immediate emergency care. Penetrating injuries are surgical emergencies.

Redness that is not settling — persisting or worsening beyond seven to ten days of appropriate care, with ongoing thick discharge or increasing swelling — needs re-assessment. The diagnosis may need revising. Do not keep using the same antibiotic drop for weeks without improvement.

High fever with a red eye in any baby, particularly one who is drowsy, refusing feeds or otherwise unwell, needs same-day review — the eye may be one feature of a more serious illness. Our guide to baby fever and when to worry explains the danger signs.

Once a doctor has confirmed a benign cause — mild viral conjunctivitis, a blocked tear duct, a burst blood vessel or mild irritation — home care is simple, and the wrong approach can do harm. The basics: clean gently with cooled boiled water or sterile saline, use a fresh piece of cotton for each wipe and each eye, wash hands before and after, and put nothing unprescribed in the eye.

To clean a red or sticky eye safely: wash your hands well with soap. Boil clean water for a minute and let it cool to body temperature, or use sterile saline from any pharmacy (around ₹50 to ₹100). Dip fresh cotton wool, wipe once from the inner corner (near the nose) outward, then throw that piece away. Use a new piece for the next wipe and for the other eye. Repeat to lift dried crusts gently — never scrub. Wash hands again afterwards.

For a blocked tear duct, gentle massage of the tear sac helps it open. With clean hands and short nails, place a fingertip over the inner corner of the eye, against the nose, and roll gently downward toward the cheek with light pressure, four to five times, two to three times a day. If a little discharge comes out during massage, that is the duct opening — clean it and carry on. Ask your paediatrician to demonstrate the technique once.

Warm compresses soften crusts in bacterial conjunctivitis and ease mild irritation. Soak a clean cloth in warm (not hot) water, wring it out and rest it on the closed eye for two to three minutes, repeating a few times, with a fresh cloth for each eye.

Cool compresses help itchy allergic eyes and swelling — same idea with cool water, a few minutes on the closed eye, several times a day.

Hand hygiene by everyone in the family is the single most effective way to stop conjunctivitis spreading. Wash before and after touching the eye area, after cleaning or giving drops, and after the bathroom or handling food. Give the baby a dedicated towel changed daily and washed hot, and do not share pillows or washcloths. Adults who care for a baby with conjunctivitis often catch it too — this is normal and settles with the same care.

What should never go in a baby's eye: kajal, surma, kohl or any traditional eye preparation (many contain dangerous amounts of lead); breast milk (no proven benefit, real risk of introducing bacteria, often delays proper treatment); honey, ghee, ash, oil or any food; and any non-prescribed drop, including redness-relief or contact-lens solution. The harm is real and the benefit is zero — clean cooled boiled water or sterile saline is the only thing for cleaning, and any treatment drop must be paediatrician-prescribed.

Antibiotic eye drops are among the most over-prescribed treatments for baby red eye in India, on the assumption that any red eye needs them. The honest, evidence-based position is that they help confirmed bacterial conjunctivitis (shortening contagiousness and recovery) and are life-saving in neonatal infection, but they do nothing for viral conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, a blocked tear duct without active infection, a burst blood vessel or simple irritation — and overuse fuels antibiotic resistance, a major Indian public-health problem.

Antibiotic drops are appropriate for: bacterial conjunctivitis with the typical features (thick yellow-green discharge, lids stuck shut on waking, less itch than the viral kind); neonatal conjunctivitis (always under a doctor, often with systemic antibiotics too); an actively infected blocked tear duct; and follow-up after an eye injury or corneal scratch where infection is a worry.

Commonly prescribed drops in Indian paediatric practice include chloramphenicol 0.5% (cheap and effective, roughly ₹30 to ₹100), tobramycin 0.3% (about ₹100 to ₹200), moxifloxacin 0.5% (broader spectrum, about ₹150 to ₹350) and fusidic acid (more comfortable, twice daily, about ₹250 to ₹500). The IAP recommends a paediatrician's prescription for any antibiotic eye drop under twelve months rather than a pharmacist-suggested purchase. For a deeper look at preparations and safe use, see our guide to baby eye ointment in India.

To give eye drops to a baby: wash your hands, lay the baby on their back with the head supported (a second person can help hold still), gently pull down the lower lid to make a small pocket, drop one drop into it near the inner corner, then let the baby blink. Do not touch the dropper to the eye or lid, as that contaminates the bottle. If the baby squeezes the eye shut, the drop often slides in when it reopens; if it missed completely, try again. Typically four to six times a day for the first two to three days, reducing as it improves, for a total of about five to seven days unless told otherwise.

Ointment is sometimes prescribed instead, especially for young babies and overnight. Pull down the lower lid, squeeze a thin line along its inner surface and release — it spreads as the baby blinks. It blurs vision briefly, so it is best at night or before naps.

Side effects are mostly mild — brief stinging, occasional allergy (worsening redness and itch after starting, a reason to stop and re-consult) and rare systemic effects. Chloramphenicol has historical concerns about bone-marrow effects with high or prolonged use, but short topical courses are considered safe and the IAP keeps it as a first-line drop in babies.

