What are the causes of excessive ocular (eye) discharge?

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Last updated: March 12, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Guidelines

Excessive ocular discharge is typically caused by an increase in tear production or a blockage in the drainage pathways, often due to infection, allergies, or irritation, as noted in the conjunctivitis preferred practice pattern 1. The causes of excessive ocular discharge can be classified into several categories, including:

  • Infectious causes, such as bacterial or viral conjunctivitis, which can be caused by poor hygiene, sharing of makeup or towels, or exposure to someone with an eye infection 2
  • Allergic causes, such as seasonal or perennial allergic conjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis, or atopic conjunctivitis, which can be triggered by environmental allergens or irritants 1
  • Mechanical or irritative causes, such as contact lens-related keratoconjunctivitis, giant papillary conjunctivitis, or floppy eyelid syndrome, which can be caused by improper use of contact lenses, poor lens hygiene, or anatomical abnormalities 2
  • Other causes, such as dry eye, blepharitis, or rosacea conjunctivitis, which can be caused by underlying systemic diseases or conditions 1 It is essential to identify the underlying cause of excessive ocular discharge to provide appropriate treatment and prevent potential complications, such as corneal neovascularization, ulceration, or scarring 3. Some key factors that can contribute to excessive ocular discharge include:
  • Poor hand hygiene before touching the eyes
  • Sharing of makeup, towels, or other personal items
  • Exposure to environmental allergens or irritants
  • Improper use of contact lenses or poor lens hygiene
  • Underlying systemic diseases or conditions, such as atopy or autoimmune disorders
  • Anatomical abnormalities, such as a blocked tear duct or a abnormal eyelid structure 2, 1

From the Research

Causes of Excessive Ocular Discharge

  • Excessive ocular discharge can be caused by various factors, including conjunctivitis, blepharitis, corneal abrasion, foreign body, subconjunctival hemorrhage, keratitis, iritis, glaucoma, chemical burn, and scleritis 4
  • Allergies or irritants may also cause conjunctivitis, leading to excessive ocular discharge 4
  • Chemical injury to the eye can cause excessive discharge, and immediate irrigation of the eye is essential to minimize preventable loss of vision 5
  • Dry eyes can also cause excessive discharge, and treatment with artificial tears such as 0.15% sodium hyaluronate can help alleviate symptoms 6
  • Bacterial corneal ulcers can cause excessive discharge, and treatment with antibiotics such as tobramycin in low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can help shorten the clinical course of the infection 7

Common Signs and Symptoms

  • Signs and symptoms of excessive ocular discharge include redness, pain, photophobia, itching, and visual changes 4
  • Copious purulent discharge can be a sign of a serious underlying condition, such as a bacterial infection, and may require emergent referral to an ophthalmologist 4

References

Research

Diagnosis and management of red eye in primary care.

American family physician, 2010

Research

How to perform irrigation of the eye.

Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987), 2016

Research

Low-molecular-weight sodium hyaluronate in the treatment of bacterial corneal ulcers.

Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie, 1992

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.