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When to seek medical advice
By Mayo Clinic staffPink eye can be an irritating condition, but it's usually harmless to your sight and typically doesn't require extensive or emergency treatment. Yet because pink eye can be highly contagious for as long as two weeks after signs and symptoms begin, it's important to seek diagnosis and treatment early.
Keep children with bacterial conjunctivitis away from child care facilities or school until after they start treatment. Children with viral conjunctivitis may be contagious for several days to as long as a week or more. Check with your doctor if you have any questions about when your child can return to school or child care. Most schools and child care facilities require that your child wait at least 24 hours after starting treatment before returning to school or child care.
Although pink eye often gets better without treatment, it can be accompanied by an inflammation of the cornea, which can affect vision. For this reason, an examination by a qualified eye physician is important to determine what management option is best for you or your child.