When to stop or reassess: if there is no improvement after 48 to 72 hours of correctly given drops, go back to the paediatrician. The diagnosis may be wrong (viral, allergic, a foreign body or a blocked duct), the antibiotic may not match, or there may be a complication. Do not simply switch to another over-the-counter drop or extend the course at home.

Congenital blocked tear duct (nasolacrimal duct obstruction) is the single most common cause of persistent or recurrent red, watery, discharging eyes in babies under twelve months, affecting around six in a hundred newborns. Tears drain from small openings at the inner corner of each eyelid into a sac beside the nose, then down a narrow duct into the nasal cavity. In affected babies the lower end of that duct has not fully opened at birth, so tears cannot drain and pool on the eye surface.

The typical picture is a baby with a persistently watery eye on one or both sides from the first few weeks, with on-and-off yellow or green sticky discharge that crusts the lashes overnight and mild redness only during infection flares. The white looks normal between flares, the baby is otherwise well, and the rest of the eye is normal. Gentle pressure on the tear sac sometimes pushes a little mucus or pus out of the corner, which confirms the diagnosis.

Conservative care is standard and resolves over nine in ten cases by twelve months. The IAP-recommended measures are regular tear-sac massage (fingertip over the inner corner, rolling downward with gentle pressure four to five times, two to three times a day), cleaning discharge with cooled boiled water or saline, and short paediatrician-prescribed antibiotic courses only for active infected episodes. Most ducts open on their own with time and growth. Step-by-step technique and timing are covered in our dedicated guide to newborn eye discharge and a blocked tear duct.

If it has not resolved by twelve months, the next step is referral for nasolacrimal duct probing — a brief procedure under general anaesthesia in which a fine probe clears the blockage. Success at first probing is around 80 to 90%, and it takes fifteen to thirty minutes. In Indian private centres it typically costs ₹15,000 to ₹40,000 including anaesthesia and day-care; in government tertiary centres such as AIIMS and Aravind it is free or heavily subsidised. Some paediatric ophthalmologists probe earlier (six to nine months) for frequent infections; others wait to twelve months to allow spontaneous opening.

If first probing fails or symptoms return, options include repeat probing, balloon dilation or silicone tube intubation (a small tube left in place for a few months). These are done by specialists with good success rates. The bigger operation, dacryocystorhinostomy, is rarely needed in children.

Watch for one important complication: acute dacryocystitis, an infection of the tear sac itself, showing as marked redness, swelling and tenderness at the inner corner, often with fever and an unwell baby. This needs same-day eye review, systemic antibiotics and sometimes drainage — it is uncommon but can spread if untreated.

Reassuring versus concerning: a baby with an isolated watery eye and intermittent yellow discharge from a young age, with white, quiet eyes between flares and a normal-looking eye otherwise, almost certainly has a simple blocked duct and can be managed conservatively. Concerning features that need evaluation include one eye that looks enlarged (possible congenital glaucoma), a cloudy cornea, light sensitivity, an eye that wobbles, or any of the red flags above.

Applying kajal (also surma, kohl or anjana) to a baby's eyes is a deeply rooted Indian tradition, often started by grandmothers in the first weeks. The beliefs behind it — warding off the evil eye, making the eyes look bigger, strengthening the eyes and protecting against infection — are sincere. But the evidence-based position is clear: kajal in a baby's eyes has no proven benefit and carries real, well-documented risks, and the IAP, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and major Indian bodies all advise against it.

The main danger is lead poisoning. Traditional kajal made from ashes, burnt oil and metallic sulphides has repeatedly tested very high in lead in Indian and international studies. Lead absorbed through the conjunctiva and through the tear duct into the nose (where it can be swallowed) reaches the bloodstream and harms the developing brain, with effects on learning, behaviour and growth. The American Academy of Pediatrics has specifically warned against imported kohl and kajal in babies for this reason.

Even commercial kajal sold as 'safe' or 'lead-free' carries other risks — contamination during manufacture or after opening, bacterial and fungal growth in the product, mechanical irritation from the applicator, and introduction of germs that cause conjunctivitis. The cosmetic gain does not justify the risk to a baby.

Breast milk in the eye is another common practice, on the belief that its antibodies help. The evidence is weak at best — some lab studies show modest antibacterial activity, but in real use the practice puts non-sterile fluid into the eye, often delays proper treatment of a real infection, and adds nothing that clean cooled boiled water or saline does not do more safely. The IAP and AAP do not endorse breast-milk eye drops.

Ghee, honey, oil, ash, neem juice, rose water (gulab jal) and assorted herbal eye drops are also used on babies' red eyes. None has any evidence base, and several have documented harms — chemical irritation, introduced infection, delayed treatment. The advice from every modern paediatric body is the same: nothing goes in a baby's eye except clean cooled boiled water for cleaning and paediatrician-prescribed drops for confirmed infection.

