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Pink Eye

Overview

Pink eye (also called conjunctivitis) is redness and swelling of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane that lines the eyelid and eye surface. The lining of the eye is usually clear. If irritation or infection occurs, the lining gets red and swollen.

Pink eye is very common. It usually isn't serious and goes away in 7 to 10 days without medical treatment.

Most cases of pink eye are caused by:

Infections caused by viruses or bacteria.
Dry eyes from lack of tears or exposure to wind and sun.
Chemicals, fumes, or smoke (chemical conjunctivitis).
Allergies.

Viral and bacterial pink eye are contagious. They spread very easily. Poor handwashing is the main cause of the spread of pink eye. Sharing an object, such as a face cloth or towel, with a person who has pink eye can spread the infection.

Viral pink eye

Viral pink eye is often caused by an adenovirus, which is a common respiratory virus that can also cause a sore throat or upper respiratory infection. The herpes virus can also cause viral pink eye.

Symptoms include:

Redness in the white of the eye.
Swelling of the eyelids.
An itching or burning feeling of the eyelids.
Swollen and tender areas in front of the ears.
A lot of tearing.
Clear or slightly thick, whitish drainage.

Viral pink eye symptoms usually get better on their own in 7 to 10 days. But they may last up to 3 weeks and can become ongoing or chronic.

Pink eye may be more serious if you:

Have a condition that decreases your body's ability to fight infection (impaired immune system).
Have vision in only one eye.
Wear contact lenses.

Medicines aren't usually used to treat viral pink eye, so it's important to prevent the spread of the infection. Pink eye caused by a herpes virus, which is rare, can be treated with an antiviral medicine. Home treatment of viral pink eye symptoms can help you feel more comfortable while the infection goes away.

People with viral pink eye should stay at home until their symptoms are gone.

Bacterial pink eye

An infection may occur when bacteria enter the eye or the area around the eye. Some common infections that cause pink eye include:

Staph infection.
Streptococcal (strep) infection.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).

Symptoms include:

Redness in the white of the eye.
Grey or yellow drainage from the eye. This drainage may cause the eyelashes to stick together.
Mild pain.
Swelling of the upper eyelid. It may make the lid appear to droop (pseudoptosis).

Bacterial pink eye may cause more drainage than viral pink eye. Bacterial infections usually last 7 to 10 days without antibiotic treatment and 2 to 4 days with antibiotic treatment. The person can usually return to daycare, school, or work 24 hours after an antibiotic has been started if symptoms have improved. Prescription antibiotic treatment usually kills the bacteria that cause pink eye.

Red eye

Red eye is a more general term that includes not only pink eye but also many other problems that cause redness on or around the eye, not just the lining. Pink eye is the main cause of red eye. Red eye has other causes, such as:

Foreign objects, such as metal or insects.
Scrapes, sores, or injury to or infection of deeper parts of the eye (for example, uveitis, iritis, or keratitis).
Glaucoma.
Infection of the eye socket and areas around the eye.

Swollen, red eyelids may also be caused by styes, a lump called a chalazion, inflammation of the eyelid (blepharitis), or lack of tears (dry eyes).

Health Tools

Check Your Symptoms

Do you think you have pink eye? Review health risks that may make any symptom more serious.

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is redness and swelling of the conjunctiva, which lines the eyelid and covers the surface of the eye.

Yes

Pink eye

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, or natural health products can cause symptoms or make them worse.
Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Symptoms of serious illness may include:

A severe headache.
A stiff neck.
Mental changes, such as feeling confused or much less alert.
Extreme fatigue (to the point where it's hard for you to function).
Shaking chills.

Symptoms of serious illness in a baby may include the following:

The baby is limp and floppy like a rag doll.
The baby doesn't respond at all to being held, touched, or talked to.
The baby is hard to wake up.

Pain in adults and older children

Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain.
Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there.
Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Pain in children under 3 years

It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.

Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or grimace.
Moderate pain (5 to 7): The baby is very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds when you try to comfort him or her.
Mild pain (1 to 4): The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds when you try to comfort him or her.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:

Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
Long-term alcohol and drug problems.
Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.
Medicines taken after organ transplant.
Not having a spleen.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in children are:

Diseases such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and congenital heart disease.
Steroid medicines, which are used to treat a variety of conditions.
Medicines taken after organ transplant.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
Not having a spleen.

