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What Is Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)?Bacterial pinkeye stops being contagious shortly after you start antibiotics, but viral pinkeye may be contagious for up to two weeks. Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelids and the whites of the eyes (called the sclera). There are five main types of conjunctivitis:
What Are Symptoms of Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)?Symptoms of pink eye (conjunctivitis) include:
See an eye specialist (ophthalmologist or optometrist) if you suspect pink eye and have the following signs or symptoms that may indicate a more serious condition:
What Causes Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)?Causes of pink eye (conjunctivitis) include:
IMAGESSee ImagesHow Is Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) Diagnosed?Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is diagnosed with a physical examination of the eye. The diagnosis of pink eye is often made based on the presence of symptoms such as eye redness and discharge, and the patient’s vision is normal with no evidence of other eye conditions such as keratitis, iritis, or angle-closure glaucoma. Swabbing the eye for culture, stains, and direct antibody or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is usually only used in uncommon or chronic cases that do not get better on their own or respond to treatment. There is a rapid (10-minute) test for conjunctivitis caused by adenoviruses but it often is not covered by insurance so it is not widely used. What Is the Treatment for Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)?Treatment for pink eye (conjunctivitis) depends on the cause. Viral conjunctivitis treatment:
Bacterial conjunctivitis treatment:
Allergic conjunctivitis treatment:
Toxic conjunctivitis treatment:
Nonspecific conjunctivitis treatment:
Is pink eye contagious once you start antibiotics?Is Pinkeye Contagious? 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.
How do you know when pink eye is no longer contagious?Viral or bacterial pinkeye is contagious. Viral pink eye is contagious before symptoms appear and for as long as symptoms are present. Bacterial pink eye is contagious as long as someone is symptomatic, if there is discharge from the eye, or until 24 hours after starting antibiotics.
How long before antibiotics work on pink eye?Pink eye caused by bacteria will take about 24–48 hours before symptoms improve once a person is on antibiotics. Pink eye caused by a virus takes anywhere from a few days to more than a week to resolve.
Do pink eye drops stop it from being contagious?Bacterial pink eye is highly contagious and is typically treated with antibiotic eye drops. It can spread to others as soon as symptoms appear, and it remains contagious for as long as symptoms remain, or for about 24 hours after starting a course of antibiotics.
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