Patient education: Conjunctivitis (pink eye) (The Basics)

What is pink eye? — 

This is a term to describe an infection or irritation of the eye. The medical term for pink eye is "conjunctivitis."

If you have pink eye, your eye (or eyes) might:

●Turn pink or red

●Weep or ooze a gooey liquid

●Become itchy or burn

●Get stuck shut, especially when you first wake up

Pink eye can be caused by an infection, allergies, or an unknown irritation.

Can you catch pink eye from someone else? — 

Yes. When pink eye is caused by an infection, it can spread easily. Usually, people catch it from touching something that has been in contact with an infected person's eye. It can also be spread when an infected person touches someone else, and then that person touches their eye.

If someone you know has pink eye, avoid touching their pillowcases, towels, or other personal items.

Can pink eye be treated? — 

Most cases of pink eye go away on their own without treatment. When pink eye is caused by infection, it is usually caused by a virus, so antibiotics will not help. Still, pink eye caused by a virus can last several days.

Some types of pink eye can be treated:

●Pink eye caused by an infection with bacteria usually goes away on its own. But it can be treated with antibiotic eye drops, gel, or ointment.

●Pink eye caused by other problems can be treated with eye drops normally used for allergies. These drops do not cure the pink eye, but they can help with itchiness and irritation.

When using eye drops for infection, it is possible to spread the infection from 1 eye to the other. To avoid this:

●Do not touch your healthy eye after touching your infected eye.

●Do not touch the bottle or dropper directly onto 1 eye and then use it in the other.

If your eyelids feel swollen, you can hold a cool, wet cloth on the area.

What if I wear contact lenses? — 

If you wear contact lenses and you have symptoms of pink eye, it is really important to have a doctor look at your eyes. This is because you might need antibiotics.

During treatment for eye infections:

●Stop wearing your contacts for a short time.

●If your contacts are disposable, throw them away and use new ones.

●If your contacts are not disposable, clean them carefully.

●Throw away your contact lens case, and get a new one.

When can I go back to work or school? — 

If you have pink eye caused by an infection, remember that it can spread very easily. The best way to avoid spreading it is to stay away from other people until you no longer have symptoms. If this is not possible, wash your hands often (figure 1). It is also important to avoid touching your eyes and sharing items that could spread the infection.

Schools and day cares usually have rules about when a child with pink eye can return. If they have a bacterial infection, they will probably need to stay home until they have been using antibiotic eye drops or ointment for 24 hours.

How can I help prevent pink eye? — 

To help prevent pink eye caused by an infection:

●Wash your hands often with soap and water.

●Avoid touching your eyes.

●Avoid sharing towels, bedding, or other personal items with a person who has pink eye.

If your pink eye is caused by allergies, it might help to stay inside with the windows shut as much as possible during peak allergy seasons.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call your doctor or nurse if:

●You have trouble seeing clearly after blinking.

●Your eye is still red or has drainage after 3 days.

●You have eye pain that is getting worse.

If you do not have these problems, but think that you might have pink eye, your doctor or nurse might be able to give you advice over the phone.

More on this topic

Patient education: How to use eye medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Pterygium (The Basics)

Patient education: Conjunctivitis (pink eye) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Allergic conjunctivitis (Beyond the Basics)