Pinkeye (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 becomes red and swollen. See pictures of a normal eye and an eye with conjunctivitis.
Pinkeye is very common. It usually is not serious and goes away in 7 to 10 days without medical treatment.
Common symptoms of pinkeye are:
- Eye redness (hyperemia).
- Swollen, red eyelids.
- More tearing than usual.
- Feeling as if something is in the eye (foreign-body sensation or keratoconjunctivitis).
- An itching or burning feeling.
- Mild sensitivity to light (photophobia).
- Drainage from the eye.
Most cases of pinkeye 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 pinkeye are contagious and spread very easily. Since most pinkeye is caused by viruses for which there is usually no medical treatment, preventing its spread is important. Poor hand-washing is the main cause of the spread of pinkeye. Sharing an object, such as a washcloth or towel, with a person who has pinkeye can spread the infection. For tips on how to prevent the spread of pinkeye, see the Prevention section of this topic.
People with infectious pinkeye should not go to school or day care, or go to work until symptoms improve.
- If the pinkeye is caused by a virus, the person can usually return to day care, school, or work when symptoms begin to improve, typically in 3 to 5 days. Medicines are not usually used to treat viral pinkeye, so it is important to prevent the spread of the infection. Pinkeye caused by a herpes virus, which is rare, can be treated with an antiviral medicine. Home treatment of viral pinkeye symptoms can help you feel more comfortable while the infection goes away.
- If the pinkeye is caused by bacteria, the person can usually return to day care, school, or work 24 hours after an antibiotic has been started if symptoms have improved. Prescription antibiotic treatment usually kills the bacteria that cause pinkeye.
Pinkeye 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.
Red eye
Red eye is a more general term that includes not only pinkeye but also many other problems that cause redness on or around the eye, not just the lining. Pinkeye is the main cause of red eye. Red eye has other causes, including:
- Foreign bodies, such as metal or insects. For more information, go to the topic Objects in the Eye.
- Scrapes, sores, or injury to or infection of deeper parts of the eye (for example, uveitis, iritis, or keratitis). For more information, go to the topic Eye Injuries.
- Glaucoma. For more information, go to the topics Eye Problems, Noninjury or Glaucoma.
- Infection of the eye socket and areas around the eye. For more information, go to the topic Eye Problems, Noninjury.
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). For more information, go to the topics Styes and Chalazia or Eyelid Problems (Blepharitis).
Review the Check Your Symptoms section to determine if and when you need to see a doctor.
Health Tools
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| Eye problems: Using eyedrops and eye ointment | |
Check Your Symptoms
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.
- Blurred vision, loss of vision, or blood in your eye: Go to the topic Eye Problems, Noninjury.
- An eye injury: Go to the topic Eye Injuries.
- An object in your eye: Go to the topic Objects in the Eye.
- A liquid or solid chemical in your eye: Go to the topic Burns to the Eye.
See significance of pain in the eye if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
See significance of drainage from the eyes if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Do you have swollen, red eyelids and a fever?
Does your baby age 3 months or younger have new drainage from his or her eyes?
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Do you have a large amount of thick yellow drainage that continues to form after cleaning your eye?
Do you have swollen, red eyelids that stay swollen after cleaning away eye drainage?
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
Do you have white, yellow, or tan drainage from the eye that looks like pus and has gotten worse or not improved after 24 hours of home treatment?
You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Are watery eyes from allergies interfering with work, school, or other activities?
Have you had a small amount of eye drainage off and on for longer than 2 weeks?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Are your eyes sensitive to light (photophobia)?
See significance of sensitivity to light if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
Have your eyes suddenly become very sensitive to light (photophobia)?
You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
Is your long-term sensitivity to light getting worse?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Have your eye symptoms continued longer than 7 days?
See significance of symptoms that continue longer than 7 days if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Do you have eye redness (hyperemia)?
Do you have swollen, red eyelids without eye drainage?
Do you have a lot of tearing?
Do you feel like you have something in your eye (foreign body sensation)?
Do your eyes itch or burn?
You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
Have you had any eye symptoms for longer than 2 weeks?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Have your eye symptoms continued after starting antibiotic treatment for an eye infection?
See significance of antibiotic treatment if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Have your symptoms gotten worse after using an antibiotic treatment for 24 hours?
| Note: | If you answered Yes, call your doctor to discuss your symptoms. An appointment may not be necessary. |
Have your symptoms not improved after using an antibiotic treatment for 48 hours?
| Note: | If you answered Yes, call your doctor to discuss your symptoms. An appointment may not be necessary. |
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Do you wear contact lenses?
