Eye health resource
Pink Eye: What to Do and When to Get Checked
Learn how conjunctivitis is managed, why treatment depends on the cause, when antibiotics may or may not help, contact-lens precautions, and which symptoms need urgent evaluation.
Reviewed for accuracy by Justin Bazan, OD on .
“Pink eye” usually refers to conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the clear membrane covering the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. The catch is that conjunctivitis has several possible causes, and the right treatment depends on which one is responsible.
Redness alone is not enough to tell the difference between viral, bacterial, allergic, and other eye problems. That is why persistent or significant symptoms deserve an eye examination rather than automatic treatment with whatever drops happen to be available.
Viral conjunctivitis
Viral conjunctivitis is common and can occur along with a cold or respiratory infection. It may begin in one eye and spread to the other. Watery discharge, irritation, and redness are common.
Because antibiotics do not treat viruses, antibiotic eye drops generally do not help uncomplicated viral conjunctivitis. Management often focuses on comfort and reducing spread while the infection runs its course.
Cool compresses and preservative-free artificial tears may help some patients feel more comfortable. Avoid sharing towels, pillowcases, cosmetics, or other items that touch the eyes, and wash your hands frequently.
Bacterial conjunctivitis
Bacterial conjunctivitis can cause redness and more noticeable mucus or pus-like discharge. Some cases are mild and may improve without treatment, while others benefit from antibiotic drops or ointment.
The decision to use an antibiotic should be based on the clinical picture rather than the assumption that every red eye needs one.
Allergic conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis often affects both eyes and commonly causes itching, watering, and swelling. It is not contagious.
Treatment can include allergen avoidance, cool compresses, artificial tears, and appropriate allergy eye drops. If symptoms are recurrent or difficult to control, an eye exam can help confirm that allergy is actually the cause.
If you wear contact lenses, stop wearing them
Contact-lens wearers with a red or painful eye should remove their lenses and avoid wearing them until the cause has been evaluated and the eye has recovered.
A red eye in a contact-lens wearer deserves more caution because corneal infection can sometimes look like “pink eye” early on and can become serious quickly.
Do not reuse disposable lenses that were worn during an active infection unless your eye doctor specifically tells you it is safe to do so. Lens cases and related supplies may also need to be replaced depending on the situation.
Do not use someone else’s eye drops
Eye medications should not be shared. Using leftover prescription drops can also be risky because the medication may be wrong for the diagnosis, contaminated, expired, or capable of masking a more serious problem.
Steroid-containing eye drops are especially inappropriate to use without an eye doctor’s direction because they can worsen certain infections and affect eye pressure.
When does a red eye need urgent care?
Seek prompt eye care when redness is accompanied by any of the following:
- moderate or severe eye pain
- significant light sensitivity
- reduced or suddenly changed vision
- a cloudy or white spot on the cornea
- trauma or chemical exposure
- marked swelling
- severe headache, nausea, or halos around lights
- symptoms in a contact-lens wearer that are painful or worsening
These features are not typical of simple uncomplicated conjunctivitis and can point to conditions that need faster treatment.
How long should you stay home from work or school?
There is no single rule that applies to every case. Contagiousness depends on the cause, and school or workplace policies may vary. Good hand hygiene and avoiding direct eye contact or shared personal items are important whenever an infectious cause is suspected.
If you need documentation or individualized guidance, ask the clinician evaluating the eye.
What if it is not actually pink eye?
Several problems can mimic conjunctivitis, including dry eye, blepharitis, allergy, corneal irritation or infection, uveitis, and other conditions. Our separate article, What Is Commonly Misdiagnosed as Pink Eye?, explains that differential in more detail.
Park Slope Eye evaluates red-eye and other medical eye concerns. Learn more about Medical Eye Care and review our urgent eye guidance if symptoms are sudden or severe.
The most useful rule is simple: treat the cause, not just the redness.