If you have pink eye, the first thing to do is figure out what type you’re dealing with, because that determines whether you need medical treatment or can manage it at home. Most cases of pink eye are caused by viruses and clear up on their own within one to two weeks. Bacterial pink eye usually needs antibiotic drops, and allergic pink eye responds to antihistamines. While you sort that out, cold compresses and artificial tears can relieve discomfort regardless of the cause.
Figure Out Which Type You Have
Pink eye falls into three main categories, and the discharge from your eye is the biggest clue to which one you’re dealing with.
Viral pink eye produces a watery, clear discharge. It’s highly contagious and often shows up alongside a cold or upper respiratory infection. The redness can range from mild to intense. This is the most common type in adults.
Bacterial pink eye produces a thick, yellowish or greenish discharge that can crust your eyelids shut overnight. You’ll likely notice burning and stinging. It often starts in one eye and spreads to the other within a day or two.
Allergic pink eye is intensely itchy, which sets it apart from the other two. The discharge tends to be watery or stringy, and you’ll often have swollen eyelids, puffy conjunctiva (the clear tissue over the white of your eye), and a runny nose. It usually affects both eyes at the same time and isn’t contagious.
What You Can Do Right Now at Home
Regardless of the cause, a few steps will make your eyes more comfortable and help prevent the infection from spreading or getting worse.
- Apply cold compresses. Place a clean, cool, damp washcloth over your closed eyes for several minutes at a time. This reduces swelling and soothes irritation.
- Use artificial tears. Over-the-counter lubricating drops help with the dryness and gritty feeling. Don’t use the same bottle for both eyes if only one is infected.
- Clean discharge regularly. With clean hands, use a fresh wet washcloth or cotton ball to gently wipe away any crust or discharge from around your eye. Use a new cotton ball each time and wash the cloth in hot water afterward.
- Stop wearing contact lenses. Take them out immediately and throw away disposable lenses and their cases. Don’t put contacts back in until your symptoms are completely gone.
When You Need Antibiotic Drops
Viral pink eye doesn’t respond to antibiotics. It runs its course like a common cold, and your job is to manage symptoms and avoid spreading it. Most viral cases resolve within seven to fourteen days without any prescription treatment.
Bacterial pink eye, on the other hand, typically does require antibiotic eye drops or ointment. If your discharge is thick and colored, or your eyelids are matted shut in the morning, that’s a strong signal to get evaluated. A healthcare provider can confirm the diagnosis and prescribe the right drops. Antibiotic treatment speeds up recovery and shortens the window during which you can spread the infection to others.
For allergic pink eye, over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops can provide quick relief, though it may only last a few hours and you’ll need to reapply several times a day. These drops can sometimes make dryness worse, so pairing them with artificial tears helps. Avoiding whatever triggered the reaction (pollen, pet dander, dust) is the most effective long-term fix.
How to Keep It From Spreading
Viral and bacterial pink eye spread easily through direct contact, shared items, and contaminated surfaces. The single most important thing you can do is wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after touching your face, applying eye drops, or cleaning discharge. If you don’t have soap available, hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol works.
Beyond handwashing, these habits make a real difference:
- Don’t touch or rub your eyes. This is hard when they’re irritated, but rubbing spreads the infection to your other eye and to every surface you touch afterward.
- Don’t share personal items. Pillows, towels, washcloths, eye drops, makeup, makeup brushes, and eyeglasses can all carry the virus or bacteria.
- Wash linens and towels in hot water and detergent. Do this frequently while you’re symptomatic, and wash your hands after handling dirty laundry.
- Throw away contaminated products. Disposable contact lenses, cases, cotton balls, and any eye makeup you used while infected should all go in the trash.
Staying Home From Work or School
The CDC recommends staying home if you have viral or bacterial pink eye with other signs of illness, like fever or feeling generally unwell. If you can’t avoid close contact with others (which is difficult in most classrooms and offices), it’s best to stay home until your symptoms improve. You can return to work or school once any prescribed treatment has been started and a healthcare provider gives the go-ahead.
Allergic pink eye isn’t contagious, so there’s no need to isolate. You can go about your day normally while managing symptoms.
Signs That Need Prompt Medical Attention
Most pink eye is uncomfortable but harmless. However, certain symptoms suggest something more serious is happening and warrant a same-day visit to a healthcare provider:
- Eye pain (not just irritation or grittiness, but actual pain)
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision
- Intense redness that isn’t improving or is getting worse
These can signal a more aggressive infection, a corneal problem, or a type of pink eye caused by herpes simplex virus, which requires specific antiviral treatment. With herpes-related pink eye, the eyelids may be swollen with small blisters, and the surface of the eye can develop tiny branching sores that affect vision if left untreated.
Pink Eye in Newborns Is Different
If a newborn develops red, swollen, or draining eyes, they need to see a doctor immediately. Pink eye in newborns can be caused by bacteria picked up during delivery, including the same bacteria responsible for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Left untreated, these infections can spread beyond the eye to the bloodstream, lungs, and even the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Untreated gonococcal infection can cause open sores on the cornea and permanent blindness. This is not a wait-and-see situation for babies. Newborns with bacterial pink eye are treated with antibiotics, sometimes given in multiple forms at once to ensure the infection is fully controlled.