Understanding Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider. For adults 18+.
Pink eye is common, alarming-looking, and often misunderstood. This calm guide explains the viral, bacterial, and allergic types, how contagious it is, and what actually helps each one.
What conjunctivitis is, how to tell viral from bacterial from allergic, how contagious it is and for how long, hygiene that stops it spreading, soothing measures, and when antibiotic drops are (and aren't) needed.
What's inside
- →The three types — viral, bacterial, allergic
- →Telling them apart — colour & symptoms
- →How contagious it is — and for how long
- →Stopping the spread — hygiene that works
- →Soothing relief — compresses & care
- →When you need a doctor — drops & red flags
For educational purposes only
This guide is educational information about eye and vision health — it is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it is not a substitute for care from a qualified eye-care professional. It does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. See an optometrist or ophthalmologist for regular eye exams and about any change in your vision, and do not start or stop any medication without medical advice. SEEK URGENT CARE for sudden vision loss, a curtain or shadow over your vision, a sudden burst of new floaters or flashes of light, eye pain with redness, or any chemical or penetrating injury to the eye; in a medical emergency, call 911.