In conclusion, pink eye is a common and highly contagious eye condition that is not considered an STD. While some STDs can cause pink eye, the condition can also be caused by a variety of other factors, including allergies, irritants, and respiratory infections.
It's also possible for the same types of bacteria that cause the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) chlamydia and gonorrhea to cause conjunctivitis. If someone touches an infected person's genitals and then rubs his or her own eye or touches a contact lens, the infection can spread to the eye.
When chlamydia affects the eye, conjunctivitis (pink eye) can occur. This condition is often referred to as chlamydial conjunctivitis (or inclusion conjunctivitis). Chlamydial conjunctivitis is treatable through oral or topical antibiotics.
It is possible to get a chlamydia or gonorrhea infection in the eye (called ocular chlamydia or ocular gonorrhea). Again, this is probably not very likely after getting a partner's semen in your eye. But, it is theoretically possible.
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are bacterial STIs that can spread to the eyes and cause problems like conjunctivitis or blindness.
If left untreated, adult chlamydial conjunctivitis resolves spontaneously in 6-18 months. Chlamydial conjunctivitis can be treated topically with tetracycline, erythromycin, and fluoroquinolones. However, due to the high prevalence of concomitant genital tract infection, systemic antibiotic therapy is recommended.
Pink eye is most often caused by a viral infection. It also can be caused by a bacterial infection, an allergic reaction or — in babies — an incompletely opened tear duct. Though pink eye can be irritating, it rarely affects your vision. Treatments can help ease the discomfort of pink eye.
Viral pink eye is most often caused by a common virus called adenovirus, but other viruses can also cause pink eye. If you have viral pink eye, you may also have a cold or sore throat. Bacterial pink eye can be caused by many different types of bacteria.
If you're having bacterial pink eye symptoms, the fastest way to treat them is to see your doctor. Your doctor can prescribe antibiotic eye drops. According to a review from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, using antibiotic eyedrops can shorten the duration of pink eye.
Most cases of viral conjunctivitis are mild. The infection will usually clear up in 7 to 14 days without treatment and without any long-term consequences. However, in some cases, viral conjunctivitis can take 2 to 3 weeks or more to clear up.
Viral and bacterial pink eye are both highly contagious. Both adults and children can get pink eye and should stay away from work, school, or daycare until their symptoms clear. Each type of pink eye takes a different length of time to clear up.
Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) are very contagious. They can spread easily from person to person.
Pink eye is a common eye infection that causes inflammation of the tissues lining the eyelid (conjunctiva). It's caused by allergens, irritants, bacteria and viruses, such as coronaviruses that cause the common cold or COVID-19.
Viral pink eye usually starts in one eye following a cold or respiratory infection and causes watery discharge. Bacterial pink eye can affect one or both eyes and usually starts with a respiratory or ear infection. The discharge tends to be thick and makes the eyes stick together.
Both gonorrhea and chlamydia are bacterial infections and can cause bacterial conjunctivitis. Although rare, gonorrhea can cause a serious bacterial form of conjunctivitis that may lead to blindness if not treated early on. Similarly, chlamydia can also cause pink eye in adults and even babies during birth.
Laboratory tests can diagnose chlamydia. Your healthcare provider may ask you to provide a urine sample for testing, or they might use (or ask you to use) a cotton swab to get a vaginal sample.
With antibiotic treatment, symptoms usually go away in 2 to 3 days. But antibiotics only work for bacterial pink eye, not for the more common viral pink eye. Viral pink eye often improves on its own in 7 to 10 days.
In most cases, you won't need antibiotic eye drops. Since conjunctivitis is usually viral, antibiotics won't help. They may even cause harm by reducing their effectiveness in the future or causing a medicine reaction. Instead, the virus needs time to run its course.
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.
Bacterial pink eye is contagious as long as someone is symptomatic, if there is discharge from the eye, or until 24 hours after starting antibiotics. Allergic conjunctivitis and irritant conjunctivitis are not contagious.
Wash Sheets and Linens
Sleeping on the same bacteria filled pillowcase every night can only cause you severe problems— like pink eye. As one of the first steps you should take when discovering that either yourself or your child has pink eye is to wash all of your sheets and linens in hot water.
Pink eye infections can spread in different ways. One of the most common ways to “catch” pink eye is by touching an object that's been touched by an infected person, picking up germs on your fingers, then rubbing your eyes, transferring those germs in the process.
The virus can be survive on surfaces for up to two weeks. To help prevent the spread of infection: Avoid touching your eyes with your hands. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
Allergic types produce tearing, itching, and redness in both eyes. You might also have an itchy, runny nose. Ophthalmia neonatorum is a severe form that affects newborns. It can be caused by dangerous bacteria.