Help protect yourself from getting and spreading Pink Eye (conjunctivitis)

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Help protect yourself from getting and spreading Pink Eye (conjunctivitis) (text equivalent)

Pink eye is extremely common.

Public school kids in the U.S. miss 3 million school days each year as a result of pink eye.

Pink eye is often highly contagious.

It can be caused by

• Viruses (very contagious)
• Bacteria (very contagious)
• Allergens, like pollen (not contagious)
• Irritants, like smoke or dust (not contagious)

Symptoms usually include:

• Redness or swelling
• Watery eyes
• A gritty feel
• Itchiness, irritation, or burning
• Discharge
• Crusting of the eyelids or lashes

See a doctor if you have pink eye along with any of the following:

• Eye pain
• Sensitivity to light or blurred vision
• Intense eye redness
• Symptoms that get worse or don’t improve
• A weakened immune system, for example from HIV or cancer treatment
• Pre-existing eye conditions

A doctor can usually diagnose the cause of pink eye based on symptoms and patient history.

Newborns with symptoms of pink eye should see a doctor right away.

Protect yourself and others from pink eye

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, and help young children do the same. Wash hands especially well after touching someone with pink eye or their personal items.
• Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes. This can worsen the condition or spread it to your other eye.
• Avoid sharing personal items, such as makeup, eye drops, towels, bedding, contact lenses and containers, and eyeglasses.
• Do not use the same eye products for your infected and non-infected eyes.
• Stop wearing contact lenses until your eye doctor says it’s okay.
• Clean, store, and replace your contact lenses as instructed by your eye doctor.

Graphics

• Healthy eye
• Infected eye
• Illustration of normal, healthy eye
• Illustration of bloodshot eyeball with green and clear discharge along upper and lower eyelid
• Female doctor shining light into inflamed eye of a young girl
• Adult hand holding child’s hand under running water and soap bar