Pink Eye Infection:
A Contagious Irritation of One or Both Eyes

As a child, you may have been warned frequently about avoiding a pink eye infection. Pink eye infection is the familiar term for conjunctivitis. A very common and often contagious condition, pink eye symptoms include redness and swelling of the conjunctiva, which is the mucous membrane that covers the white part of your eye and lines the inside of your eyelid. The conjunctiva is normally clear, but if a pink eye infection occurs, this clear lining becomes swollen, red, and irritated.

A pink eye infection may be caused by bacteria, viruses, allergies, or other environmental conditions. When the pink eye infection is caused by a bacteria or virus, it’s important to prevent the spread of the infection by washing your hands and not touching your eyes. Often, people with a pink eye infection are advised to be absent from work or school until symptoms improve. The pink eye infection caused by a virus may be linked to a cold or sore throat. The bacterial form of pink eye infection usually stems from the staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria.

Pink eye infection is occasionally caused by allergy, dirt, smoke, cosmetics, perfume, or pool chlorine. In these cases, the pink eye infection is not contagious and will require a different pink eye treatment. Regardless of the cause of a pink eye infection, it is a temporary condition that rarely affects eyesight or the ongoing health of the eyes.