What Is Pink Eye? How Is It Treated?

What Are the Symptoms of Pink Eye?

Pink eye symptoms can include a combination of:

Itching: Eyes may feel irritated and itchy, leading to frequent rubbing.
Burning: Your eyes may feel hot and uncomfortable.
Stinging: This sometimes feels like soap in the eyes, causing discomfort.
Eye discharge: A sticky discharge might crust over your eyelashes.
Swelling: Puffy eyelids and discomfort are common.
Watering: Your eyes may produce excess tears and blur your vision.

If you have these symptoms, avoid touching your eyes and consult a healthcare provider who can offer proper diagnosis and treatment.

What Causes Pink Eye?

A bacterial or viral infection usually causes pink eye, although it can also be caused by allergens. Here are the most common types of pink eye and their causes:

Bacterial pink eye results from bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae. It often produces thick, yellow-green eye discharge.
Viral pink eye is usually caused by viruses like adenovirus. It's highly contagious and may accompany a cold or respiratory infection, often resulting in watery discharge.
Allergic pink eye occurs when allergens like pollen, pet dander, or dust irritate the eyes. Eye allergies typically affect both eyes and cause intense itching and tearing.

To determine how you got conjunctivitis, a doctor will assess your pink eye symptoms, examining eye discharge, redness, and swelling. They may also swab the eye to test for bacteria or viruses.

How Do You Get Pink Eye?

Pink eye is very contagious and is spread from person to person through eye fluids and sometimes coughs and sneezes. The most common ways to contract pink eye are through direct contact with an infected person’s eye secretions, for example, through:

Airborne spread: Viral pink eye can spread through coughs and sneezes.
Contaminated objects: Sharing personal items like towels, makeup, or contact lenses.
Schools and daycares: Close contact and shared items make these environments a hotbed for pink eye.
Gyms: Shared equipment and locker rooms can harbor bacteria and viruses.
Workplaces: Shared spaces and items increase the risk of transmission.

How Is Pink Eye Treated?

Pink eye treatment will depend on the type of conjunctivitis you have. Treatment can start with simple home remedies. Applying warm compresses can reduce discomfort, while cold compresses help alleviate swelling and irritation. Over-the-counter artificial tears can soothe dryness and irritation.

Many cases of pink eye resolve on their own within a week or two. For example, in most cases, your body will fight off viral conjunctivitis within 7 to 14 days.

However, if your symptoms last more than a week or you have a thick yellow or green discharge, schedule a comprehensive eye exam to help diagnose the problem. That can indicate bacterial conjunctivitis, which may require antibiotic eye drops prescribed by your eye doctor.

How to Prevent Spreading Pink Eye

To prevent spreading pink eye to others, follow these tips:

Avoid close contact with others until symptoms improve.
Keep your hands away from your eyes to prevent contamination.
Wash your hands often, especially after touching your face, and avoid rubbing your eyes.
Use a wet compress to wipe your face and eyes.
Avoid using eye makeup, such as mascara. Replace your old eye makeup and never share it with others.
Avoid sharing towels, pillowcases, makeup, or eye drops with others.
Clean your contact lenses regularly and replace lenses as recommended by your eye doctor.
Wash your pillowcases and towels regularly with hot water.
Clean common surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, and countertops

Book an eye exam in 4 easy steps

Choose your location

Select how many patients

Schedule an eye exam

Add to calendar

Book an eye exam now