{"id":1725,"date":"2023-05-17T08:35:41","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T12:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.warbyparker.com\/learn\/?p=1725"},"modified":"2026-04-02T03:12:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T07:12:35","slug":"conjunctivitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.warbyparker.com\/learn\/conjunctivitis","title":{"rendered":"Conjunctivitis: What Is Pink Eye?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is a common eye condition. It\u2019s an inflammation or infection<\/a> of the conjunctiva\u2014the clear membrane covering your eye and the inside of your eyelid. It\u2019s called \u201cpink eye\u201d because the blood vessels in the whites of your eyes become more prominent, making your eye look red or pink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve got questions about conjunctivitis, you\u2019re in the right place. In this guide, we\u2019ll discuss different types of pink eye, along with their causes, symptoms, and treatments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of Pink Eye <\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Pink eye falls into three general types: infectious, allergic, and chemical. All the types of conjunctivitis share some symptoms, so knowing how to tell what kind of pink eye you have can be tricky. But being aware of the main pink eye types and their causes can give you clues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Infectious Conjunctivitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the name suggests, this type of conjunctivitis is infectious and highly contagious\u2014meaning it can be spread from person to person. Infectious conjunctivitis can be caused by either a virus or bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viral <\/strong>Conjunctivitis<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viral conjunctivitis is usually caused by viruses like the common cold. But other illnesses like rubella (measles) can also cause this type of contagious pink eye. Sometimes, viral conjunctivitis can begin in one eye and spread to the other eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bacterial <\/strong>Conjunctivitis<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the name implies, bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by a bacterial infection. Sometimes bacterial conjunctivitis can occur with an ear infection. <\/strong>Conjunctivitis that occurs in newborns is often bacterial in nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allergic Conjunctivitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Allergic conjunctivitis isn\u2019t contagious. People with seasonal or perennial allergies may develop allergic conjunctivitis as their body reacts to an allergen. Common triggers include pollen, grass, dust, mold, or pet dander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemical Conjunctivitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chemical conjunctivitis (also sometimes referred to as irritant conjunctivitis) is caused by exposure to environmental irritants. Car exhaust, smoke, other fumes, or chlorine in pools are common triggers for chemical conjunctivitis. It can also occur when contact lenses aren\u2019t cleaned properly<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Think you might have pink eye?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t

Our expert optometrists can diagnose your condition and help you get the right treatment<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Pink Eye Symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the name proclaims, one of the most common symptoms of pink eye is a pink color or redness in the whites of one or both eyes. However, conjunctivitis typically comes with more symptoms than redness alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conjunctivitis symptoms can be similar no matter what kind of pink eye you have. But some symptoms are more common in certain pink eye types than in others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following symptoms can appear in one or both eyes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n