How long does pink eye last untreated

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is when the conjunctiva (the membrane covering the eyeball) becomes inflamed or infected. Your eyes will likely be red, itchy, watery, and crusty if you have pink eye.

Pink eye is primarily caused by viruses, bacteria, allergens, or other irritants. The infection usually lasts one to three weeks, depending on the cause.

This article explains pink eye types, diagnosis, and treatment.

Types of Pink Eye

Pink eye occurs when something irritates the eye. Causes include a virus, bacteria, allergen, or some other irritant.

Viral Pink Eye

A virus causes viral pink eye. The adenovirus (responsible for the common cold) typically causes pink eye. It spreads the way many other viruses spread through exposure to someone else's cough or sneeze.

Viral pink eye can also spread within your body. For example, if you have a cold or other upper respiratory infection, the infection can move through your connected mucous membranes (from your nose to your tear ducts).

Symptoms of viral pink eye include:

• Burning
• Redness
• Watery discharge

Most cases of viral pink eye are mild and clear up within one to two weeks. However, it can sometimes linger for as long as three weeks.

Bacterial Pink Eye

A bacterial infection causes bacterial pink eye. Staphylococcal or streptococcalbacteria are often responsible for pink eye. This bacteria enters your eye through physical contact, rubbing your eye, or using contaminated makeup or other beauty products.

Symptoms of bacterial pink eye include:

• Soreness
• Redness
• Sticky pus that oozes from the eye

Bacterial pink eye can be mild and go away on its own in a few days. However, it can take up to two weeks to completely clear and may require antibiotics.

How Long Does Pink Eye Last?

Pink eye generally lasts between one to three weeks. Both viral and bacterial infections can be mild and go away independently. However, bacterial infections may require antibiotics to clear fully. In addition, allergies and chemical irritants can cause pink eye. Usually, removing the allergen or irritant resolves the problem.

Diagnosing Pink Eye

A healthcare provider can diagnose pink eye through a physical exam and evaluate your medical history and symptoms.

Sometimes they will also collect a sample of your eye discharge to have a lab evaluate what type of pathogen is causing your infection to determine the best treatment. A culture isn't always necessary, though, since certain clinical signs indicate an infection is viral, bacterial, or allergenic.

Treatment

Often, pink eye will resolve in a couple of weeks. However, other times it requires treatment. Overall, pink eye treatment aims to reduce discomfort, resolve the infection, and prevent it from spreading.

How you resolve the infection depends on what is causing your pink eye.

• Bacterial pink eye: A healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotic eye drops to clear up the infection. Antibiotics often start to help within a few days.
• Viral pink eye: A virus needs to run its course, which often takes one to two weeks. You can relieve discomfort through various home remedies like warm compresses and artificial tears.
• Allergic or irritant pink eye: Flushing the eyes to remove the allergen and avoiding re-exposure is key. A healthcare provider may suggest non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, topical steroids, or antihistamines.

Prevention

Pink eye is very contagious. Therefore, the best way to prevent infection is through good hygiene practices, like hand washing and avoiding touching your eyes. To prevent pink eye, consider the following:

• Wash hands frequently
• Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes
• Avoid sharing personal care items with others (eye drops, makeup, or facial cleansers)
• Wash pillowcases, towels, and washcloths in hot water
• Keep eyeglasses clean
• Clean, store, and replace contact lenses as directed
• Avoid public swimming pools
  

What to Expect

Often, pink eye resolves on its own within a couple of weeks. Still, it's good to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or healthcare provider. They will be able to diagnose what is causing your infection and provide a treatment plan to offer relief.

Summary

Viruses, bacteria, allergens, and irritants cause pink eye. This infection leads to inflammation, redness, itching, and eye discharge. Usually, pink eye resolves on its own in one to three weeks. However, bacterial infections may require antibiotic eye drops. In addition, comfort measures like cool compresses and artificial tears may provide relief.

A Word From Verywell

If you have allergies or an upper respiratory infection, it can sometimes be hard to tell if itchy, irritated eyes are a side effect of your ailment or due to pink eye. In this case, discharge or crusting may tell you something else is happening. Since pink eye is highly contagious, keep it from spreading by frequently washing your hands, avoiding touching your eyes, and not sharing towels with family members while you are sick.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What helps pink eye go away faster?

  The best way to encourage pink eye to heal is to take care of yourself and use good hygiene practices. You may require antibiotic eye drops in some cases of bacterial pink eye. Clean the discharge around your eye with a cotton ball and apply cool compresses to combat pain and swelling.

• How long are you contagious with pink eye?

  Pink eye is highly contagious and spreads quickly. If you have pink eye, you are contagious for as long as you have symptoms. If you have bacterial pink eye and are using an antibiotic, you are contagious until you have been using antibiotics for 24 hours. Pink eye caused by allergens and irritants is not contagious.

• Will pink eye go away on its own?

  Pink eye often goes away on its own, usually in one to three weeks. However, sometimes bacterial pink eye requires antibiotic eye drops. You can also use at-home measures like a warm compress and artificial tears to alleviate discomfort while you heal.

By Kathi Valeii
As a freelance writer, Kathi has experience writing both reported features and essays for national publications on the topics of healthcare, advocacy, and education. The bulk of her work centers on parenting, education, health, and social justice.  

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