Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) (for Teens)

<!DOCTYPE HTML> <html lang="en"> <head>  <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push( {'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'} );var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-KSJ58RM');</script>   <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com"/> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin/> <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Montserrat:wght@400;500;600;700&display=swap" rel="stylesheet"/>  <script> KHAdLanguage ="en"; KHAdSection ="teen"; KHAdSubCat = "alf_en_teens_common"; KHAdTitle ="pinkeyeconjunctivitis"; KHCD = "ophthalmology"; // clinical designation aspect KHPCD = "infectious-diseases-ophthalmology-primary-care-pediatrics"; // primary clinical designation aspect KHAge = "teen-thirteen-to-nineteen"; // age aspect KHGenre = "article"; // genre aspect KHPCAFull = "pca_en_teens_ophthalmology"; // full gam tag for aspects licName = "KidsHealth"; </script> <meta property="og:description" content="Conjunctivitis, commonly called pinkeye, is an inflammation of the tissue covering the eye and inner surface of the eyelid."/> <meta property="og:title" content="Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) (for Teens)"/> <meta property="twitter:title" content="Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) (for Teens)"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://kidshealth.org/content/dam/kidshealth/en/social/T_socialCard_small_en.png"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://kidshealth.org/content/dam/kidshealth/en/social/T_socialCard_small_en.png"/> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/png"/> <meta property="og:image:width" content="200"/> <meta property="og:image:height" content="200"/> <meta property="og:image:alt" content="Nemours KidsHealth"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Conjunctivitis, commonly called pinkeye, is an inflammation of the tissue covering the eye and inner surface of the eyelid."/> <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="Nemours KidsHealth"/>  <script> window.digitalData = window.digitalData || {}; window.digitalData = { page : { language:'english', licensee:'Mothership', pageType:'article', section:'teens', template:'standardTemplate', title:'Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)' } }; </script>   <script src="https://assets.adobedtm.com/60e564f16d33/ac808e2960eb/launch-9661e12d662b.min.js" async></script> <meta charset="UTF-8"/> <meta name="marcTag" content="standardPage/head.html"/> <script type="text/javascript"> window.rsConf = {general: {usePost: true}}; </script> <meta name="template" content="standardTemplate"/> <meta name="section" content="teens"/> <meta name="language" content="english"/> <meta name="kh_content_type" content="article"/> <meta name="fusionDataSource" content="kidshealth"/> <meta name="kh_language" content="english"/> <meta name="kh_section" content="teens"/> <meta name="kh_licensee" content="Mothership"/> <meta name="adcondition"/> <meta name="hashID" content="bfc6661b3fc0b985198e77369bd025ac6eb78e46"/> <meta name="site" content="MOTHERSHIP"/> <meta name="keywords" content="conjunctivitis, pinkeye, pink eye, pink eye infection, conjunctiva, ophthalmologists, infectious diseases, eye discharge, why are my eyes itchy, antibiotic eye drops, how long is pinkeye contagious, vision problems, taking care of my eyes, sexually transmitted diseases, chlamydia, gonorrhea, makeup, cosmetics, contact lenses, bacteria, viruses, allergic, irritant, chemical, chemicals"/> <meta name="description" content="Conjunctivitis, commonly called pinkeye, is an inflammation of the tissue covering the eye and inner surface of the eyelid."/> <meta name="published_date" content="09/20/2021"/> <meta name="notify" content="n"/> <meta name="created-date" content="08/27/2024 "/> <meta name="last-modified-date" content="09/20/2021 "/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"/> <meta name="kh:pageKeywords" content="conjunctivitis, pinkeye, pink eye, pink eye infection, conjunctiva, ophthalmologists, infectious diseases, eye discharge, why are my eyes itchy, antibiotic eye drops, how long is pinkeye contagious, vision problems, taking care of my eyes, sexually transmitted diseases, chlamydia, gonorrhea, makeup, cosmetics, contact lenses, bacteria, viruses, allergic, irritant, chemical, chemicals"/> <meta name="kh:pageDescription" content="Conjunctivitis, commonly called pinkeye, is an inflammation of the tissue covering the eye and inner surface of the eyelid."/> <meta property="kh:pageTitle" content="Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)"/> <meta name="allow-Search" content="true"/> <meta name="available-to-MotherShip" content=" true"/> <meta name="available-to-Licencesee" content="true"/> <meta name="availble-to-XML feed" content=" true"/> <meta name="allow-Web-Services" content="true"/> <meta name="Author"/> <meta name="Aspects"/> <meta name="Categories" content="kidshealth:categories/infections/common,kidshealth:categories/infections/bacterial-viral"/> <meta name="Last-Review-By"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/etc.clientlibs/kidshealth/clientlibs/clientlib-base.css" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/etc.clientlibs/kidshealth/clientlibs/clientlib-site.css" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/etc.clientlibs/kidshealth/clientlibs/clientlib-common.css" type="text/css"> <script type="text/javascript" src="/etc.clientlibs/clientlibs/granite/jquery.