Bacterial pink eye: back to work about 24 hours after starting antibiotic drops. Viral: contagious while the eye is red and watering, so the early weepy days are the stay-home window if possible. Allergic: not contagious at all.
Job type can override everything: food service, healthcare, and childcare call for stricter exclusion while symptomatic, and employer policies vary, so check. If you must work while contagious, behave like it: constant handwashing, hands off the eye, no shared towels or tools. Contact lenses stay out until the eye is fully clear plus a few days, and the case and any makeup used during the infection get replaced. The do-not-commute list: pain rather than itch, light sensitivity, or blurred vision, since those suggest something more serious than pink eye and need prompt evaluation.
What to do
Common questions
Can I go to work with pink eye?
The honest answer splits by cause and by job. Bacterial pink eye (thick yellow-green discharge, crusted lashes): the standard rule is you can return about 24 hours after starting antibiotic drops, once discharge is easing. Viral pink eye (watery, often with a cold): there is no treatment to shorten it, and you are contagious while the eye is red and watering, up to 2 weeks, so strictly speaking the first weepy days are the stay-home window if you can manage it. Allergic pink eye (both eyes itchy, seasonal): not contagious, work whenever you feel able. Job type overrides all of this: food service, healthcare, childcare, and any close-contact work call for stricter exclusion while symptoms are active, and some employers have explicit policies, so check. If you go in with viral or bacterial pink eye, treat yourself as contagious: meticulous handwashing, no touching your eyes, no shared towels or equipment, your own everything. One more practical note: skip contact lenses until the eye is fully clear plus a few days, and replace the case and any eye makeup used during the infection. Pain (rather than itch or grit), light sensitivity, or blurred vision are not routine pink eye; those need prompt medical evaluation, not a commute.