Viral pink eye is contagious while the eye is red and watering (up to 2 weeks); bacterial until 24 hours on antibiotic drops or until discharge stops; allergic is not contagious at all.
The tells: viral runs watery and follows colds, bacterial produces thick yellow-green discharge and crusted lashes, allergic hits both eyes with itch and sneezing. While contagious, transmission is mostly hands and shared items: wash hands often, stop touching the eye, and no shared towels, pillowcases, makeup, or drops; toss eye makeup used during the infection. Return to school or work generally comes once discharge and tearing settle, or after 24 hours of treatment in bacterial cases, subject to local policy. Contact lenses stay out until the eye is fully clear plus a few days, and the case gets replaced. The get-seen-now pattern: pain instead of itch, light sensitivity, or any vision change; that is not ordinary pink eye.
What to do
Common questions
How long am I contagious with pink eye?
It depends which kind, and the three kinds have different rules. Viral conjunctivitis (the most common, usually with watery discharge, often following a cold): contagious as long as the eye is red and watering, typically up to 1 to 2 weeks, and there is no drop that shortens it. Bacterial conjunctivitis (thick yellow-green discharge, crusted lashes on waking): contagious until you have had antibiotic drops for about 24 hours, or until the discharge stops if untreated. Allergic conjunctivitis (both eyes itchy, seasonal, with sneezing): not contagious at all, full stop. The CDC notes viral and bacterial pink eye spread easily person to person, mostly through hands and shared items, so the practical rules while contagious: wash hands constantly, do not touch your eyes, no shared towels, pillowcases, makeup, or eye drops, and throw out eye makeup used during the infection. School and work: most guidance says kids can return once discharge and tearing have eased or after 24 hours of treatment for bacterial cases; policies vary by school. Contacts: stop wearing them until the eye is fully clear plus a few days, and replace the case. If the eye is painful rather than itchy, light hurts, or vision is affected, that is not routine pink eye; get seen promptly.