Viral and bacterial pink eye are very contagious; allergic pink eye is not contagious at all - the CDC draws the line by cause.
The contagious kinds travel on hands, towels, and shared objects, which is why they rip through classrooms. While you have it: wash hands constantly, do not rub the eyes, use your own towel, bin eye makeup, and skip contact lenses. Eye pain, light sensitivity, or vision changes need prompt care - that is not ordinary pink eye.
What to do
Common questions
Is pink eye contagious?
It depends on the cause, and the CDC draws the line cleanly: viral and bacterial pink eye are very contagious, spreading easily from person to person, while allergic and irritant pink eye are not contagious at all. The contagious kinds travel on hands and shared objects - touch the eye, touch a doorknob, towel, or phone, and the next person picks it up - which is why pink eye rips through classrooms and households. The practical protocol while you have it: wash hands constantly, do not touch or rub the eyes, use your own towel and pillowcase, throw away eye makeup used during the infection, and skip contact lenses until it resolves. Schools and daycares set their own return rules, but the spirit is that discharge actively weeping from the eye means stay home. The clues to cause: one eye then the other with watery discharge suggests viral; thick yellow-green discharge suggests bacterial; both eyes itchy with seasonal allergies suggests allergic. Eye pain, light sensitivity, or vision changes are not pink-eye-normal and need prompt care. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you sort the type.