Conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, occurs when the conjunctiva of the eye becomes inflamed. The eye can become red or pink, swollen, and irritated, and there may be ...Whatisinfectiveconjunctivitis,orpinkeye?MedicallyreviewedbyAnnMarieGriff,O.D.—WrittenbyYvetteBrazier—UpdatedonNovember8,2020TypesSymptomsContagiousnessSeeadoctorCausesDiagnosisHomeremediesTreatmentEyedropsPreventionComplicationsTakeawayWeincludeproductswethinkareusefulforourreaders.Ifyoubuythroughlinksonthispage,wemayearnasmallcommission.Here’sourprocess.Conjunctivitis,orpinkeye,occurswhentheconjunctivaoftheeyebecomesinflamed.Theeyecanbecomeredorpink,swollen,andirritated,andtheremaybemucus.Infectiveconjunctivitiscanbehighlycontagious.Theconjunctivaconsistsofathinlayerofcells,ormembrane,thatcoverstheinnersurfaceoftheeyelidsandthewhitesoftheeyes.Inflammationcausestinybloodvessels,orcapillaries,intheconjunctivatobecomemoreprominent.Thiscausesdiscomfortandapinkorredappearancethatcanlast1–4weeksorlonger.Causesincludeirritation,allergy,andinfection.Thisarticlewillfocusmainlyoninfectiveconjunctivitis.TypesTherearedifferentwaysofclassifyingconjunctivitis.Irritantorallergicconjunctivitis:Anallergenorirritant,suchaspollenorchlorine,comesintocontactwiththeeye,triggeringirritationandinflammation.Infectiveconjunctivitis:Bacteriaoraviruscauseaninfection.Acuteorchronic:Inacuteconjunctivitis,symptomsusuallylast1–2weeks,buttheycanlast3–4weeks.Chronicconjunctivitislastsover4weeks.Here,learnmoreaboutallergicconjunctivitis.SymptomsSignsandsymptomsmayincludethefollowing:redness,duetoirritationandwideningofthetinybloodvesselsintheconjunctivadischargefromtheeyeawateryeye,asthetearglandsbecomeoveractiveastickyorcrustycoatingontheeyelashes,especiallyonwakingsorenessand“grittiness,”whichfeelslikesandintheeyeswellingduetoinflammationorrubbingafeelingofitching,burning,orirritationdiscomfortwhenusingcontactlensesIfaninfectionispresent,symptomsmayaffectoneeyefirstthenspreadtotheother.Ifanoutsideirritant,suchasdust,isthecause,itwillusuall