With several UK festivals, including Glastonbury, only a few weeks away, doctors warn that a contagious infection is set to spread at events
As Britain prepares for festival season, with events all across the UK – from Glastonbury and Wireless, to Reading and Leeds and Latitude – hundreds of thousands are getting ready to pack tents, glitter, and sunglasses. However, many may be unprepared for an unexpected issue: conjunctivitis.
GP Nisa Aslam from Goldeneyecare—a line of pharmacy drops and ointments designed to treat conditions such as conjunctivitis, styes, and blepharitis—is urging festival-goers to monitor their ocular health. “Festivals can be a hotbed for eye infections like conjunctivitis (pink eye),” she warned.
“Late nights, communal sleeping arrangements, inadequate hygiene, dehydration, and the use of glittery eye makeup and false lashes can create the ideal conditions for eye irritation and infection.” But it’s not just bacteria that attendees need to be wary of – those with allergies are also at risk.
Around half the UK population experiences hay fever symptoms. When these affect the eyes, it’s referred to as Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis,” the health expert explained, reports Wales Online.
“Grass pollen is the most common cause, and peaks in summer, right when festivals are in full swing,” she explained. “Itchy, watery eyes are more likely to be rubbed – which increases the chance of introducing harmful bacteria. Dehydration is also common at festivals and that can create dry eyes that make them more susceptible to incoming bacteria and pathogens.”
Contact lens users are at additional risk. With four million Brits relying on lenses, the absence of adequate hygiene facilities, such as clean showers and lavatories, presents a considerable hazard.
“Contact lenses are magnets for dust and grime,” Dr Aslam warns. “Wearing them in dirty settings, or failing to remove them after an evening out, significantly heightens the peril of infections.”
Glastonbury is the biggest outdoor music festival in the UK, and it is set to begin on June 25, 2025, at Worthy Farm in Somerset. Hygiene at Glastonbury Festival can become challenging amidst vast crowds and the outdoor environment. Despite cleanliness efforts by organisers, not all situations can ensure hygiene perfection, particularly in areas like toilets and showers.
People often express concerns about long wait times, insufficient facilities, and the possibility of inadequate cleanliness in toilets. Shower availability might be limited, and queues can be quite long. Additionally, muddy conditions, dust, and close proximity to others can squash attempts to remain clean.
The Glastonbury Festival’s website underlines its commitment to providing facilities like toilets, showers, and hand sanitisers. Despite equipping attendees with ample hygiene amenities, including 850 wash basins, standpipes with quality-tested drinkable water, and hand sanitisers, the sheer scale of the festival and large crowds can make maintaining good hygiene a bit tricky.
Festival-goers are encouraged to bring essentials such as wet wipes, hand sanitiser, and portable collapsible buckets for personal washing. On-site food stalls are held to strict hygiene standards to ensure safety. Somerset Council has even pitched in with advice on curbing disease transmission, offering tips on measles prevention and STD testing.
Last year, Professor Trudi Grant, Executive Director for Public and Population Health for Somerset Council and Somerset Integrated Care Board, said: “Keeping yourself safe over the Glastonbury weekend is paramount. Most health risks can be avoided by taking simple steps to help protect yourself and others.
“Regular good hygiene can help prevent the spread of most germs and infections, and remembering to keep yourself cool and avoid excess alcohol can help keep you safe during periods of hot weather. We are encouraging everyone who attends the festival to take some basic steps to protect themselves and others so they can enjoy the festival and other events safely and responsibly this summer.”
How to keep clear of conjunctivitis at a crowded event:
The NHS says: “Conjunctivitis is an eye condition caused by infection or allergies. It usually gets better in a couple of weeks without treatment. Conjunctivitis is also known as red or pink eye. It usually affects both eyes and makes them: red, burn or feel gritty, produce pus that sticks to lashes, itch and water.”
To combat conjunctivitis symptoms, begin with cleaning your eyelids using freshly boiled cooled water and a clean cotton wool pad for each eye, gently wiping away any encrusted discharge. Additionally, placing a cool flannel over your eyes for several minutes can provide relief.
Avoid wearing contact lenses until your eyes have fully recovered. A pharmacist can provide assistance with conjunctivitis. They can offer guidance and suggest eyedrops or antihistamines to alleviate your symptoms.
It’s vital for festival attendees to be aware of potential hygiene issues and take steps to stay as clean and healthy as possible. GP Nisa Aslam shares her top five tips to help party-goers safeguard their eyes from potentially painful eye infections without dampening the festival spirit.
GP Nisa Aslam’s top five tips
1. Don’t share makeup
The GP advises: “Share the music, not your mascara. Exchanging eyeliner or false lashes is a quick route to eye infections like pink eye.”
2. Rethink your lenses
“Consider sporting some trendy glasses for the weekend instead. If you must wear lenses, choose daily disposables – and always cleanse your hands before inserting them,” she added.
3. Pack a first-aid kit
“If you do contract an eye infection, address it immediately.” The GP suggests eye drops or ointment that contains propamidine isethionate and dibrompropamidine isethionate – antiseptics (not antibiotics). These aid in inhibiting bacterial growth and multiplication, thereby controlling the number of bacteria causing an infection.
4. Use glitter wisely
The GP warned: “Stick to body glitter. Even sparkly or metallic eye makeup should be used with caution, as they contain tiny specks of glitter that can cause irritation that could lead to infection if they fall into the eye. If you wear contact lenses, this could be even worse.”
5. Wash your hands
Dr Aslam stressed the importance of keeping your hands away from your eyes, especially at festivals. “Festivals aren’t the cleanest places,” she pointed out. “Avoid touching your eyes, and if you must wipe them, use a clean tissue and bin it straight after.”