See significance of wearing contact lenses if you need information to help you answer the question below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to the following question.
Have you had pinkeye more than once while wearing contact lenses?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.
Home Treatment
Home treatment for pinkeye will help reduce your pain and keep your eye free of drainage. If you wear contacts, remove them and wear glasses until your symptoms have gone away completely. Thoroughly clean your contacts and storage case.
Cold compresses or warm compresses (whichever feels best) can be used. If an allergy is the problem, a cool compress may feel better. If the pinkeye is caused by an infection, a warm, moist compress may soothe your eye and help reduce redness and swelling. Warm, moist compresses can spread infection from one eye to the other. Use a different compress for each eye, and use a clean compress for each application.
When cleaning your eye, wipe from the inside (next to the nose) toward the outside. Use a clean surface for each wipe so that drainage being cleaned away is not rubbed back across the eye. If tissues or wipes are used, make sure they are put in the trash and not allowed to sit around. If washcloths are used to clean the eye, put them in the laundry right away so that no one else picks them up or uses them. After wiping your eye, wash your hands to prevent the pinkeye from spreading.
After pinkeye has been diagnosed:
- Take steps to prevent the spread of pinkeye by following the instructions in the Prevention section of this topic.
- Do not go to day care or school or go to work until pinkeye has improved.
- If the pinkeye is caused by a virus, the person can usually return to day care, school, or work when symptoms begin to improve, typically in 3 to 5 days. Medicines are not usually used to treat viral pinkeye, so preventing its spread is important. Home treatment of the symptoms will help you feel more comfortable while the infection goes away.
- If the pinkeye is caused by bacteria, the person can usually return to day care, school, or work after the infection has been treated for 24 hours with an antibiotic and symptoms are improving. Prescription antibiotic treatment usually kills the bacteria that cause pinkeye.
- Use medicine as directed. Medicine may include eyedrops and eye ointment. See a picture of inserting eyedrops or inserting eye ointment.
For pinkeye related to allergies, antihistamines may help relieve your symptoms. Don't give antihistamines to your child unless you've checked with the doctor first.
Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:
- Decreased or blurred vision develops and it doesn't clear with blinking.
- Eye pain lasts for more than 24 hours or eye pain increases.
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia) develops.
- Signs of an infection develop.
- Symptoms become more severe or frequent.
Prevention
Pinkeye is spread through contact with the eye drainage, which contains the virus or bacteria that caused the pinkeye. Touching an infected eye leaves drainage on your hand. If you touch your other eye or an object when you have drainage on your hand, the virus or bacteria can be spread.
The following tips help prevent the spread of pinkeye.
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Wash your hands before and after:
- Touching the eyes or face.
- Using medicine in the eyes.
- Do not share eye makeup.
- Do not use eye makeup until the infection is fully cured, because you could reinfect yourself with the eye makeup products. If your eye infection was caused by bacteria or a virus, throw away your old makeup and buy new products.
- Do not share contact lens equipment, containers, or solutions.
- Do not wear contact lenses until the infection is cured. Thoroughly clean your contacts before wearing them again.
- Do not share eye medicine.
- Do not share towels, linens, pillows, or handkerchiefs. Use clean linens, towels, and washcloths daily.
- Wash your hands and wear gloves if you are looking into someone else's eye for a foreign object or helping someone else apply an eye medicine.
- Wear eye protection when in the wind, heat, or cold to prevent eye irritation.
- Wear safety glasses when working with chemicals.
Preparing For Your Appointment
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:
- What are your main symptoms?
- How long have you had your symptoms?
- Have you had any vision changes, increased pain in the eye, or increased sensitivity to light?
- Have you had this problem before? If so, do you know what caused the problem at the time? How was it treated?
- Do you wear contact lenses or eyeglasses?
- Does anyone in your family or at your workplace have signs of an eye infection, such as drainage from the eye or red and swollen eyes?
- Have you been exposed to fumes or chemicals?
- What home treatment measures have you tried? Did they help?
- What prescription or nonprescription medicines have you tried? Did they help?
- Do you have any health risks?
Credits
| Author | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, FRCSC - Ophthalmology |
| Last Updated | December 6, 2007 |
