How Long Is Pink Eye Contagious?
Key takeaways
Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is contagious if it’s caused by a virus or bacteria. Pink eye caused by allergies isn’t contagious.
Viral pink eye is usually contagious for 10 to 14 days.
People with bacterial pink eye can’t pass the germ after having antibiotics for 24 hours. Without antibiotic treatment, bacterial pink eye is contagious for about a week.
Table of contents
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is the irritation of the outermost layer of the eye. While pink eye is usually not dangerous, it can be painful and irritating. Conjunctivitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and allergies.
Pink eye is contagious if it’s caused by viruses or bacteria. It can easily spread from person to person.
Read on to learn how long pink eye is contagious, and what you can do to avoid getting or transmitting pink eye.
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Quiz: Do you have pink eye?
How long are you contagious with pink eye?
How long pink eye lasts depends on the type.
Viral conjunctivitis
Infection with a virus (viral conjunctivitis) is the most common cause of pink eye.
Dr. Andrew Wong, an internal medicine physician with Hartford Healthcare, said that people with viral conjunctivitis usually have “watery discharge, and a sandy, gritty, feeling in the affected eye.” They may also have other signs of a cold, “such as a sore throat, runny nose, and cough,” he said.
Most cases of viral pink eye are contagious for 10 to 14 days, but some people can be contagious for up to 3 weeks.
In general, people stop being able to pass the virus when they no longer have pink eye symptoms. “Once symptoms are resolved for a full 24-hour period, the person is no longer considered contagious,” Wong said.
Bacterial conjunctivitis
Pink eye caused by bacteria is called bacterial conjunctivitis.
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People with bacterial conjunctivitis often have thick discharge (pus) from one eye, which can cause the eyelids to stick together.
People with bacterial conjunctivitis are usually contagious for about 1 week if they don’t take antibiotics. But bacterial pink eye stops being contagious faster with antibiotic treatment. People can’t transmit the pink eye bacteria 24 hours after starting treatment with an antibiotic.
How does pink eye spread?
Pink eye spreads from person to person through direct contact or touch.
Most people don’t touch each other's eyes. Instead, the viruses and bacteria pass indirectly from one person to another.
For example, if someone with pink eye touches a door knob, then you touch the knob and rub your eye with your hand, you can get pink eye.
People can also pick up these bugs by sharing items that come in contact with the face and eyes, such as towels, cosmetics, and makeup brushes.
How long does it take to develop pink eye?
It depends on what’s causing your pink eye.
For bacterial conjunctivitis, people usually come down with pink eye 24 to 72 hours after getting the bacteria into their eye.
For viral conjunctivitis, symptoms can start anywhere from 12 hours to 12 days after coming into contact with a virus.
How long do viruses and bacteria that cause pink eye live on surfaces?
Most viruses and bacteria that cause pink eye can live on surfaces for a few hours to several days.
Some germs that cause pink eye can survive even longer. Adenoviruses are the most common cause of viral pink eye. They can live for more than a week on paper, plastic, cloth, and metal.
This means that you can catch pink eye from almost anywhere. But there are things you can do to avoid getting pink eye, even if someone you know has it. Here are some tips:
Wash your hands. Handwashing with soap and water gets germs off your hands so they don’t end up on your face or in your eyes. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after touching someone with pink eye or their personal items.
Don’t touch or rub your eyes. Touching your face can introduce viruses and bacteria into your eye. If you already have pink eye, rubbing your eyes can cause the other eye to become infected.
Don’t share items that go near your face. Don’t share items that go near your eyes or face with someone who has pink eye. In fact, it’s best to avoid sharing these items whenever possible, even with people who don’t have pink eye. These include towels, blankets, wash cloths, cosmetics, makeup brushes, pillows, and sunglasses.
Skip contact lenses. Contact lenses can cause more irritation in the eye. If you have pink eye, stick to glasses until pink eye goes away. And don’t reuse old lenses once you do get better.
When do you need to see a healthcare professional for pink eye?
Most cases of viral pink eye will get better with time and at-home treatment. But some people are at an increased risk of complications from any type of pink eye, including:
Newborns and young babies
People with weakened immune systems
People who wear contact lenses
These people should always see their primary care professional or eye doctor if they have symptoms of pink eye.
You should see a healthcare professional if you think you have bacterial conjunctivitis. It’s best to start on antibiotics to help you get better faster and avoid potential complications.
You should also seek care if you develop severe symptoms, such as:
Fever
Eye pain
Vision changes
Sensitivity to light
Eyelid redness or swelling
Thick or persistent eye discharge
The bottom line
The viruses and bacteria that cause pink eye can quickly spread from person to person. Pink eye caused by viruses can be contagious for up to 2 to 3 weeks. Pink eye caused by bacteria is contagious for about a week. People who take antibiotics for bacterial conjunctivitis stop being able to transmit the germ after 24 hours.
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References
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Conjunctivitis (pink eye): For clinicians.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Conjunctivitis (pink eye): Symptoms.
Kramer, A., et al. (2006). How long do nosocomial pathogens persist on inanimate surfaces? A systematic review. BMC Infectious Diseases.
National Eye Institute. (2023). Pink eye. National Institutes of Health.
National Eye Institute. (2023). Treatment for pink eye. National Institutes of Health.
Nauheim, R. C., et al. (1990). Prolonged recoverability of desiccated adenovirus type 19 from various surfaces. Ophthalmology.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Conjunctivitis (pink eye).
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Victoria State Government. (n.d.). Conjunctivitis.
