3 Things You Should Avoid Doing When Having Conjunctivitis

Woke up with your eye stuck shut, red, itchy, or irritated? You may have conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye. It’s uncomfortable and inconvenient—and it spreads fast if you’re not careful.

Conjunctivitis affects the conjunctiva, the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye. Symptoms include:

• Redness and swelling
• Watery or itchy eyes
• Crusty eyelids
• Sensitivity to light

It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, allergies, or irritants like smoke or chemicals. Viral pink eye is the most common (and contagious), while bacterial pink eye can be treated with antibiotic eye drops.

To recover quickly—and protect those around you—here are 3 important things to avoid:

1. Sharing Personal Items

Sharing may be caring, but not when it comes to pink eye. Avoid sharing:

• Towels
• Pillows
• Eye makeup or brushes
• Eyeglasses or contact lenses
• Eye drops

Even if only one eye is infected, using the same towel or pillowcase can quickly spread the infection to the other eye—or to someone else.

Pro tip: Wash linens and pillowcases daily until the infection clears.

2. Reusing Unclean Items

Reinfection is real. Whether it's glasses, contacts, or bedding, everything that touches your face or eyes needs to be cleaned properly. Here’s what to do:

• Avoid wearing contact lenses while you have pink eye
• Throw away disposable lenses and cases
• Disinfect reusable lenses and glasses regularly
• Wash your pillowcases, sheets, and washcloths often

If you don’t clean or replace these items, the bacteria or virus can linger—and pink eye can return.

3. Touching or Rubbing Your Eyes

We get it—your eyes itch. But rubbing them only spreads the infection further. Every time you touch your eyes, you risk:

• Contaminating your hands and everything you touch
• Spreading pink eye to your other eye
• Making symptoms worse or prolonging recovery

Instead, use a clean tissue to dab gently if needed, and wash your hands immediately afterward.

When to See a Doctor for Conjunctivitis

Pink eye often clears up on its own in a few days, especially if it’s viral. But you should contact your doctor if you experience:

• Yellow or green discharge
• Sensitivity to light
• Severe redness or pain
• Blurred vision
• Fever or facial pain
• Symptoms lasting more than a week

These could signal a bacterial infection or something more serious.

Get Treated for Conjunctivitis at BASS Medical Group

If you’re dealing with eye discomfort or symptoms of conjunctivitis, BASS Medical Group can help. Our primary care providers can evaluate your symptoms and provide fast, effective treatment—especially if prescription drops are needed.

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