Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is a common eye condition. Most people think they know what pink eye is, but there are many misconceptions about it.
Pink eye happens when the conjunctiva — the thin, moist layer that covers part of your eye as well as the inside of your eyelid — gets inflamed. The condition is most closely associated with redness and itchiness of the eyes. But there’s more than one type of pink eye, and there are important differences in what can cause it and how to treat it.
Here’s what to know about pink eye, including eight common mistakes people make about the condition and the facts behind them.
Myth No. 1: Only children get pink eye.
FACT: Pink eye is very common in children, but it’s not just a kids’ condition. Many adults get pink eye, too.
The condition frequently occurs in children for several reasons. Pink eye often happens when germs move from hands to eyes, and kids (especially younger ones) are more likely to rub their eyes and forget to wash their hands. The infection can spread easily when children are close together, like at school or on the playground.
Myth No. 2: You won’t get pink eye if you don’t rub your eyes.
FACT: Touching your eyes with unclean hands is just one way that you can get conjunctivitis. Your eye can get infected if it comes in contact with a contaminated object or substance, like improperly cleaned contact lenses, makeup, lotion, or the tip of an eye-drop dispenser that was used on an eye with conjunctivitis.
Viral conjunctivitis can be spread through exposure to the coughing and sneezing of a person with an upper-respiratory infection, such as a common cold. Other types of conjunctivitis can be caused by allergens such as dust mites and pet dander or by exposure to irritants such as pollution and chemicals.
Myth No. 3: Pink eye is always infectious and very contagious.
FACT: Different types of pink eye exist, and not all of them are infectious. Bacterial conjunctivitis (caused by staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria) and viral conjunctivitis are very contagious. But allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious and usually happens in people with seasonal allergies. Chemical conjunctivitis is also not contagious and is caused by contact with irritants such as smog or the chlorine in swimming pool water.
Myth No. 4: You can’t be born with conjunctivitis.
FACT: Newborns can have neonatal conjunctivitis, which is caused by a blocked tear duct, irritation to the eye, or an infection. Mothers can also pass bacteria and viruses to a baby during childbirth, particularly if they have a sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia or gonorrhea.
Babies born with chlamydial or gonococcal conjunctivitis can develop serious infections in other parts of the body, such as the lungs and the spinal cord (also known as meningitis). Neonatal conjunctivitis caused by bacteria is treated with antibiotics.
Myth No. 5: You never need to go to the doctor for conjunctivitis.
FACT: Most of the time, pink eye doesn’t require special treatment and gets better on its own. But sometimes, it can lead to complications. See your healthcare provider if you’ve got worsening symptoms, like eye pain, blurred vision, a weakened immune system, or another eye problem.
Myth No. 6: If you have eye redness, then it must be conjunctivitis.
FACT: Red or bloodshot eyes can be a sign of many things besides conjunctivitis. Allergies, dry eye syndrome, and irritants can cause a red discoloration of the white of the eye. But eye redness can have more serious reasons behind it. Here are three eye conditions that should not be ignored:
Glaucoma, which damages the nerve that connects your eye to your brain, affects more than three million Americans. One form of glaucoma, known as angle-closure glaucoma, causes the eye to redden and vision to blur. It’s an urgent medical condition that can cause blindness if not treated.
Scleritis is swelling of the tough outer layer of the eye, and it often happens with immune system problems like rheumatoid arthritis. In severe cases, it can cause the layer at the back of your eye to pull away (retinal detachment) and even lead to vision loss.
Uveitis is swelling inside the middle part of your eye. This condition can damage eye tissue and cause lasting vision loss.
Myth No. 7: There is no treatment for conjunctivitis.
FACT: Conjunctivitis is often mild and goes away on its own. But treatments can relieve some symptoms, depending on the type of conjunctivitis. You can use eye drops called artificial tears for dryness. Warm or cool compresses help soothe irritation and bring down swelling. Allergy medicine can help if your pink eye is caused by allergens.
If you’ve got pink eye along with pain, vision problems, or your symptoms get worse, seek medical attention.
Myth No. 8: Once you’ve had conjunctivitis, you’re immune to it.
FACT: Regardless of the type of pink eye, having it once doesn’t protect you against getting it in the future. Bacteria and viruses that cause infectious conjunctivitis can strike at any time. You can protect against infection by avoiding rubbing your eyes, washing your hands often, not sharing things like towels and makeup, and properly cleaning eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Like with any allergy, the best way to prevent allergic pink eye from coming back is to avoid things you know you’re allergic to. Remember that conjunctivitis can spread from one eye to the other, so avoid touching the unaffected eye with anything that has come into contact with the affected eye.
The Takeaway
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, happens when the thin, moist lining of your eye and eyelid gets inflamed. It usually causes redness, itchiness, soreness, and watery eyes.
Pink eye can happen because of bacteria, viruses, or allergies. Bacterial and viral pink eye spread easily and can pass from person to person through contact with things like makeup, towels, or other personal items.
Most often, pink eye resolves on its own. But if pain, soreness, and vision problems persist, visit your healthcare provider.
The best way to prevent pink eye is to wash your hands often, change your contact lenses and their solution as directed, and avoid rubbing your eyes.
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Allison Buttarazzi, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and lifestyle medicine, and is a certified health and well-being coach. In her primary care practice, Dr. Buttarazzi focuses on lifestyle medicine to help her patients improve their health and longevity, and her passion is helping patients prevent and reverse chronic diseases (like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes) by improving their lifestyle habits.
She is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine and completed a residency at Maine Medical Center. Diagnosed with celiac disease during medical school, she realized the power of improving one's health through diet and lifestyle habits, which she later incorporated into her practice.
George was formerly an executive editor with Everyday Health. He has more than two decades of editorial experience at several publications and websites, including Advertising Age, Variety, Spy, and Weight Watchers. Most recently, he was part of the team that launched News Corp’s The Daily, the first newspaper for the iPad. A graduate of Columbia University in New York City, George started his journalism career reporting for Teen Beat magazine, where he got to meet and interview young up-and-comers like Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt. "I've covered everything from entertainment to technology, but nothing impacts readers' lives like health journalism," George says. "Covering health brings with it a very special connection and responsibility to your audience."
