Key takeaways:
Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is a common eye infection. Usually a virus is the cause, but sometimes it can be a bacterial infection.
At-home treatments, like cold compresses and over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops, can help soothe your eye.
Pink eye infections will often get better on their own over time. Antibiotic drops can treat bacterial infections and improve your symptoms faster.
Pink eye is very contagious. To prevent its spread, practice good hand-washing and avoid touching your eye.
Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is very common. A virus is the most common cause of pink eye. You can get it by coming into direct contact with the virus. Or you can “catch it” from droplets in the air, much like you catch a cold.
Bacteria can also cause pink eye. This is likely to happen from rubbing your eyes, but it can also happen from respiratory droplets. Allergic conjunctivitis is another common cause of pink eye, though it isn’t contagious.
If you’ve ever had pink eye, you know how uncomfortable the symptoms can be. Fortunately, there are ways to improve the symptoms while your infection gets better. Let’s take a closer look at how you can get quick relief for pink eye, and how long it’ll take to get better.
Quiz: Do you have pink eye?
1. Cool compresses
A cool compress can help to soothe the irritation from a pink eye infection. If your eyes are matted shut with a lot of discharge, wiping them with a damp washcloth can help you open them. A cool compress may also help to reduce any eyelid swelling or inflammation.
You can use a clean, damp washcloth and lay it over the infected eye. Feel free to do this as often as you’d like, but use a clean towel each time. This will keep you from spreading the infection to your other eye.
2. Lubricating eye drops
Lubricating eye drops or artificial tears can help your pink eye infection feel better faster. If you have a gritty, itchy, or burning sensation from pink eye, keeping your eyes moist with lubricating eye drops can give you some relief. These eye drops won’t make the infection go away, but they can help with the pain and irritation you feel in the meantime.
Sometimes people are sensitive to the ingredients in over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops. If you notice increased pain or redness after using eye drops, stop using them and contact a healthcare professional.
3. OTC pain medication
Sometimes pink eye infections are somewhat painful. You can help relieve that pain with OTC pain medications, like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Viral pink eye infections often occur along with symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, like a sore throat or headache. These OTC medications can help to relieve those symptoms as well.
If you have severe pain or pain when you move your eyes, contact your primary care provider. They’ll likely want to see you to make sure there’s not something else causing your symptoms.
Worried about spreading pink eye? Here’s how long you're contagious with pink eye, and what you can do to avoid spreading it.
When does pink eye go away? How long pink eye lasts mostly depends on the cause. It can last from a few days to a few weeks.
Do you really need antibiotics for pink eye? Bacterial conjunctivitis should be treated with antibiotics. Your symptoms can give clues as to the type of eye infection you have.
4. Antibiotic eye drops
Bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with antibiotic eye drops to help shorten the length of an infection. This is especially important if you wear contact lenses. That’s because using contact lenses puts you at higher risk of developing complications.
You’ll need a prescription for antibiotic eye drops.
Some common antibacterial treatments to get rid of pink eye symptoms include:
Ofloxacin drops (Ocuflox)
Trimethoprim / polymyxin B drops (Polytrim)
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How can you prevent the spread of pink eye?
Both viral and bacterial pink eye infections are very contagious. Pink eye can spread as long as you have symptoms.
Here’s how to reduce your risk and prevent spreading pink eye to others:
Don’t share eye makeup, contacts, or glasses.
Avoid touching your face and close face contact with others.
Don’t share handkerchiefs, towels, or tissues.
Cover your coughs or sneezes.
Wash your hands well and often.
Properly care for your contact lenses.
It’s also important to try to prevent the spread of pink eye to your other, unaffected eye. Here are some steps you can take to prevent this:
Wash all of your pillowcases and towels in hot water.
Replace your used contact lenses.
Replace your eye makeup and related materials.
How long does pink eye last?
How long pink eye lasts depends on the cause. Viral conjunctivitis tends to last much longer. Viral pink eye will usually clear in 1 to 2 weeks, but symptoms might last for up to 3 weeks.
Bacterial conjunctivitis will usually clear in 5 to 7 days without treatment. But symptoms can last up to 2 weeks. That’s why many people prefer to use prescription antibiotic treatment to help get rid of the symptoms faster.
When should you see a healthcare professional for pink eye?
Complications from conjunctivitis are rare. But some symptoms can point to a serious infection or underlying medical condition.
Here are some reasons to get medical attention right away:
Pain when moving your eyes
Extreme sensitivity to light
Severe headache with neck pain
Blurred vision that doesn’t improve after wiping away discharge
No improvement in 72 hours with treatment, or 5 days without treatment
Swelling beyond the eyelids
Ear pain
Newborns and those with a weakened immune system are at a higher risk of developing a severe infection. In these cases, you should see a healthcare professional right away.
Frequently asked questions
The three most common types of pink eye are:
Viral pink eye
Bacterial pink eye
Allergic pink eye
The specific symptoms you experience depend on the type of infection you have. Bacterial pink eye tends to be more severe than pink eye caused by viruses or allergies.
There are several conditions that share symptoms with pink eye and can lead to red, irritated, and swollen eyes. Conditions that may be mistaken for pink eye include:
Allergies
If you aren’t sure what’s causing your eye issues, visit your primary care provider or ophthalmologist for a checkup.
You may have heard about home remedies that can help relieve pink eye, but there are some products you should avoid. For example, you may be tempted to use eye drops than lessen red, bloodshot eyes, like Visine. But these drops can actually worsen your symptoms. Also, avoid breastmilk and herbal extracts.
The three most common types of pink eye are:
Viral pink eye
Bacterial pink eye
Allergic pink eye
The specific symptoms you experience depend on the type of infection you have. Bacterial pink eye tends to be more severe than pink eye caused by viruses or allergies.
There are several conditions that share symptoms with pink eye and can lead to red, irritated, and swollen eyes. Conditions that may be mistaken for pink eye include:
Allergies
If you aren’t sure what’s causing your eye issues, visit your primary care provider or ophthalmologist for a checkup.
You may have heard about home remedies that can help relieve pink eye, but there are some products you should avoid. For example, you may be tempted to use eye drops than lessen red, bloodshot eyes, like Visine. But these drops can actually worsen your symptoms. Also, avoid breastmilk and herbal extracts.
The bottom line
Pink eye is a common eye infection that usually resolves on its own. Some at-home treatments can help improve your symptoms faster. For pink eye caused by a virus, symptoms will start to improve within 5 to 7 days. For bacterial infections, antibiotics can help the infection go away sooner.
Pink eye is very contagious. While you’re waiting for your symptoms to improve, make sure to take precautions to prevent pink eye from spreading.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Academy of Ophthalmology. (2024). Is it pink eye or something else?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). How to treat pink eye.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Protect yourself from pink eye infographic.
Cronau, H., et al. (2010). Diagnosis and management of red eye in primary care. American Family Physician.
Gudgel, D. T. (2023). Pink eye: Quick home remedies. American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Hashmi, M. F., et al. (2024). Conjunctivitis. StatPearls.
National Eye Institute. (2019). Treatment for pink eye.
Pippin, M. M., et al. (2023). Bacterial conjunctivitis. StatPearls.
Solano, D., et al. (2023). Viral conjunctivitis. StatPearls.