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/etc.clientlibs/clientlibs/granite/utils.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/etc.clientlibs/clientlibs/granite/jquery/granite.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/etc.clientlibs/kidshealth/clientlibs/clientlib-base.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/etc.clientlibs/kidshealth/clientlibs/clientlibs-js-site.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/etc.clientlibs/kidshealth/clientlibs/clientlib-js-common.js"></script> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/content/dam/kh-reskin/favicon-2.png"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/conjunctivitis.html" x-cq-linkchecker="skip"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/conjunctivitis.html"/> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="es" href="https://kidshealth.org/es/teens/conjunctivitis.html"/> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/conjunctivitis.html"/> <script> var isEdit = "false"; </script> <title>Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) (for Teens) | Nemours KidsHealth</title> </head> <body class=" mouseUser">  <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-KSJ58RM" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>   <div id="skipnavigation"><a id="skippy" class="accessible" href="#thelou">[Skip to Content]</a></div> <div id="kh-background-overlay" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" style="display: none"> </div> <div id="khMainContainer" class="standardPageContainer"> <div class="header"> <header id="kh-header">  <div id="kh-eyebrow-container" class="englishEyebrow"> <div id="kh-eyebrow" class="container-width"> <span>Find care at </span> <span class="kh-eyebrow-links"> <a href="https://www.nemours.org?external_id=RE2350835010600" target="_blank">Nemours Children's Health</a> <span class="eyebrow-bar" aria-hidden="true"></span> <a href="https://www.nemours.org/find-a-doctor.html?external_id=RE2350835010600" aria-label="Nemours Doctors" target="_blank">Doctors</a> <span class="eyebrow-bar" aria-hidden="true"></span> <a href="https://www.nemours.org/locations.html?external_id=RE2350835010600" aria-label="Nemours Locations" target="_blank">Locations</a> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kh-header-container"> <div id="kh-header-section" class="container-width"> <div id="kh-logo"> <a href="/en/teens.html/" target="_self"> <img src="/content/dam/kidshealth/nemours-teenshealth-logo.svg" alt="Nemours TeensHealth"/> </a> </div> <nav aria-label="Main"> <ul id="kh-topnav-tabs" class="kh-mobile-hidden kh-english"> <li> <button id="kh-parents-tab" aria-expanded="false" data-title="For Parents" data-section="parents"> <span class="kh-section-text">For Parents</span> </button> </li> <li> <button id="kh-kids-tab" aria-expanded="false" data-title="For Kids" data-section="kids"> <span class="kh-section-text">For Kids</span> </button> </li> <li> <button id="kh-teens-tab" aria-expanded="false" data-title="For Teens" data-section="teens"> <span class="kh-section-text">For Teens</span> </button> </li> <li data-section="educators"> <button id="kh-educator-tab" aria-expanded="false" role="link" class="new-window-button" onclick="window.open('https://classroom.kidshealth.org', '_blank')" data-title="For Educators" target="_blank"> <span class="kh-section-text">For Educators</span> </button> </li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh-header-buttons"> <div id="kh-search"> <button type="button" data-expanded="false" id="kh-search-icon" class="ctg showOnDesktop">Search</button> </div> <div id="kh-mob-menu-toggle"> <button data-expanded="false" id="kh-mob-icon" aria-expanded="false"><span class="hideOffScreen">Menu</span></button> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="kh-mob-menu"> <div id="kh-mob-menu-top-row"> <div id="kh-mob-logo"> <a href="/en/teens.html/" target="_self"> <img src="/content/dam/kidshealth/nemours-teenshealth-logo.svg" alt="Nemours TeensHealth"/> </a> </div> <div id="kh-mob-close"> <button id="mob-menu-close">Close Menu</button> </div> </div> <ul id="kh-mob-menu-buttons"> <li> <button id="mob-butt-parents" aria-expanded="false" data-title="For Parents" data-section="parents"> <span class="kh-section-text">For Parents</span> </button> </li> <li> <button id="mob-butt-kids" aria-expanded="false" data-title="For Kids" data-section="kids"> <span class="kh-section-text">For Kids</span> </button> </li> <li> <button id="mob-butt-teens" aria-expanded="false" data-title="For Teens" data-section="teens"> <span class="kh-section-text">For Teens</span> </button> </li> <li data-section="educators"> <button id="mob-butt-educators" aria-expanded="false" role="link" class="new-window-button" onclick="window.open('https://classroom.kidshealth.org', '_blank')" data-title="For Educators" target="_blank"> <span class="kh-section-text">For Educators</span> </button><div class="tabTrap" id="tabTrap_mm" tabindex="-1"></div> </li> </ul> <div class="kh-section-subnav closedNav" id="kh-parents-subnav" data-section="parents"> <div class="kh-section-subnav-inner container-width"> <div class="kh-mob-back"> <button