How to talk to grandparents about stopping kajal: lead with respect for the loving intent, share the medical evidence simply, and offer an alternative. Something like: 'I know you love the baby and want the best. Doctors have found that kajal can contain lead, which is unsafe for the eyes and the developing brain — this is newer information. Could we use a black thread (kala dhaga) on the wrist or a small mark behind the ear instead, to keep away the evil eye?' Offering the spiritual protection in a safe form helps most families come on board.

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are highly contagious and spread fast in joint families, crèches and schools through hand-to-eye contact and shared items. Bed-sharing, shared towels and crèche daycare all add opportunities for spread. A few practical habits meaningfully cut family transmission and recurrence.

Hand hygiene is the most important step. Everyone caring for the baby should wash with soap before and after touching the eye area, before feeding, before preparing food and after the bathroom; sanitiser is a backup when soap is not available. Remind older children to wash up and not share the baby's things.

Dedicated items for the affected baby: a separate towel changed daily and washed hot, a fresh pillowcase, a washcloth used once then washed, and regularly washed bedding. Do not share face creams or moisturisers between children.

Crèche and daycare: most Indian crèches require a child with active conjunctivitis to stay home until the discharge settles — usually 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotics for bacterial cases, or until clear improvement for viral (which can take seven to ten days). Tell them promptly; a clearance note may be needed to return.

Discourage eye-rubbing, which spreads infection between the eyes and can harm the cornea. With babies this is hard, but keep nails very short, use cotton mittens at night if needed, and gently redirect the hands.

Reduce irritant exposure in cities: keep windows shut during high-pollution spells (post-Diwali, peak winter air in the north, dust storms), run a HEPA air purifier if you have one, limit outdoor time with a young baby in heavy pollution, and rinse the face gently with cool water after going out.

Vaccination protects against some causes of bacterial eye infection. The Hib and pneumococcal vaccines reduce infections including some conjunctivitis, and the first-year schedule covers most. Staying on track matters; see baby immunisation side effects for what to expect after each shot.

Breastfeeding gives broad immune protection that lowers the severity and frequency of many infections in the first months. Exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continued breastfeeding alongside solids is one of the strongest general protections, and it ties into everyday newborn care like how to bathe an Indian newborn.

Access to paediatric eye care is good in metros and tier-1 cities and more variable in smaller towns. Knowing where to go and roughly what it costs reduces both delay and worry. Many serious eye conditions are very treatable when caught early, and India has a strong tertiary network for referral.

First step: a paediatrician or family doctor for any baby red eye. Private clinics typically charge ₹200 to ₹1,500 depending on the city; government PHC, CHC and hospital OPDs are free. The doctor examines the eye, takes a history, and decides whether it can be handled in primary care or needs an ophthalmologist.

Paediatric ophthalmologist consultation in major cities runs about ₹500 to ₹2,500 a visit privately. Established tertiary eye centres with dedicated paediatric services include Sankara Nethralaya (Chennai), LV Prasad (Hyderabad), the Aravind network (Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Puducherry), Narayana Nethralaya (Bengaluru), Centre for Sight and others. Government tertiary centres — AIIMS Delhi, JIPMER Puducherry, PGIMER Chandigarh and major state medical colleges — offer the same care at minimal cost with longer waits.

Common procedure costs privately: tear duct probing under anaesthesia ₹15,000 to ₹40,000 (usually day-care), examination of the back of the eye under anaesthesia ₹5,000 to ₹15,000, retinopathy-of-prematurity screening ₹1,500 to ₹5,000 (mandatory for any baby born below 32 weeks or under 1,500 g, done at four to six weeks and repeated until safe), and cataract surgery ₹80,000 to ₹2,00,000 per eye.

Government tertiary care provides all of the above at minimal cost — often only registration and consumables. AIIMS Delhi runs one of the country's largest paediatric ophthalmology departments and accepts national referrals, and several private charity eye hospitals provide free care to eligible families.

Insurance: most private policies cover medically necessary paediatric eye consultations and procedures including duct probing and cataract surgery. Check your policy for outpatient cover (often limited) and for paediatric cover specifically.

Emergencies: any acute severe symptom — severe pain, sudden vision loss, eye injury, chemical splash or severe swelling — should go to a hospital emergency department the same day. In metros, large multi-speciality hospitals have on-call ophthalmology; in smaller cities, head to the largest hospital with an eye department. Note the time and nature of the symptom for the doctor, and do not use a home remedy or wait for an appointment.

Telemedicine through major eye providers and general platforms is useful for following up a known condition and for initial triage, but it cannot replace an in-person examination for any new concerning symptom or red flag.

• WHO — Newborn eye prophylaxis and prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum (WHO recommendations on newborn health)
• American Academy of Ophthalmology — Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) and Pediatric Eye Conditions
• American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) — Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) in Children and Newborns
• NHS — Conjunctivitis and Watering Eyes in Babies
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Lead in Cosmetics (Kohl, Kajal, Surma)
• Indian Academy of Paediatrics — Newborn and Infant Eye Care Guidance