Yes, pink eye is highly contagious, especially when caused by a virus or bacteria. It spreads easily through direct contact with eye discharge, touching contaminated surfaces, or sharing personal items like towels, pillowcases, or makeup. Children can catch it quickly in schools or daycare settings because they are in close contact with others.

Bacterial and viral pink eye can spread for as long as your child has symptoms, but once treatment begins, it usually becomes less contagious within 24 hours. Allergic eye reactions are not contagious, though, since it’s triggered by things like pollen, dust, or pet dander.

Yes, our providers at can diagnose and treat pink eye. During your child’s visit, we’ll carefully examine their eyes to determine if the irritation is caused by bacteria, a virus, or an environmental irritant such as allergies or dust.

If your child has bacterial conjunctivitis, we can prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment to help clear the infection and relieve symptoms. For viral conjunctivitis, antibiotics won’t help, but our providers will guide you on how to keep the eye clean and prevent the infection from spreading to others. If allergies or irritants are the cause, we can recommend treatment to reduce symptoms and help your child feel better.

The length of pink eye depends on the cause. Bacterial conjunctivitis usually clears up within 7–10 days with antibiotic eye drops, while viral conjunctivitis can last up to 2–3 weeks. If symptoms don’t improve after a few days of treatment, or if your child has worsening pain, swelling, or vision changes, visit a pediatric urgent care clinic right away for further evaluation.

The best way to prevent pink eye is through good hygiene. Since pink eye spreads very easily, especially among children, teaching your child simple habits can make a big difference. Encourage them to wash their hands often with soap and water, avoid rubbing or touching their eyes, and never share items like washcloths, towels, or pillowcases.

If your child wears contact lenses, make sure they follow proper cleaning and storage instructions. During allergy season, rinsing the face and eyes after outdoor play can also help reduce eye irritation.