Pink Eye

Pink eye is a term commonly used to describe conjunctivitis, a medical condition in which the thin piece of tissue that covers the whites of the eyes and the inner eyelids becomes inflamed. The most common causes of this condition are a viral infection and allergic reaction. Symptoms may include pinkness or redness in one or both eyes, morning crusting, and discharge.

What Is Pink Eye?

Pink eye is a layman's term for the medical condition conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the thin piece of tissue that covers the whites of the eyes and the inner eyelids. When the conjunctiva becomes inflamed, it looks pink or red from a distance.
 
Pink eye is a common condition. It is most common in children, but adults may also get pink eye. This condition does not usually cause any long-term vision or eye problems.
 

Causes of Conjunctivitis

There are several reasons why the conjunctiva can become inflamed. The two most common are because of an infection with a virus (known as viral conjunctivitis) or an allergic reaction (allergic conjunctivitis).
 
An infection with bacteria (bacterial conjunctivitis) or something that irritates the eye, such as an eyelash, can also cause the conjunctiva to become inflamed.
 
Besides conjunctivitis, there are a number of other conditions that can cause a red or pink eye. Some of these conditions can be potentially serious.
 
(Click Pink Eye Causes to learn more about the different types of conjunctivitis and what else can cause a red or pink eye.)
 

How Is Pink Eye Spread?

Both bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are highly contagious (see Pink Eye Transmission). They spread by direct contact with infected eye secretions, or contact with objects or surfaces that have been contaminated with these eye secretions (such as a door handle, washcloth, or pillowcase). After coming in contact with these secretions, the unaffected person then touches their eyes.
 
Once the virus or bacterium enters a person's eye, symptoms do not begin immediately. This period between transmission and the beginning of symptoms is called the incubation period (see Pink Eye Incubation Period).
 

Signs and Symptoms of the Condition

Some common signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis include:
 
  • Pinkness or redness in one or both eyes. It can also begin in one eye and spread to the other eye after a couple of days.
  • One or both eyes "stuck shut" in the morning.
  • Morning crusting.
  • Burning, sandy, or gritty feeling.
  • Swelling of the conjunctiva and/or eyelids.
  • Discharge.
     
The discharge can vary in color (clear, yellow, white, green) and may be thick or thin.
 
(Click Pink Eye Symptoms for more information.)
 

Diagnosing Pink Eye

Before diagnosing the cause of pink eye, healthcare providers will ask a number of questions and perform a physical exam. Based on what they find, they may also recommend some tests. If they think that it is possibly conjunctivitis, they may test to see if it is being caused by adenovirus, which is the most common cause of viral conjunctivitis.
 
Other tests may be recommended if the healthcare provider wants to make sure another eye condition is not causing the symptoms.
 

How Is Pink Eye Treated?

The specific pink eye treatment your healthcare provider recommends will depend on what is actually causing the symptoms. For example, if a person is diagnosed with bacterial conjunctivitis, antibiotic drops or ointment will be prescribed. Medicines can also be used to treat conjunctivitis caused by allergies (see Medicine for Pink Eye).
 
There are no medicines that will cure pink eye caused by a virus. In this case, healthcare providers will treat the symptoms (such as itching or irritation) as the body takes care of the conjunctivitis on its own.
 
For all types of conjunctivitis, your healthcare provider may also recommend other treatments for home, such as warm or cool compresses and cleaning the eye regularly (see Home Treatment for Pink Eye).
 

How Long Do Symptoms Last?

The length of pink eye symptoms will depend on several factors, including the type of pink eye. Some types can improve within 24 hours, while others might start to improve after two to three days but take up to three weeks to get completely better.
 
(Click How Long Does Pink Eye Last? for more information.)
 

Preventing Pink Eye From Spreading

Pink eye can be quite contagious, spreading easily to the other eye or to other people. However, you can do things to help minimize this spread.
 
All good prevention strategies focus on minimizing contact with eye secretions or contaminated surfaces, and when you do come in contact with them, practicing good hygiene.
 
(Click Pink Eye Prevention for more information.)
 

When to Call Your Doctor

Pink eye from conjunctivitis is common. However, there are a number of other causes of a pink or red eye. Some symptoms that may indicate a more serious condition include:
 
  • Eye tenderness or pain
  • Changes in vision
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Difficulty keeping the eye open.
     
(Click When to See Your Doctor for Pink Eye to find out what other symptoms may occur.)
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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