**Festivalgoers Warned of ‘Pink Eye’ Outbreak Risk Ahead of Glastonbury**
With the UK’s summer festival season about to begin, health experts are warning revellers to be especially cautious about a spike in infectious eye conditions, particularly conjunctivitis, more commonly referred to as ‘pink eye.’ The message comes as more than 200,000 ticket holders prepare to descend on Worthy Farm in Somerset later this June for Glastonbury, one of the world’s most iconic live music events.
Festivals are famed for their vibrant atmosphere and sense of community, but the crowded conditions and shared facilities they demand are also notorious breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses. From the 25th to the 29th of June, Glastonbury’s fields will fill with music lovers camping, dancing, and socialising in close quarters—a perfect storm, doctors say, for the spread of infectious illnesses.
Glastonbury’s unique environment presents more hygiene challenges than a typical mass gathering. General Practitioner Dr Nisa Aslam, speaking on behalf of Goldeneyecare, a company specialising in pharmacy eye treatments, described festivals as “a breeding ground for eye infections like conjunctivitis.” She explained that the mix of late nights, communal sleeping arrangements, reduced access to showers, and widespread use of glittery makeup could easily irritate eyes and create openings for infection.
Dr Aslam also offered a reminder that for many, summer also brings about hay fever and its unsparing attack on the eyes. “Roughly half the UK population suffer symptoms of hay fever. If it affects the eyes, we call it Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis,” she said. Grass pollen, peaking as festival season gets underway, can provoke itchiness and watering, making people more likely to rub their eyes and thereby introduce bacteria.
Despite enormous efforts by organisers to promote hygiene—with hundreds of wash basins and extensive toilet facilities—sheer scale and festival logistics mean conditions are not always ideal. Food vendors must follow strict regulations, and local authorities such as Somerset Council distribute information on preventing a variety of communicable diseases. However, long queues for showers and toilets, contact with mud and dust, and the necessity of close physical proximity all increase the risk of infection.
Contact lens wearers need to take special care, Dr Aslam warned. “Contact lenses are magnets for dust and grime. Wearing them in a festival environment or sleeping in them overnight can significantly increase the risk of eye infections,” she said. It’s estimated four million Britons use contact lenses, and the lack of sterile cleaning options at festivals puts them at particular risk. She recommends switching to glasses for the duration, or at least opting for daily disposable lenses and only handling them with washed hands.
The National Health Service (NHS) describes conjunctivitis as an infection or allergic reaction affecting the eye’s outer membrane, usually resolving within a couple of weeks. Symptoms to watch for include redness, grittiness or burning sensation, sticky pus around lashes, and excessive watering or itching. The NHS advises gently cleaning the eyelids and lashes with boiled, cooled water and a clean cotton pad, using a cold compress, and not wearing contact lenses until symptoms clear.
Dr Aslam has compiled a list of practical, festival-friendly tips to help people avoid catching or spreading pink eye. These include not sharing makeup or false lashes (regarded as a direct route to infection), considering funky glasses instead of lenses, always bringing a small first-aid kit equipped with over-the-counter antiseptic eye drops, using glitter only with caution (and sticking to non-eye areas if possible), and keeping hands away from the face unless freshly cleaned.
It is widely accepted that the spirit of shared celebration makes festivals such as Glastonbury unforgettable. However, attendees are urged to remain vigilant regarding basic hygiene and eye health, especially as the continuing post-pandemic landscape puts clean habits front and centre.
Somerset’s public health officials remind festival participants to also observe general disease prevention measures, such as frequent handwashing, using alcohol-based sanitisers, and disposing of tissues or wipes immediately after use. These collective efforts, they hope, will allow everyone to focus on the music, the atmosphere, and the unique joys of festival life—while keeping nasty surprises like pink eye at bay.
The annual festivities at Worthy Farm promise a showcase of musical talent, togetherness, and unforgettable moments, but perhaps this year, a little added vigilance will be a festival essential right alongside tents and glitter. Health professionals and organisers alike are urging all revellers to keep their eyes—and their health—well protected.