Eye Problems, Non-Injury

Eye Injuries

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Information about Pink Eye

Self-Care

Wash your hands often. Always wash them before and after you treat pink eye or touch your eyes or face.
Use moist cotton or a clean, wet cloth to remove crust. Wipe from the inside corner of the eye to the outside. Use a clean part of the cloth for each wipe.
Put cold or warm wet cloths on your eye a few times a day if the eye hurts.
Do not wear contact lenses or eye makeup until the pink eye is gone. Throw away any eye makeup you were using when you got pink eye. Clean your contacts and storage case. If you wear disposable contacts, use a new pair when your eye has cleared and it is safe to wear contacts again.
If the doctor gave you antibiotic ointment or eyedrops, use them as directed. Use the medicine for as long as instructed, even if your eye starts looking better soon. Keep the bottle tip clean, and do not let it touch the eye area.
To put in eyedrops or ointment:
- Tilt your head back, and pull your lower eyelid down with one finger.
- Drop or squirt the medicine inside the lower lid.
- Close your eye for 30 to 60 seconds to let the drops or ointment move around.
- Do not touch the ointment or dropper tip to your eyelashes or any other surface.
Do not share towels, pillows, or face cloths while you have pink eye.

Treating viral pink eye in a child

Make your child comfortable

Use moist cotton or a clean, wet cloth to remove the crust from your child's eyes. Wipe from the inside corner of the eye to the outside. Use a clean part of the cloth for each wipe.
Put cold or warm wet cloths on your child's eyes a few times a day if the eyes hurt or are itching.
Do not have your child wear contact lenses until the pink eye is gone. Clean the contacts and storage case.
If your child wears disposable contacts, get out a new pair when the eyes have cleared and it is safe to wear contacts again.

Prevent pink eye from spreading

Wash your hands and your child's hands often. Always wash them before and after you treat pink eye or touch your child's eyes or face.
Do not have your child share towels, pillows, or face cloths while your child has pink eye. Use clean linens, towels, and face cloths each day.
Do not share contact lens equipment, containers, or solutions.

Treating bacterial pink eye in a child

Use antibiotics as directed

If the doctor gave your child antibiotic medicine, such as an ointment or eyedrops, use it as directed. Do not stop using it just because your child's eyes start to look better. Your child needs to take the full course of antibiotics. If your child isn't able to hold still, have another adult help you with their care.

To put in eyedrops or ointment:

Tilt your child's head back and pull the lower eyelid down with one finger.
Drop or squirt the medicine inside the lower lid.
Have your child close the eye for 30 to 60 seconds to let the drops or ointment move around.
Keep the bottle tip clean. Do not touch the tip of the bottle or tube to your child's eye, eyelid, eyelashes, or any other surface.

Make your child comfortable

Use moist cotton or a clean, wet cloth to remove the crust from your child's eyes. Wipe from the inside corner of the eye to the outside. Use a clean part of the cloth for each wipe.
Put cold or warm wet cloths on your child's eyes a few times a day if the eyes hurt or are itching.
Do not have your child wear contact lenses until the pink eye is gone. Clean the contacts and storage case.
If your child wears disposable contacts, get out a new pair when the eyes have cleared and it is safe to wear contacts again.

Prevent pink eye from spreading

Wash your hands and your child's hands often. Always wash them before and after you treat pink eye or touch your child's eyes or face.
Do not have your child share towels, pillows, or face cloths while your child has pink eye. Use clean linens, towels, and face cloths each day.
Do not share contact lens equipment, containers, or solutions.
Do not share eye medicine.

When to call for help during self-care

Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

Vision changes, such as blurred vision, loss of vision, or double vision.
Pain or drainage that does not get better.
New blood in the eye.
New sensitivity to light.
New signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, pus, or a fever.
Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.

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Related Information

Credits

Adaptation Date: 02/10/2023

Adapted By: Alberta Health Services

Adaptation Reviewed By: Alberta Health Services

Adapted with permission from copyrighted materials from Ignite Healthwise, LLC (Healthwise). This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty and is not responsible or liable for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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Pink Eye

Overview

Pink eye (Figure 1) (also called conjunctivitis) is redness and swelling of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane that lines the eyelid and eye surface. The lining of the eye is usually clear. If irritation or infection occurs, the lining gets red and swollen.

Pink eye is very common. It usually isn't serious and goes away in 7 to 10 days without medical treatment.

Most cases of pink eye are caused by:

Infections caused by viruses or bacteria.
Dry eyes from lack of tears or exposure to wind and sun.
Chemicals, fumes, or smoke (chemical conjunctivitis).
Allergies.