Viral conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is a highly contagious type of eye infection caused by a virus. It occurs when a viral infection leads to inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane that coats the white part of the eye.
Around 80% of all pink eye cases are viral. Symptoms include eye mucus, light sensitivity, irritation, and redness.
This article goes over the causes and symptoms of viral conjunctivitis and how this condition is diagnosed and treated.
Conjunctiva Anatomy and Function
Viral Conjunctivitis Symptoms
Viral conjunctivitis generally starts in one eye and then spreads to the other. Common symptoms include:
- Pink or red-tinged eyes
- Watery eye discharge, which can include a small amount of mucus
- Mild pain, itchiness, grittiness, eye discomfort, a burning sensation
- Mild light sensitivity
- Crustiness around the eyelids upon waking up
- Swollen eyelids
- Typical symptoms of any viral infection such as a sore throat or a runny nose
Viral conjunctivitis often accompanies the flu and other conditions.
Symptoms of Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
What Are the Causes of Viral Conjunctivitis?
Viral conjunctivitis is most commonly caused by adenoviruses, which also cause the common cold and other upper respiratory infections. Conjunctivitis caused by adenoviruses comes in two forms:
- feverPharyngoconjunctival : Typically found in children and young adults, this type is marked by common cold symptoms like sore throat or headache.
- keratoconjunctivitisEpidemic : This type can be severe and affects the cornea. It can come in the form of watery discharge, hyperemia, chemosis, and ipsilateral lymphadenopathy. It can potentially result in long-term vision problems.
Beyond an adenovirus, your viral conjunctivitis may also be caused by:
- Rubella virus
- Rubeola virus, which causes measles
- Herpes simplex virus
- Varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox and shingles
- Epstein-Barr virus, which also causes infectious mononucleosis (mono)
- Picornaviruses
Viruses are responsible for most cases of infectious conjunctivitis, accounting for up to 80%.
Viral conjunctivitis is extremely contagious. You can get it through direct exposure to someone with an upper respiratory tract infection. Having contact with infectious tears, eye discharge, fecal matter, or respiratory discharges can contaminate hands. You can then get viral conjunctivitis if you rub your eyes with your hands.
Viral conjunctivitis can also spread by large respiratory tract droplets. You can also contract it after getting a cold.
What Causes Goopy Eyes and How to Treat Them
How Is Viral Conjunctivitis Diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will generally be able to diagnose and treat viral conjunctivitis. If your symptoms persist or worsen or you experience serious disruptions in vision, then you may be referred to an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
A healthcare provider can usually pinpoint what is causing your pink eye by examining your eye and asking about your medical history, including how your symptoms presented and if you have had close contact with someone who has conjunctivitis.
How do you know if pink eye is viral or bacterial?
It is not always possible to tell the difference between bacterial and viral pink eye. Your healthcare provider may suspect viral conjunctivitis if your symptoms are tied to a respiratory infection and if the discharge from your affected eye is watery instead of thick.
If your symptoms last two or three weeks or become more serious, your healthcare provider may take a sample of the cells inside your eyelids with a cotton swab and send it to a laboratory to be examined by a pathologist. This is called an eye culture. The pathologist will determine if the conjunctivitis is caused by a virus or bacteria.
How Pink Eye Is Diagnosed
Viral Conjunctivitis Treatment
Since viral conjunctivitis usually goes away on its own, treatment focuses mainly on symptom relief. Your healthcare provider may recommend at-home treatments to alleviate symptoms and prevent recurrence, including the following:
- Place warm or cold compresses like a moist washcloth on closed eyelids three or four times a day. Warm compresses help to reduce the sticky buildup of discharge on the eyelids or crust that forms on your eyelashes, while cold compresses help to relieve itching and inflammation.
- Avoid contact lenses and wear glasses instead for 10 to 12 days or until the condition has resolved. Previously worn contact lenses may be a source of reinfection. Your healthcare provider may ask you to carefully disinfect or throw away those lenses and even their cases.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe steroid drops to lessen the discomfort from more serious inflammation, or, in the case of herpes virus, an anti-viral medication.
How Long Does Viral Conjunctivitis Last?
Most cases of viral conjunctivitis will clear up without treatment in seven to 14 days. Some people may continue to experience symptoms for up to three weeks.
How to Get Rid of Eye Mucus
A warm compress can help loosen and remove mucus and "eye boogers." You can also help prevent additional irritation by removing your contact lenses while you have symptoms and replacing them when your eyes are clear to prevent reinfection. Because viral conjunctivitis can cause dryness, your healthcare provider may also recommend over-the-counter artificial tears to help lubricate your eyes.
Complications
Some cases caused by viruses like herpes simplex or the varicella zoster virus, which causes the chicken pox, can potentially lead to persisting eye problems if not treated properly.
Newborns or people with weakened immune systems, such as those with cancer or an HIV infection, can experience a more severe infection.
Tips to Avoid Spreading Conjunctivitis
Viral conjunctivitis is contagious for as long as you have symptoms. If you have pink eye, you should stay home until your eyes no longer appear reddened and irritated and discharge is no longer visible. Medical professionals say it's okay for children to head back to the classroom once tearing and discharge clears. The timeline of how long this takes depends on each specific case.
If your symptoms have not completely resolved, don't share washcloths or kitchen utensils with others. Wash your hands regularly and avoid rubbing your eyes with your fingers and then touching communal surfaces. Avoid sharing old or used eye makeup and eye drops with others.
Shaking hands is a common way to spread the virus. The germs can move from the hand of the infected individual to the hand of the person they are touching and ultimately their eye if they rub their face.
Can You Go to Work With Pink Eye?
When to See a Healthcare Provider
In milder cases, viral conjunctivitis does not cause long-lasting, serious health complications.
You should contact your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Extreme redness, especially if it occurs in just one eye
- Severe eye pain
- Inability to open one eye
- Severe light sensitivity
- Disruptions to vision and inability to see clearly
If mild symptoms fail to improve over the course of a week or two, seek medical attention.
Summary
Viral conjunctivitis usually passes after about two to three weeks. The viruses that cause this condition and others can't be cured through an antibiotic or medications, but symptoms can be lessened through self-care routines at home.
If your symptoms get worse or you experience sudden, drastic changes to your vision, consult a healthcare provider.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Keen M, Thompson M. Treatment of acute conjunctivitis in the United States and evidence of antibiotic overuse: Isolated issue or a systematic problem? Ophthalmology. 2017;124(8):1096-1098. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.05.029
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis (pink eye).
Chigbu DI, Labib BA. Pathogenesis and management of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis. Infect Drug Resist. 2018;11:981-993. doi:10.2147/IDR.S162669
American Optometric Association. Conjunctivitis (pink eye).
American Academy of Ophthalmology. Conjunctivitis: What is pink eye?
By Brian Mastroianni
Mastroianni is a health and science journalist based in New York with a master's degree in journalism.
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