What is pink eye, and how do you treat it?

There are four main types of conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye. They are viral, allergic, bacterial, and toxic/chemical. People can experience pink eye at any point during their lifetime.

Viral pink eye is the most common and is very contagious, often spreading among people like a common cold. Estimated to be approximately 65% to 90% of all conjunctivitis cases. Symptoms may or may not include red eyes, watery discharge, crusting of eyelashes early in the morning, pain and itching.

It usually gets better on its own between three days and one week using cool, wet, cloth compresses for comfort. Viral conjunctivitis does not require antibiotic or prescription eye drops.

Allergic pink eye is the second most common form of pink eye and makes up approximately 15 to 20% of all cases. It is commonly caused by environmental exposures to pollen, plants, grass, and pets. Symptoms may or may not include red eyes, watery discharge, dry eyes, itchy eyes, foreign body or “scratchy” sensation, and eyelid swelling. It is not contagious and can be treated with over-the-counter remedies such as antihistamine eye drops or rewetting eye drops

It is estimated that there are only 135 cases of bacterial pink eye per 10,000 cases in the United States. It makes up roughly 1% of conjunctivitis cases. Out of these cases, more than 60% occur between the ages of 0-19 and it is more common between December and April. Symptoms may or may not include red eyes, continuous crusting or “eye mucus” throughout the daytime, watery discharge, and pain. Bacterial pink eye is contagious but more difficult to spread than viral pink eye. Even though bacterial conjunctivitis does not always require antibiotics, medical providers often prescribe medication eye drops to treat it.

People often experience toxic/chemical pink eye after exposure to smoke, fumes, household chemicals, chlorine in pools or workplace hazards.

Symptoms often include redness, irritation, watery eyes, and pain. Alkali materials such as oven cleaner, baking soda, bleach, ammonia and alkaline batteries pose a greater risk of damage than acid burns from vinegar, citrus fruits, borax or sulfuric acid batteries. Immediate and thorough flushing of the eye with runny water for several minutes is crucial for minimizing damage. This type of pink eye is not contagious and does not require antibiotic eye drops.

If someone experiences vision loss, recurrent infections, corneal involvement, severe pain or discharge due to pink eye or non-response to treatment, they should seek a referral to an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

No matter the type of pink eye, it’s important to wash your hands often and not touch your eyes.

James Campbell, PA-C, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to patient care. He earned his medical education through the University of Nebraska while serving in the United States Air Force, where he completed 16 years of active duty and continues to serve in the reserves. With a deep passion for family medicine, James appreciates the variety it offers and enjoys building lasting relationships with his patients across all stages of life.