id="parentsBack" data-section="parents">Back</button> </div> <div class="kh-section-subnav-row1"> <label for="parents-main-nav-list" class="desktop-label">Featured Topics</label> <label for="parents-main-nav-list" class="mobile-label">For Parents</label> </div> <div class="kh-section-subnav-row2"> <div class="khsr2-left"> <ul class="kh-subnav-lr" id="parents-main-nav-list"> <li class="mob-nav-only"><a class="tertiary-link" href="/es/parents/" lang="es">Sitio para padres</a></li> <li class="mob-nav-only"><a href="/en/parents/">Parents Home</a></li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/general/">General Health</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/growth/">Growth & Development</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/infections/">Infections</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/medical/">Diseases & Conditions</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/pregnancy-newborn/">Pregnancy & Baby</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/nutrition-center/">Nutrition & Fitness</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/emotions/">Emotions & Behavior</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/positive/">School & Family Life</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/firstaid-safe/">First Aid & Safety</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/system/">Doctors & Hospitals</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/videos/">Videos</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/recipes/">Expert Answers (Q&A)</a> </li> <li class="mob-nav-only"><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/parents/all-categories.html">All Categories</a></li> <li class="mob-nav-only"><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/parents/centers/center.html">All Wellness Centers</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="khsr2-right"> <a href="/en/parents/worrying.html"> <span class="khsr2-r-c1"><img src="/content/dam/kidshealth/menu-promo-daughter-hugging-dad.jpeg"/></span> <span class="khsr2-r-c2"> <span class="khsr2-2-c2-heading">Helping Kids When They Worry</span> <span class="khsr2-r-c2-r1">When kids worry, parents can provide calm support.</span> <span class="khsr2-r-c2-r2 tertiary-link-partial">Here’s how</span> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="kh-section-subnav-row3 desk-nav-only"> <div class="khsr3-left"> <ul> <li><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/parents/">Parents Home</a></li> <li><a class="tertiary-link" href="/es/parents/" lang="es">Sitio para padres</a></li> <li><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/parents/all-categories.html">All Categories</a></li> <li><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/parents/centers/center.html">All Wellness Centers</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="khsr3-right"> <div class="tabTrap" id="tabTrap_parents" tabindex="-1"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="kh-section-subnav closedNav" id="kh-kids-subnav" data-section="kids"> <div class="kh-section-subnav-inner container-width"> <div class="kh-mob-back"> <button id="kidsBack" data-section="kids">Back</button> </div> <div class="kh-section-subnav-row1"> <label for="kids-main-nav-list" class="desktop-label">Featured Topics</label> <label for="kids-main-nav-list" class="mobile-label">For Kids</label> </div> <div class="kh-section-subnav-row2"> <div class="khsr2-left"> <ul class="kh-subnav-lr" id="kids-main-nav-list"> <li class="mob-nav-only"><a class="tertiary-link" href="/es/kids/" lang="es">Sitio para niños</a></li> <li class="mob-nav-only"><a href="/en/kids/">Kids Home</a></li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/center/htbw-main-page.html">How the Body Works</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/grow/">Puberty & Growing Up</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/stay-healthy/">Staying Healthy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/watch/">Staying Safe</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/word/">Dictionary</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/health-problems/">Health Problems</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/ill-injure/">Illnesses & Injuries</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/center/relax-center.html">Relax & Unwind</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/feel-better/">People, Places & Things That Help</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/feeling/">Feelings</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/talk/">Expert Answers (Q&A)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/videos/">Videos</a> </li> <li class="mob-nav-only"><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/kids/all-categories.html">All Categories</a></li> <li class="mob-nav-only"><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/kids/centers/center.html">All Wellness Centers</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="khsr2-right"> <a href="/en/kids/5-steps.html"> <span class="khsr2-r-c1"><img src="/content/dam/kidshealth/menu-promo-kid-meditation.jpeg"/></span> <span class="khsr2-r-c2"> <span class="khsr2-2-c2-heading">How Can I Handle Stress?</span> <span class="khsr2-r-c2-r1">There are ways to help yourself through stressful moments.