Viral vs. bacterial pink eye
You can tell a lot about a person by looking into their eyes, including when they’re not feeling 100%. And red, irritated and goopy eyes are definitely a sign that something’s off with your eye health. If you or your little one has these symptoms, it’s probably pink eye. And if someone in your household has this common eye infection, it’s important to understand whether it’s viral vs. bacterial pink eye.
How does pink eye develop?
Pink eye is an infection of the conjunctiva or outer membrane of the eye. As with most infections, common symptoms include redness, inflammation and mild swelling. The infected eye is also likely to feel itchy and irritated – sort of like there’s sand in it. You may also notice your eye tears a lot, which can leave behind a crusty residue – especially in the morning.
Regardless of whether a pink eye infection is viral or bacterial, it’s super contagious. And you or your child can easily spread the infection to others through things like coughing or sneezing and shaking or holding hands. Pink eye can also spread when you touch surfaces like doorknobs, desks and toys that are contaminated and then rub your eye.
Is pink eye viral or bacterial? Why it matters
Did your sniffles and sneezes give way to pink and goopy eyes? Did your child recently have the flu or an ear infection and then develop pink eye? Conditions like the common cold or another respiratory infection are often behind both viral and bacterial pink eye infections.
And many viral and bacterial pink eye symptoms – including redness of the whites of the eye, tearing, mild pain and crusting around the eye in the morning – overlap. But there are some telltale symptoms that provide clues about whether a pink eye infection is viral or bacterial.
Viral pink eye symptoms
- Eye drainage that’s clear with a thin and watery consistency
- Tearing and drainage that’s easily wiped away and manageable
Bacterial pink eye symptoms
- Eye drainage that’s cloudy or colored with a thick and goopy consistency
- Your eye(s) tears and drains throughout the day – even when you wipe the drainage away
Pink eye treatment
Your symptoms will point to whether you have viral pink eye or bacterial pink eye, and your treatment will depend on your diagnosis.
Viral pink eye treatment
- A viral pink eye infection needs to run its course and should clear up on its own in about five days
- To avoid spreading pink eye to your other eye or others, wash your hands a lot and avoid touching your eyes
- If you develop a fever, stay home until you’re fever-free for 24 hours
Bacterial pink eye treatment
- Use prescription antibiotic pink eye drops to help clear up your infection
- Avoid spreading the infection to your other eye and to other people by not sharing towels or bedding
- It’s safe to return to work, school or daycare after 24 hours of antibiotic drop use
Feel better while you’re healing from pink eye
Pink eye symptoms can be really uncomfortable. Help ease itchy and irritated eyes, with the following tips.
- Keep eyes lubricated – Use artificial tears like Systane or Refresh eye drops and keep the bottle in the refrigerator between uses.
- Keep eyes cool – Put a washcloth in the freezer for 10 minutes and place it on the infected eye. Make sure to use a clean washcloth each time.
Let’s be honest, the last thing you want to do when your eyes are red, tearing and itchy is go out in public. And that includes sitting in a clinic waiting room. Thankfully, you don’t have to as pink eye can be diagnosed and treated online.
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