When your eye is red and crusty, two weeks feels like forever. And the question we hear most isn't really how long will this last, it's when can my kid go back to school. Here's how the timeline breaks down by type, and what you can do to keep it from dragging on.
How long does each type of pink eye last?
The American Academy of Ophthalmology says conjunctivitis usually goes away on its own within one to two weeks. The type makes a big difference in the details.
| Type | Typical course | Stays contagious | What helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viral | Often worst in the first few days, then fades over one to two weeks | While eyes are red with discharge | Cool compresses, artificial tears |
| Bacterial | Often improves within a few days of starting drops | While eyes are red with discharge | Antibiotic eye drops |
| Allergic | As long as you're exposed to the trigger | Never contagious | Allergy eye drops, avoiding triggers |
Not sure which one you have? Our guide on how you get pink eye covers the signs of each type.
How long does pink eye last without treatment?
Viral pink eye usually runs its course in one to two weeks without any medicine, though some cases take a little longer. Mild bacterial pink eye can also clear on its own, but antibiotic drops tend to shorten it and help stop the spread. Allergic pink eye lasts as long as you keep running into the trigger.
How long does pink eye last with treatment?
With antibiotic eye drops, bacterial pink eye often starts getting better within a few days. Keep using the drops for as long as the doctor prescribed, even once your eye looks clear. Allergic pink eye usually calms down quickly with allergy drops. Antibiotics don't work on viral pink eye, so treatment there is about comfort while it heals.
How long is pink eye contagious?
Viral and bacterial pink eye are contagious as long as your eyes are red and producing discharge. The AAO's guidance is simple: don't return to school, work or the gym until your eyes are no longer red with discharge.
Allergic pink eye isn't contagious at any point, so there's no reason to stay home for it.
When can you go back to work or school?
The CDC says you may be able to return with your doctor's okay once you have no fever or other symptoms. If your job or school involves close contact with others, staying home a little longer is the safer call.
Some schools and daycares have their own rules, so check with them. If you need a note, a quick visit or a $59 TeleVisit usually covers it.
Does pink eye go away on its own?
Viral pink eye usually does, and antibiotics won't speed it up. Mild bacterial pink eye sometimes clears without treatment too, but drops tend to shorten it and help it stop spreading.
That's why we'd rather take a look than have you wait it out. If it's bacterial, you'll feel better sooner and your family is less likely to catch it.
What makes pink eye last longer?
A few habits keep it hanging around, or let it bounce back after it seemed gone.
- Rubbing your eyes, which spreads it to the other eye
- Wearing contact lenses before your eyes are clear
- Reusing eye makeup, towels or pillowcases from when you were sick
- Using old or shared eye drops
- Not finishing antibiotic drops once you feel better
The AAO also suggests throwing out the eye drop bottle once you've recovered, so you don't reinfect yourself.
When is pink eye at its worst?
For most people, the first few days are the hardest. Redness, discharge and that gritty feeling tend to peak early, then ease up day by day.
Viral pink eye often starts in one eye and moves to the other a few days later, which can make it feel like it's getting worse when it's really just running its course.
Can you speed up pink eye recovery?
You can't rush a virus, but you can stop making it worse and help your eyes feel better while they heal.
- Use a cool, wet washcloth a few times a day.
- Use artificial tears to soothe the gritty feeling.
- Keep your hands away from your eyes.
- Wear glasses instead of contacts.
- Use a fresh towel and pillowcase every day.
- If you were prescribed drops, use every dose.
How do you know pink eye is going away?
The redness fades, there's less discharge and you wake up without crusted lashes. The gritty feeling usually goes last.
If one eye clears and the other gets worse, that's often just the infection moving across. If both eyes get worse after a week, see a doctor.
What if pink eye isn't getting better with drops?
Antibiotic drops only work on bacterial pink eye. If you've used them for a few days without improvement, the cause may be a virus or an allergy instead, or something else entirely.
That's worth a recheck. We'll take another look and adjust the plan, whether that means allergy drops, comfort care or a referral to an eye specialist.
When should you see a doctor?
See a doctor if your symptoms last longer than one to two weeks, you have real eye pain, your vision gets blurry, light hurts your eyes or the discharge is thick and yellow or green. Newborns with any pink eye symptoms should be seen right away.
Our same day pink eye treatment is available at both clinics. If both eyes itch every spring, look into allergy care, and if the pink eye showed up with a cold, our cold and flu care can treat both at once.
How should you care for your eyes while pink eye heals?
Good home care won't make pink eye disappear overnight, but it eases the itching and burning and keeps it from spreading to your other eye or your family.
- Use a cool or warm compress, whichever feels better, with a clean cloth each time
- Use artificial tears to soothe dry, gritty eyes
- Wipe discharge from the inside corner out, using a fresh tissue for each eye
- Wash your hands before and after touching your eyes
- Skip contact lenses until your eyes are clear
Can your child go to daycare or school with pink eye?
Daycares and schools set their own pink eye rules, so call ahead if your child woke up with red, crusty eyes. Some ask for a doctor's note or a set amount of time on antibiotic drops before kids come back.
A quick visit or a $59 TeleVisit gets your child checked and gets you a school note if one is needed, so you aren't stuck guessing.
How can you tell if pink eye is getting worse?
Most pink eye improves a little every day. Get seen the same day if you notice any of these:
- Eye pain that is getting stronger, not just itching
- Blurry vision that doesn't clear when you blink
- Bright light hurting your eyes
- Swelling, redness or warmth spreading to the eyelid or around the eye
- A fever along with the red eye
Swelling and redness around the eye with a fever can be a sign of an infection in the tissue around the eye, which needs prompt treatment. Our pink eye care is available at both clinics.
Why does pink eye seem to come back every spring?
If your pink eye returns at the same time each year and both eyes itch more than they hurt, allergies are the likely cause. Allergic pink eye isn't contagious, but it can last for weeks while pollen is high. In Central Florida, tree pollen peaks in late winter and spring and grass pollen carries on through summer, so some people deal with itchy eyes for months.
Allergy eye drops, a cool compress and keeping windows closed on high pollen days help a lot. If it keeps coming back, our allergy care can help you get ahead of it.
Frequently asked questions
Is pink eye worse in the morning?
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Often, yes. Discharge builds up overnight and dries on your lashes, so your eyes may be crusted shut when you wake up. Soften the crust with a warm, wet washcloth, wipe from the inside corner out and wash your hands afterward.
How fast do antibiotic eye drops work for pink eye?
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Many people notice bacterial pink eye starting to improve within a few days of using antibiotic drops. Keep using them for as long as your doctor prescribed, even after your eye looks better, so the infection doesn't come back.
Can pink eye come back after it clears?
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Yes. You can reinfect yourself with old eye makeup, contact lenses or eye drops you used while sick, or catch it again from someone in your home. Allergic pink eye also returns whenever you're exposed to your trigger again.
Should I throw away my makeup after pink eye?
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Yes. Throw out mascara, eyeliner and any eye makeup you used while you had pink eye, since it can carry the infection back to your eyes. Replace contact lenses and cases too, and wash brushes in hot, soapy water.
This article is for general information and isn't a substitute for medical advice. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.