</span> <span class="khsr2-r-c2-r2 tertiary-link-partial">Find out how</span> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="kh-section-subnav-row3 desk-nav-only"> <div class="khsr3-left"> <ul> <li><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/kids/">Kids Home</a></li> <li><a class="tertiary-link" href="/es/kids/" lang="es">Sitio para niños</a></li> <li><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/kids/all-categories.html">All Categories</a></li> <li><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/kids/centers/center.html">All Wellness Centers</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="khsr3-right"> <div class="tabTrap" id="tabTrap_kids" tabindex="-1"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="kh-section-subnav closedNav" id="kh-teens-subnav" data-section="teens"> <div class="kh-section-subnav-inner container-width"> <div class="kh-mob-back"> <button id="teensBack" data-section="teens">Back</button> </div> <div class="kh-section-subnav-row1"> <label for="teens-main-nav-list" class="desktop-label">Featured Topics</label> <label for="teens-main-nav-list" class="mobile-label">For Teens</label> </div> <div class="kh-section-subnav-row2"> <div class="khsr2-left"> <ul class="kh-subnav-lr" id="teens-main-nav-list"> <li class="mob-nav-only"><a class="tertiary-link" href="/es/teens/" lang="es">Sitio para adolescentes</a></li> <li class="mob-nav-only"><a href="/en/teens/">Teens Home</a></li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/your-body/">Body</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/your-mind/">Mind</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/sexual-health/">Sexual Health</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/food-fitness/">Food & Fitness</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/diseases-conditions/">Diseases & Conditions</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/infections/">Infections</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/drug-alcohol/">Drugs & Alcohol</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/school-jobs/">School & Jobs</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/sports-center/">Sports</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/expert/">Expert Answers (Q&A)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/safety/">Staying Safe</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/videos/">Videos</a> </li> <li class="mob-nav-only"><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/teens/all-categories.html">All Categories</a></li> <li class="mob-nav-only"><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/teens/centers/center.html">All Wellness Centers</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="khsr2-right"> <a href="/en/teens/talk-depression.html"> <span class="khsr2-r-c1"><img src="/content/dam/kidshealth/menu-promo-father-son-talking.jpeg"/></span> <span class="khsr2-r-c2"> <span class="khsr2-2-c2-heading">Getting Help for Depression</span> <span class="khsr2-r-c2-r1">If you feel depressed or alone, talking to a parent is a good place to start.</span> <span class="khsr2-r-c2-r2 tertiary-link-partial">Tips for talking</span> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="kh-section-subnav-row3 desk-nav-only"> <div class="khsr3-left"> <ul> <li><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/teens/">Teens Home</a></li> <li><a class="tertiary-link" href="/es/teens/" lang="es">Sitio para adolescentes</a></li> <li><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/teens/all-categories.html">All Categories</a></li> <li><a class="tertiary-link" href="/en/teens/centers/center.html">All Wellness Centers</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="khsr3-right"> <div class="tabTrap" id="tabTrap_teens" tabindex="-1"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="kh-search-area" role="dialog" aria-label="Search" class="closedSearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="get" role="search" action="/en/searchresults.html" actionpath="/en/searchresults.html" class="container-width noSuggs"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/><label for="q" class="hideOffScreen">Search KidsHealth library</label> <div class="easy-autocomplete" style="width: 100px;"> <input type="text" maxlength="256" id="q" name="q" placeholder="Search" onfocus="clearText(this)" onblur="clearText(this)" role="combobox" autocomplete="off" lang="en" required="required" aria-expanded="false" tabindex="0"/> <div class="easy-autocomplete-container" id="eac-container-q"> <ul role="listbox"></ul> </div> </div> <script> </script> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="kidshealth"/><input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"/><input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"/> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"/> <div id="searchSelectBox"> <select id="searchLangSelector" name="lang"> <option value="english" id="kh-search-lang-sel-en" selected="selected">English</option> <option value="spanish" id="kh-search-lang-sel-es">Espa&#241ol</option> </select> </div> <input type="button" value="search" id="searchButton" role="button" onclick="searchurl();"/>  <div id="validationfield"> <span id="validationMessage"> </span> </div> <div id="suggsAnnounce" aria-live="polite" role="status" class="hideOffScreen"></div> </form> <div