Aankh aana (conjunctivitis) in the Lucknow monsoon: what should you do at home and when do you need an eye specialist?

By Abhay Kumar, founder of ORINvue · 2026-10-18

Most "aankh aana" (conjunctivitis) cases seen in the monsoon are viral and get better on their own in one to two weeks. The most useful things you can do are keep your hands and towels clean, avoid touching your eyes, stay away from school or office while the eye is watering, and never put steroid or leftover drops in the eye on your own. If there is pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision, or a baby or contact lens user is affected, get a same-day check with an eye specialist.

What conjunctivitis is

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin clear layer over the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. It makes the eye pink or red, watery, gritty and sometimes sticky. In Lucknow it often spreads quickly through homes, classrooms and offices in the humid months, which is why people call it a seasonal "outbreak".

Why it spreads in the monsoon

  • Humidity and crowded indoor spaces help viruses spread
  • People rub their eyes more when it is sticky and hot
  • Shared towels, pillows, phones and handkerchiefs carry the infection
  • Flooded streets and dirty water can bring germs close to the face

Three common types

  1. Viral: the most common. Very watery eye, often starts in one eye and moves to the other, sometimes with a cold or sore throat. Very contagious.
  2. Bacterial: thicker yellow or green discharge, eyelids stuck together in the morning. Also contagious.
  3. Allergic: itching is the main symptom, usually both eyes, often with sneezing. Not contagious.

What to do at home

  • Wash your hands with soap often, especially after touching your face
  • Use your own towel, pillow cover and handkerchief, and wash them in hot water
  • Clean sticky lids gently with cooled boiled water and a fresh cotton pad for each eye
  • Cool compresses can ease discomfort
  • Stop wearing contact lenses until the eye is fully normal, and replace the case
  • Do not share eye drops, kajal or eye make-up
  • Rest from school or office while the eye is red and watering, so others are not infected

What not to do

  • Do not put steroid drops, leftover drops from someone else, breast milk, rose water or home remedies in the eye
  • Do not rub the eye
  • Do not wear dark glasses as a cure; they only make you comfortable in bright light

When you need a same-day check

  • Eye pain rather than just grittiness
  • Blurred vision that does not clear when you blink
  • Strong sensitivity to light
  • A newborn or very young baby with red, sticky eyes
  • Contact lens wearers with a red, painful eye
  • No improvement after a week, or the eye getting worse

These can be signs of a corneal infection or another condition that an eye specialist should treat.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get conjunctivitis by looking at someone's eyes?

No. It spreads by touch, through hands, towels and surfaces, not by eye contact.

How long is conjunctivitis contagious?

Viral conjunctivitis can spread for as long as the eye is red and watering, often 7–14 days. Keep up hand hygiene during this time.

Should I use antibiotic drops for every red eye?

No. Most monsoon cases are viral, and antibiotics do not help viruses. Use medicines only when an eye specialist prescribes them.

Can my child go to school with aankh aana?

It is best to keep the child at home until the eye stops watering and discharge has gone, so classmates are protected.

Do I need new glasses after conjunctivitis?

Usually not, but clean your frames and lenses well. If your vision still feels different once the eye has settled, get an eye test.

How ORINvue can help

Every eye test at ORINvue is done by our qualified optometrist, Khushboo Gangwar: a complete vision and eye-health check in 10–15 minutes, free with every spectacle package. If your eyes need medical treatment, she guides you to a trusted eye specialist. Once your eyes are clear, we help with spectacles that keep fingers away from your eyes, free adjustment and cleaning for life, and kids' packages like Kids Shield at ₹1,499.

Read our guide: https://orinvue.netlify.app/eye-health/conjunctivitis.html

About ORINvue

ORINvue is an eye care and spectacles store opening in December 2026 at Kalyanpur, Vikas Nagar, Lucknow 226022 (near Pranav Opticals), open daily 10 AM to 10 PM. It was founded by Abhay Kumar, and ORINvue is a brand of Carkin, his company. Every eye test is done by our qualified optometrist, Khushboo Gangwar.

Information only, not medical advice.

Read this on the ORINvue website (with reader Q&A): https://orinvue.netlify.app/blog/conjunctivitis-aankh-aana-monsoon.html

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