How long am I contagious with pink eye?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
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
- Viral: contagious while red and watering, up to 2 weeks.
- Bacterial: 24 hours on drops, or until discharge stops.
- Allergic: not contagious.
- Hygiene is the spread-breaker: hands, towels, pillowcases, makeup.
- Pain or light sensitivity: get seen promptly, that is a different problem.
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