class="tabTrap" id="tabTrap_search" tabindex="-1"></div> </div> <script>NS_CSM_td=456477926;NS_CSM_pd=275116665;NS_CSM_u="/clm10";NS_CSM_col="AAAAAAXq6PRqtoqZ+U+oulnCdWoJgnEMCBR1o2fqAoXZSr4aroKlf++KLLoZOJoJL2X3qlg=";</script><script type="text/javascript">function sendTimingInfoInit(){setTimeout(sendTimingInfo,0)}function sendTimingInfo(){var wp=window.performance;if(wp){var c1,c2,t;c1=wp.timing;if(c1){var cm={};cm.ns=c1.navigationStart;if((t=c1.unloadEventStart)>0)cm.us=t;if((t=c1.unloadEventEnd)>0)cm.ue=t;if((t=c1.redirectStart)>0)cm.rs=t;if((t=c1.redirectEnd)>0)cm.re=t;cm.fs=c1.fetchStart;cm.dls=c1.domainLookupStart;cm.dle=c1.domainLookupEnd;cm.cs=c1.connectStart;cm.ce=c1.connectEnd;if((t=c1.secureConnectionStart)>0)cm.scs=t;cm.rqs=c1.requestStart;cm.rss=c1.responseStart;cm.rse=c1.responseEnd;cm.dl=c1.domLoading;cm.di=c1.domInteractive;cm.dcls=c1.domContentLoadedEventStart;cm.dcle=c1.domContentLoadedEventEnd;cm.dc=c1.domComplete;if((t=c1.loadEventStart)>0)cm.ls=t;if((t=c1.loadEventEnd)>0)cm.le=t;cm.tid=NS_CSM_td;cm.pid=NS_CSM_pd;cm.ac=NS_CSM_col;var xhttp=new XMLHttpRequest();if(xhttp){var JSON=JSON||{};JSON.stringify=JSON.stringify||function(ob){var t=typeof(ob);if(t!="object"||ob===null){if(t=="string")ob='"'+ob+'"';return String(ob);}else{var n,v,json=[],arr=(ob&&ob.constructor==Array);for(n in ob){v=ob[n];t=typeof(v);if(t=="string")v='"'+v+'"';else if(t=="object"&&v!==null)v=JSON.stringify(v);json.push((arr?"":'"'+n+'":')+String(v));}return(arr?"[":"{")+String(json)+(arr?"]":"}");}};xhttp.open("POST",NS_CSM_u,true);xhttp.send(JSON.stringify(cm));}}}}if(window.addEventListener)window.addEventListener("load",sendTimingInfoInit,false);else if(window.attachEvent)window.attachEvent("onload",sendTimingInfoInit);else window.onload=sendTimingInfoInit;</script></header> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <main id="khMSMain" class="content-width"> <div id="khContentTitleBlock"> <nav aria-label="Breadcrumbs"> <div id="breadcrumbsContainer"> <ul id="breadcrumbs"> <li> <a href="/"> KidsHealth</a></li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/"> For Teens</a></li> <li> Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)</li> </ul> </div> </nav> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar"> <h1>Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)</h1> </div> <div id="languagePairLink" class="rs_skip" lang="es"> en español: <a href="/es/teens/conjunctivitis.html">Conjuntivitis</a> </div> <div> <div id="reviewerBoxTop"> <div id="reviewedByTop"> Medically reviewed by: <a href="https://www.nemours.org/find-a-doctor/26538-rachel-schare-consultative-pediatrics-orlando.html" target="_blank">Rachel S. Schare, MD</a> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div id="departmentSpecialty"> <a class="rev-multi" target="_blank"></a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="khcontent_article" class="khLeft"> <span class="ISI_MESSAGE"></span> <ul id="msArticleControls"> <li class="ac-readspeaker"> <div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"> <a onclick="rsUsed('1')" rel="nofollow" class="rsbtn_play rsen" title="Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker" href="//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&readid=khcontent_article&url=kidshealth.org/en/teens/conjunctivitis.html" data-rsevent-id="rs_886605" role="button"> <span class="rsbtn_left rspart"> <span class="rsbtn_text"> <span class="readspeakerLauncher">Listen</span> </span> </span> <span class="rsbtn_right rsplay rspart"></span> </a> <div class="rsbtn_exp rsimg rspart"> <span class="rsbtn_box"> <button onclick="javascript:void(0);" class="rsbtn_pause rsimg rspart rsbutton" title="Play" data-rsphrase-pause="Pause" data-rsphrase-play="Play" data-rsevent-id="rs_249118"> <span class="rsbtn_btnlabel">Play</span> </button> <button onclick="javascript:void(0);" class="rsbtn_stop rsimg rspart rsbutton" title="Stop" data-rsevent-id="rs_658053"> <span class="rsbtn_btnlabel">Stop</span> </button> <span class="rsbtn_progress_container rspart" data-readspeaker-slider-id-="data-readspeaker-slider-parent-data-readspeaker-slider-id-10734" data-rsevent-id="rs_215867" style=""> <span class="rsbtn_progress_played" style="width: 0%;"></span> <span data-readspeaker-slider-id-="data-readspeaker-slider-id-10734" class="rsbtn_progress_handle rsimg" data-rsevent-id="rs_948321" style="left: 0px;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" role="slider" class="keyLink" style="display:block; border:0;" title="Seek bar" aria-label="Seek bar" aria-orientation="horizontal" aria-valuemin="0" aria-valuemax="100" aria-valuenow="0" data-rsevent-id="rs_781294"> </a></span></span> <button onclick="ariaVolume();" onfocus="ariaVolume();" onblur="ariaVolume();" onfocusout="ariaVolume();" id="thisRSVolume" class="rsbtn_volume rsimg rspart rsbutton" title="Volume" aria-expanded="false" tabindex="0" data-rsevent-id="rs_224875"> <span class="rsbtn_btnlabel">Volume</span> </button> <span class="rsbtn_volume_container rspart" id="thisRSVolumneContainer" style="display: none"> <span class="rsbtn_volume_slider" data-readspeaker-slider-id-="data-readspeaker-slider-parent-data-readspeaker-slider-id-14810" data-rsevent-id="rs_323957"><span data-readspeaker-slider-id-="data-readspeaker-slider-id-14810" class="rsbtn_volume_handle rsimg" data-rsevent-id="rs_195035"><a href="javascript:void(0);" role="slider" class="keyLink" style="display:block; border:0;" title="Change