Pink eye caused by bacteria will take about 24—48 hours before symptoms improve once a person is on antibiotics.
People can get viral pink eye from an infection that spreads from the nose to the eyes. It can also be transmitted via droplets from a cough or sneeze that land directly on the eye. A bacterial pink eye infection can last about 10 days without treatment. However, bacterial pink eye should resolve in a few days with treatment. If pink eye does not improve quickly with antibiotic drops, it is likely to be viral rather than bacterial pink eye.
A daycare, school, or workplace will often request or require a person not to return until their symptoms have cleared. Mild cases can clear on their own with no medical intervention within a few days for both viral and bacterial pink eye. Allergic pink eye often clears as allergic reactions are controlled. A doctor may recommend some additional treatments to reduce the allergic reactions in cases of allergic pink eye. It will often take a few days to about 2 weeks for mild infections.
People who get pink eye frequently may want to discuss the issue with their doctor to see if there is an underlying reason. People should not return to work or school until their symptoms clear completely.
A person should talk to their doctor about when it is safe for them to return to normal activities. Disposable lenses worn either right before or during an infection should be thrown out.
Hard lenses should be cleaned thoroughly before being used again. People can also help prevent infections by using only sterile contact solution to store their contacts and cleaning their hands before inserting or removing them. Parents should take a newborn baby to be seen by a doctor if the infant develops pink eye. Persistent, watery discharge may be due to a blocked tear duct, but the eye will not usually be red. In mild cases, home remedies like rinsing the eyes with warm water or applying cold or warm compresses can help relieve symptoms.
Viral conjunctivitis, or viral pink eye, is a highly contagious eye infection caused by viruses like the adenovirus, rubella, rubeola, herpes viruses, including varicella-zoster virus which also causes chickenpox , as well as the virus that causes COVID Symptoms can last days or weeks, but they usually go away on their own without antiviral medication or other medicines.
Viral conjunctivitis can be contagious, though, so if you have viral pink eye, maintain good hygiene to keep your condition from spreading. Hand-washing, using separate towels and face cloths, and declining to share makeup are all proven ways you can help keep others safe. Bacterial conjunctivitis, or bacterial pink eye, is caused by diseases like streptococcus pneumoniae and staphylococcus aureus entering the eye and infecting it. People can spread bacterial conjunctivitis through hand-to-eye contact, sexual contact, and through contact with infected respiratory droplets.
Young children are particularly at risk for developing bacterial conjunctivitis because they have close contact with others at school and play. People with bacterial pink eye are often prescribed antibiotic eye drops or ointments to clear their symptoms. However, in very rare severe cases, some patients can develop hyperacute bacterial conjunctivitis , a pink eye infection can cause vision problems and other health complications if it is not treated effectively.
Depending on the cause of conjunctivitis, many patients can expect to experience relief within two weeks of infection. If you believe you are suffering from traumatic conjunctivitis, experiencing pain, or if your symptoms do not get better over time, schedule an appointment with your general practitioner or eye doctor.
Most people with viral conjunctivitis must allow the condition to run its course, just like they would a common respiratory virus or cold. Many find that using at-home remedies like warm or cold compresses, rinsing eyes with warm water, using artificial tears, and discontinuing eye makeup for the duration of the infection helps improve their symptoms.
People who usually wear contact lenses should wear glasses for the duration of any eye infection. Occasionally, a doctor can prescribe an antiviral medication to treat severe forms of viral conjunctivitis that do not seem to improve with time. If you are experiencing allergic or irritant conjunctivitis, removing yourself from the environmental triggers that have caused your allergic reaction is one way to find relief.
If you have symptoms of bacterial pink eye, antibiotic treatments are available by prescription to help speed the healing process. Common medications prescribed to patients with bacterial pink eye include antibiotic eye drops like tobramycin Tobrex or ofloxacin, and antibiotic ointments like ciprofloxacin Cipro or erythromycin Erythrocin. If you believe you have suffered a traumatic injury to your eye, call your doctor immediately. Using good hygienic practices can help you avoid the viruses and bacteria that cause most kinds of pink eye.
Making sure your vaccines are up to date is one of the best ways to avoid conjunctivitis over the long term.
By inoculating yourself against viruses that cause pink eye, like rubella, measles, chickenpox, and the flu , you reduce your risk of your eyes becoming infected by them. Although most cases of pink eye will heal on their own, some require medical attention to improve; if you believe you have conjunctivitis and meet any of the following criteria, call your doctor or eye doctor to make an appointment.
Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Viral vs. There are several types of pink eye, including viral and bacterial: Viral pink eye is caused by viruses like adenovirus and herpes virus. It usually clears up without treatment in 7 to 14 days. Bacterial pink eye is caused by an infection with bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumonia.
Antibiotics should start clearing up the infection within 24 hours of starting to use them. Viral pink eye vs. Treating pink eye. Pink eye prevention. When to see your doctor. Read this next. The Best Pink Eye Remedies. Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M. Allergic Conjunctivitis. Medically reviewed by University of Illinois. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.
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