Learn about conjunctivitis symptoms, treatments, and prevention measures to protect your eyes from viral and bacterial infections.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Symptoms

After infection, symptoms of red eyes develop rapidly within 1–2 days, including eye irritation and discharge. It usually starts in one eye and spreads to the other within 2–3 days. Some patients may develop swollen and tender lymph nodes in front of the ear. The illness typically lasts about 7–14 days and is highly contagious. Certain viral strains can also inflame the cornea, causing severe irritation, blurred vision, and tearing. When the cornea is affected, the disease can persist for months, and white corneal opacities may remain after recovery, gradually fading over several months.

Treatment

There are currently no antiviral medications to cure viral conjunctivitis. Doctors usually prescribe antibiotic eye drops and ointment to prevent secondary bacterial infection, along with oral medication to relieve symptoms. Patients should avoid sharing personal items to prevent spreading the infection. If there is excessive discharge, clean the eyelids using sterile cotton moistened with boiled water. Avoid rinsing the eyes or covering them with patches. If only one eye is affected, apply medication only to the infected eye, as eye drops do not prevent viral infection in the healthy eye.

Prevention

Conjunctivitis has no direct cure, spreads rapidly, and is highly contagious, so prevention is essential. Preventive measures include isolating patients, washing hands frequently, not sharing personal items, avoiding eye rubbing or touching the eyes without clean hands, and not sharing eye drops with others. Do not self-medicate with over-the-counter eye drops, as other eye diseases such as uveitis, keratitis, or glaucoma may present with similar symptoms but require urgent care. If redness develops, consult an ophthalmologist for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.