volume" aria-label="Change volume" aria-orientation="vertical" aria-valuemin="0" aria-valuemax="5" aria-valuenow="5" data-rsevent-id="rs_455317"> </a></span></span> </span> <a href="//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&readid=khcontent_article&url=kidshealth.org/en/teens/conjunctivitis.html&audiofilename=KidsHealth_&save=1" target="rs" class="kh_rs_download rsimg rspart rsbutton" title="mp3"> <span class="rsbtn_btnlabel">mp3</span> </a> <button onclick="javascript:void(0);" class="rsbtn_settings rsimg rspart rsbutton" title="Settings" data-rsevent-id="rs_442984"> <span class="rsbtn_btnlabel">Settings</span> </button> <button class="rsbtn_closer rsimg rspart rsbutton" title="Close Player" data-rsevent-id="rs_377229"> <span class="rsbtn_btnlabel">Close Player</span> </button> <span class="rsdefloat"></span> </span> </div> </div> </li> <li class="ac-textSize"> <div id="kh-text-sizer"> <button id="kh-text-sizer-largest" onclick="textSizer('3');"> <span class="hideOffScreen">Larger text size</span> </button> <button id="kh-text-sizer-larger" onclick="textSizer('2');"> <span class="hideOffScreen">Large text size</span> </button> <button id="kh-text-sizer-regular" onclick="textSizer('1');"> <span class="hideOffScreen">Regular text size</span> </button> </div> </li> <li class="ac-print"> <div id="kh-print-button"> <a onclick='printWindow1(this.href); return false; rel="nofollow"' tabindex="0"> <span class="printLabel">Print</span> </a> </div> </li> </ul>   <div> <div class="cmp-container"> <div class="rte-image">  <h3>What Is Pinkeye?</h3> <p>You might know the eye infection <strong>conjunctivitis</strong> (pronounced: kun-junk-tih-VY-tus) as pinkeye. It's common in young kids because it's usually contagious and tends to sweep through preschools and playgrounds. But even teens and adults can get pinkeye.</p> <p>The good news is that pinkeye is a minor infection and although it might look bad, it's not usually serious.</p> <h3>What Causes Pinkeye?</h3> <p>Pinkeye is an inflammation of the <strong>conjunctiva</strong>, the white part of the eye and the inner eyelids. The condition can be either <strong>infectious</strong> (it can spread to other people) or <strong>noninfectious</strong>.</p> <p>When people talk about pinkeye, they usually mean the infectious kind. It's often caused by the same <a href="/en/teens/care-about-germs.html">bacteria and viruses</a> responsible for colds and other infections, including <a href="/en/teens/swimmers-ear.html">ear infections</a>, <a href="/en/teens/sinusitis.html">sinus infections</a>, and sore throats.</p> <p>It's also possible for the same types of bacteria that cause the <a href="/en/teens/std.html">sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)</a> <a href="/en/teens/std-chlamydia.html">chlamydia</a> and <a href="/en/teens/std-gonorrhea.html">gonorrhea</a> to cause conjunctivitis. If someone touches an infected person's genitals and then rubs his or her own eye or touches a contact lens, the infection can spread to the eye.</p> <p>Some kinds of pinkeye are noninfectious, such as:</p> <ul> <li>allergic conjunctivitis, caused by an <a href="/en/teens/allergies.html">allergic reaction</a></li> <li>irritant conjunctivitis, caused by anything that irritates the eyes, such as air pollution or chlorine in pools</li> </ul> <h3>What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Pinkeye?</h3> <p>The very pink or red coloring that gives the infection its nickname is a telltale sign of pinkeye. It's also usual to have discomfort in the eye, which may feel itchy or gritty. Often, there's some discharge from the eye, and pain and swelling of the conjunctiva. Pinkeye can affect one or both eyes.</p> </div> <div class="rawhtml"> <p><img title="illustration" alt="illustration" name="5377-CONJUNCTIVITISPR_A_ENIL.JPG" src="/content/dam/kidshealth/en/illustrations/ConjunctivitisPR-A-enIL.jpg"></p> </div> <div class="rte-image">  <p>It can be hard to tell whether the infection is caused by a virus or bacteria. In general, the discharge associated with viral conjunctivitis is watery, whereas it will be thicker and more pus-like when the infection is caused by bacteria. When you wake up in the morning, your eyelids may be stuck together (don't be alarmed, though — cleaning your eyes with a warm washcloth will loosen the dried crusts).</p> <p>Itchiness and tearing are common with allergic conjunctivitis.</p> <h3>Is Pinkeye Contagious?</h3> <p>Yes, if it's caused by bacteria or a virus. Pinkeye that's caused by bacteria can spread to others as soon as symptoms appear and for as long as there's discharge from the eye — or until 24 hours after antibiotics are started. Conjunctivitis that's caused by a virus is generally contagious before symptoms appear and can remain so as long as the symptoms last.</p> <p>Allergic conjunctivitis and irritant conjunctivitis are not contagious.</p> <h6>p</h6> <h3>How Is Pinkeye Treated?</h3> <p>Because it can be hard to tell which kind of conjunctivitis a person has, it's wise to visit a doctor if your eyes are red and irritated.</p> <p>Bacterial conjunctivitis is usually treated with prescription antibiotic drops or ointment. Drops — the form of treatment most commonly prescribed for teens — are used up to four times a day. They don't hurt, although they may cause a brief stinging sensation. Even though your eyes should feel and look better after a couple of days, it's important to use the drops for as long as the doctor has prescribed. The infection may come back if you stop too soon.