| Signs and Symptoms |
- Eyes may feel itchy, sore, burning, scratchy, or gritty.
- Increased tear production.
- The whites of the eyes are pink or red.
- Crusting of eyelids or lashes, especially in the morning.
- They eyelid may also be slightly swollen.
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| How it Spreads |
- Conjunctivitis caused by viruses and bacteria can spread easily from person-to-person.
- Hands become contaminated when they touch infected eyes.
- By touching surfaces contaminated by eye, oral, or nasal discharge and then touching one's eyes.
- It is spread when tears or discharge from an infected person's eyes are touched and then:
- Germs are transferred by the fingers to the eyes of another person, or
- Germs are transferred to objects (e.g., face cloths or pillowcases) that touch another person's eyes
- It is not contagious if it is caused by irritants or allergies.
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| Bacterial Conjunctivitis |
- Caused by a bacterial infection of the eye.
- Causes red or pink, itchy, and painful eye(s).
- Green or yellow pus (discharge) may cause eyes to be crusted shut in the morning.
- Very contagious.
- More common in kids than adults. Sometimes occurs with an ear infection.
- Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment to treat the infection.
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| Viral Conjunctivitis |
- Caused by a viral infection of the eye; viruses that also cause colds and sore throats.
- Causes pink, swollen, watering eye(s), and sensitivity to light.
- Very contagious.
- Begins in one eye and may progress to the other eye.
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| Allergic Conjunctivitis |
- Caused by allergens such as pollen from trees, plants, grasses and weeds; dust mites, mold, animal dander, medicines, or cosmetics.
- Causes itching, redness, and excessive tearing, usually in both eyes. May also occur with symptoms of allergies (e.g., itchy nose, sneezing, scratchy throat, or asthma).
- Not contagious from person to person.
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| Conjunctivitis Caused by Irritants |
- Caused by a foreign body in the eye or contact with smoke, dust, fumes, or chemicals.
- Can occur when contact lenses are worn longer than recommended or not properly cleaned.
- Not contagious from person to person.
- Can produce watery eyes and mucus discharge.
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| Prevention |
- Wash discharge from around the eyes several times a day, from the inside out and in one direction only. Use a clean part of the cloth each time.
- Wash hands often with soap and water, especially before and after touching or wiping the infected eyes(s), nose, and mouth. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Do not share things such as towels, facecloths, pillowcases, eye drops, eye or face makeup/brushes, contact lenses/storage cases, and eyeglasses.
- Do not use the same eye drop bottle for your infected and non-infected eyes.
- Do not use swimming pools.
- Clean and disinfect objects that are commonly touched by hands or faces, such as tables, doorknobs, telephones, cots, cuddle blankets, and toys.
- Clean, store, and replace contact lenses as instructed by an eye doctor.
- To avoid re-infection, throw away and replace any eye or face makeup/brushes you used while infected and clean eyeglasses that were used while infected.
- Avoid touching or rubbing eyes.
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Exclude if there is eye discharge and see a primary healthcare provider. If determined by the healthcare provider to be bacterial, children may return after 24 hours of appropriate antibiotic treatment.
No exclusion necessary if there is no eye discharge.
Follow the direction of your healthcare provider or occupational health at your workplace.
Note: Exclusion guidelines may differ for healthcare workers or food handlers.
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