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<p><em>Pink eye or conjunctivitis causes painful, red, and itchy eyes. Viral and bacterial pink eye are highly contagious. Anyone with pink eye due to infection should stay away from work or school until symptoms clear.</em></p>
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<p>The time it takes for pink eye to clear up will depend on the type. It often resolves in&nbsp;7–10 days, but some people may need treatment.</p>
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<p>Treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis is with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10278.php">antibiotics</a>. Most people will need antibiotic treatment for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statpearls.com/ArticleLibrary/viewarticle/19891" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5–7</a>&nbsp;days. A doctor will advise on when to return to work or school, but people&nbsp;should not attend&nbsp;if they have symptoms and will be working closely with others.</p>
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<p>Pink eye caused by a virus is usually highly contagious for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470271/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10–14</a>&nbsp;days.</p>
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<p>Pink eye that results from an allergy is not contagious and will typically clear after a person moves away from the allergen.</p>
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<p>Allergic, viral, and bacterial are three types of pink eye, but eye inflammation can happen for other reasons.</p>
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<h3><strong>Allergic pink eye<br></strong>Around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statpearls.com/ArticleLibrary/viewarticle/19890" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">40%</a>&nbsp;of the population may be prone to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157692">allergic conjunctivitis</a>, when the eye reacts to allergens, such as:<strong></strong></h3>
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<li><a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/grass-allergy">grass</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/animal-allergy">animal dander</a></li>
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<li>dust</li>
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<li><a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323419">mold</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322256">pollen</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321490">ragweed</a></li>
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<p>Exposure to chemicals such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323700">chlorine</a>&nbsp;can also lead to symptoms.</p>
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<p><strong><em>Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious</em></strong>.&nbsp;It will resolve more quickly if a person can move away from the allergens that cause the reaction. Some people may need eye drops or other medication to keep allergic conjunctivitis at bay.</p>
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<h3><strong>Viral pink eye<br></strong>Viruses responsible for pink&nbsp;eye&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470271/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">include</a>:<strong></strong></h3>
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<li><a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/adenovirus-infection"><strong>Adenovirus</strong></a><strong>:</strong>&nbsp;This accounts for up to 90% of cases.</li>
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<li><a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323935"><strong>Herpes simplex virus (HSV)</strong></a><strong>:</strong>&nbsp;HSV is likely responsible for 1.3–4.8% of cases.</li>
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<li><strong>Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis:</strong>&nbsp;Less common but highly contagious, this is passed on by hand-eye contact and possibly touching surfaces where the virus is present.</li>
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<li><a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19-symptoms"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a><strong>:</strong>&nbsp;Between&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470271/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1% and 6%</a>&nbsp;of people with this Covid virus develop pink eye. The virus may transmit through contact with eye tissues and discharge.</li>
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<p>Viral pink eye can:&nbsp;</p>
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<li>stem from an infection that spreads from the nose to the eyes</li>
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<li>spread from one eye to another</li>
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<li>transmit via droplets from a cough or sneeze</li>
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<li>result from an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323886">upper respiratory infection</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166606">cold</a></li>
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<li>occur with other symptoms, such as a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168266">fever</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319985">body aches</a>, depending on the cause</li>
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<p>Viral pink eye is highly contagious for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470271/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10–14 days</a>&nbsp;and can take&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470271/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">14–30 days</a>&nbsp;to disappear.</p>
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<h3><strong>Bacterial pink eye<br></strong>A mild bacterial pink eye infection usually lasts about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statpearls.com/ArticleLibrary/viewarticle/19891" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a week</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.choosingwisely.org/patient-resources/antibiotics-for-pink-eye/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10 days</a>&nbsp;without treatment.&nbsp;With treatment, it should start to improve after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/conjunctivitis?sso=y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3–4 days</a>&nbsp;of starting antibiotics. A person must take the whole course of antibiotics, or it may recur.<strong></strong></h3>
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<p>If pink eye does not improve quickly with antibiotic drops, it is likely to be viral rather than bacterial pink eye.<a><br></a></p>
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<p><strong>Seven signs pink eye is contagious</strong></p>
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<p>When the symptoms of bacterial or viral pink eye symptoms are present, the condition is likely to be contagious. Seven signs of conjunctivitis are:</p>
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<li>discharge from the eyes or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/sticky-eyes">sticky eyes</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/crusty-eyes">crusty eyelashes and lids</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/swollen-under-eye">swelling around the eyes</a></li>
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<li>burning sensation</li>
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<li>tearing up</li>
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<li><a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316179">red or pink in the whites of the eyes</a></li>
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<li>irritation or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/gritty-eyes">grittiness in the eyes</a></li>
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<p>A day care, school, or workplace may ask a person not to return until their symptoms have cleared.</p>
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<h2><a>How does pink eye transmit?</a></h2>
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<p>Viral or bacterial pink eye can spread from one person to another&nbsp;through:</p>
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<li>sharing personal hygiene or other items</li>
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<li>shaking hands or other close personal contact</li>
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<li>using unclean or old makeup that has collected bacteria</li>
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<li>touching the eye with dirty hands</li>
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<li>using contact lenses where pathogens are present</li>
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<li>touching items where bacteria or viruses are present and then touching the eyes</li>
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<li>coughing and sneezing</li>
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<li>touching an infected eye and then the other eye</li>
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<p>Pink eye can also be a symptom of an underlying viral or bacterial infection that may be contagious,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statpearls.com/ArticleLibrary/viewarticle/19891" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">such as</a>&nbsp;COVID-19 or gonococcal or chlamydial infections.</p>
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<h3>Will pink eye go away on its own?</h3>
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<p>A mild bacterial or viral pink eye infection may take&nbsp;1–2 weeks to resolve without treatment, but it can take up to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470271/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">30</a>days. If pink eye persists after this time or does not respond to treatment, a person should speak with their doctor.</p>
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<h3>When is it safe to return to work or school?</h3>
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<p>If pink eye is infectious, a person should not usually spend time in close contact with others, such as work or school, until symptoms clear. A doctor can advise when it is safe to return to everyday activities.</p>
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<h3>How long do pink eye bacteria or viruses live on surfaces?</h3>
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<p>Bacteria that cause pink eye usually live on surfaces for only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aao.org/eye-health/ask-ophthalmologist-q/how-long-can-pink-eye-live-on-surfaces" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2–8 hours</a>, but some can remain active for 2 days or longer. Viruses last longer, often for 24–48 hours, but some are still effective on surfaces for up to 8 weeks.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>In summary, though common and sometimes painful, pink eye is not often a major concern. If an infection is present, people should avoid others until symptoms clear, as it can be very contagious.</p>
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<p>Most people can return to work, school, or day care once symptoms have cleared. Often, pink eye goes away on its own, but treatment can help manage discomfort, and antibiotics may clear a bacterial infection more rapidly.</p>
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<p><strong>Source:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321551">https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321551</a></p>
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