</p> <p>If a virus is causing conjunctivitis, antibiotic drops will not help. The eye infection will get better on its own as the body fights off the virus.</p> <p>If you have allergic conjunctivitis, your doctor may prescribe anti-allergy eyedrops or medicine in pill form.</p> <h3>Can Pinkeye Be Prevented?</h3> <p>Because infectious conjunctivitis is highly contagious, wash your hands after interacting with anyone who has the infection. Don't share potentially infected items like washcloths, towels, gauze, or cotton balls. This can be difficult among family members, so just do the best you can.</p> <p>If you have pinkeye, it's important to <a href="/en/kids/wash-hands.html">wash your hands</a> often, especially after touching your eyes. The infection can easily spread from one eye to the other on contaminated hands or tissues.</p> <p>It's also wise not to share cosmetics, especially eye makeup. Bacteria can hang out on beauty products, so avoid using the testers at makeup counters directly on your eyes. And if you've already had a bout of pinkeye, throw away all your eye makeup and splurge on new stuff (but don't start using your new products until the infection is completely gone).</p> <p>If you wear contact lenses and you have pinkeye, your doctor or eye doctor may recommend that you not wear contact lenses while infected. After the infection is gone, clean your lenses carefully. Be sure to disinfect the lenses and case at least twice before wearing them again. If you wear disposable contact lenses, throw away your current pair and use a new pair.</p> <p>If you know that you're prone to allergic conjunctivitis, limit allergy triggers in the home by keeping windows and doors closed on days when pollen is heavy and by not letting dust accumulate. Irritant conjunctivitis can only be prevented by avoiding the irritating causes.</p> <h3>How Can I Feel Better?</h3> <p>Placing cool or warm packs or washcloths over the infected eye (or eyes) can help. You can also take acetaminophen, if necessary. Clean the infected eye carefully with warm water and fresh, clean gauze or cotton balls.</p> <p>Keep track of your symptoms, keep your hands clean, visit your doctor as needed, and follow your treatment instructions carefully. Within a week, your eyes should be feeling better.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy"><strong>Medically reviewed by: </strong><a href="https://www.nemours.org/find-a-doctor/26538-rachel-schare-consultative-pediatrics-orlando.html" class="vcard-link" target="_blank">Rachel S. Schare, MD</a> </div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: November 2020</div> </div> <span class="ISI_MESSAGE">  </span> </div> <div id="khcontent_article_aside" class="khRight"> <div> <aside aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <div id="kh-mott-box"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader" class="JSMott">More on this topic for:</h2> <ul id="kh-mott-tabs" role="tablist" class="JSMott"> <li data-section="teens" role="presentation"><button type="button" role="tab" aria-controls="teens_panel" id="teens_tab" tabindex="-1" aria-selected="false">Teens</button></li> </ul> <div id="teens_panel" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <h2 class="sansJSMott">More on this topic<br/>For Teens</h2> <ul id="kh-mott-teens-links" class="kh-mott-links"> <li> <a href="/en/teens/visual-impairment.html"> Visual Impairment </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/stye.html"> Styes </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/vision-care.html"> Taking Care of Your Vision </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/std.html"> STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/care-about-germs.html"> Germs: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, and Protozoa </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/eyes.html"> Eyes </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/handwashing.html"> Hand Washing: Why It's So Important </a> </li> </ul> </div> <button id="kh-mott-toggle" data-expanded="false">View more</button> </div> </aside> </div> <aside aria-label="Nemours Message"> <div id="kh-partner-ad" class="rs_skip rs_preserve"> <div class="kh-inline"><iframe title="Partner Message" id="mobad_in_if" src="/content/kidshealth/us/misc/inline_ad.html" style="display: block; border: 0px none;" scrolling="no"> </iframe></div> </div> </aside> </div> </div> <script> shPage = window.location.href; //shPage = '/en/parents/'; shTitle = "Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)"; shDesc = ""; //fbID = '87302104747'; //fbID = '1188285045291657'; fbShareLoc = 'https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+shPage; //fbShareLoc = 'https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id='+fbID+'&display=popup&href='+shPage; twShareLoc = 'https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text='+shTitle+'&url='+shPage; pinShareLoc = 'https://pinterest.com/pin-builder/?url='+shPage+'' function fbShare() { window.open(fbShareLoc,'fbPop','width=600,height=400,scrollbars=auto'); } function twShare() { window.open(twShareLoc,'twPop','width=600,height=400,scrollbars=auto'); } function pinShare() { window.open(pinShareLoc,'twPop','width=920,height=480,scrollbars=auto'); } </script> <aside aria-label="Share this page"> <div id="kh-sharing"> <label for="kh-share"> Share: </label> <ul id="kh-share"> <li> <button onclick="fbShare();" class="kh-share kh-facebook"> <span class="srText"> Share to Facebook </span> </button> </li> <li> <button onclick="twShare();" class="kh-share kh-twitter"> <span class="srText"> Share to Twitter </span> </button> </li> <li> <button onclick="pinShare();" class="kh-share kh-pinterest"> <span class="srText"> Share to Pinterest </span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> </aside> </main> <span class="medicalcoding" style="display: none;">/content/kidshealth/misc/medicalcodes/teens/articles/conjunctivitis</span> </div> <div class="footer"> <footer> <div id="kh-footer"> <div class="kh-container"> <div id="footerRows" class="container-width"> <div id="footerRow1"> <nav aria-label="site info"> <div id="footer-col1"> <h2 id="col1H" class="footerColumnHeading">Who We Are</h2> <ul id="col1UL" class="footerList"> <li> <a href="/en/teens/about.html">About Us</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="footer-col2"> <h2 id="col2H" class="footerColumnHeading">Working With Us</h2> <ul id="col2UL" class="footerList"> <li> <a href="/en/parents/partners.html">Partners</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/editorial-policy.html">Editorial Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/permissions-guidelines.html">Permissions Guidelines</a> </li> <li> <a class="footerNewWindow" href="https://nemours.mediaroom.com/journalist-resources" target="_blank">Media Requests <span class="hideOffScreen">This link will open in a new window</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/general-information/contact-us">Contact Us</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="footer-col3"> <h2 id="col3H" class="footerColumnHeading">Legal & Privacy</h2> <ul id="col3UL" class="footerList"> <li> <a href="/en/teens/policy.html">Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/nondiscrimination.html">Notice of Nondiscrimination</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="footer-col4"> <h2 id="col4H" class="footerColumnHeading">All Categories</h2> <ul id="col4UL" class="footerList"> <li> <a href="/en/parents/all-categories.html">For Parents</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/all-categories.html">For Kids</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/all-categories.html">For Teens</a> </li> </ul> <h2 id="col4bH" class="footerColumnHeading">Wellness Centers</h2> <ul id="col4bUL" class="footerList"> <li> <a href="/en/parents/centers/center.html">For Parents</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/centers/center.html">For Kids</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/centers/center.html">For Teens</a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </div> <div id="footerRow2"> <div id="ourSocials"> <ul id="socialRow"> <li id="khFB"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nemourskidshealth/" target="_blank"><img src="/content/dam/kh-reskin/iconFacebookWhite.svg" alt="Nemours KidsHealth on Facebook"/></a></li> <li id="khX"><a href="https://x.com/nemours" target="_blank"><img src="/content/dam/kh-reskin/iconTwitterWhite.svg" alt="Nemours KidsHealth on X"/></a></li> <li id="khYT"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NemoursKidsHealth" target="_blank"><img src="/content/dam/kh-reskin/iconYoutubeWhite.svg" alt="Nemours KidsHealth on YouTube"/></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="footerRow3"> <div id="fr3C1"> <div id="footerLogo"> <a href="https://www.nemours.org/?external_id=RE2350803010600" id="kh-nemours-footer-logo" target="_blank"> <img src="/content/dam/kidshealth/logo-nemours_KidsHealth.svg" alt="Nemours"/> </a> </div> </div> <div id="fr3C2"> <div id="kh-footer-text" class="container-width"><p>Note: All information on Nemours® KidsHealth® is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2024. The Nemours Foundation. Nemours Children's Health®, KidsHealth®, and Well Beyond Medicine® are registered trademarks of The Nemours Foundation. All rights reserved. Images sourced by The Nemours Foundation and Getty Images.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="kh-leaderboard-ad"> <aside aria-label="Nemours Message"> <iframe id="mobad_if" title="Mobile Overlay Partner Ad" src="/content/kidshealth/us/misc/ad_mobile_overlay.html" style="display: none; border: 0 none;" scrolling="no"> </iframe> </aside> </div> </div> </footer> <script> $(function() { var thisPage = window.location.pathname; if(thisPage.indexOf('contact')>-1) { // contact page - don't change } else { if(typeof(Storage) !== "undefined") { localStorage.setItem('originurl',thisPage); } } }); </script></div> </div> <script> // Define variables for ReadSpeaker theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g, "_"); RSLanguage = "en_us"; </script> <script src="//f1-na.readspeaker.com/script/5202/ReadSpeaker.js?pids=embhl"></script> <div id="ariaAnnouncements" aria-live="polite" tabindex="-1" style="visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px;"> </div>  <script type="text/javascript" src="/etc.clientlibs/nitro/clientlibs/clientlib-site.js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) (for Teens) | Nemours KidsHealth