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Is it safe? · Pregnancy Smart

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) during pregnancy

Assigned clinical reviewerPerry Friedman· MD, FACOG-MFMDraft · pending clinical reviewUpdated

What does the evidence say about pink eye during pregnancy?

  1. The most common causes of pink eye are viruses, bacteria, and allergens, with chemicals, contact lens wear, and foreign bodies in the eye as additional causes, and the actual cause changes what helps. 1
  2. Most acute infectious pink eye in adults is viral and self-limited, meaning it resolves on its own without antimicrobial medicine; antiviral options are reserved for more serious causes such as herpes simplex or varicella-zoster virus. 2
  3. Contact lens wearers who develop pink eye need topical antibiotics and prompt evaluation by an eye care professional, since contact lens use raises the risk of a more serious bacterial corneal infection. 2
  4. In most cases pink eye clears without medical care, but bacterial pink eye needs antibiotic eye drops or ointment, which is part of why identifying the likely cause matters before choosing what to use. 3
  5. Washing your hands before and after touching the eye or applying eye drops, not sharing towels or eye makeup, and pausing contact lens wear until symptoms clear are the main ways to avoid spreading pink eye to a partner or other children at home. 4
  6. Erythromycin, used in topical forms for skin and eye infections as well as taken by mouth, has not been linked to a higher chance of birth defects in available studies of its oral use, though eye-specific pregnancy data is limited. 5
  7. Olopatadine eye drops, used for allergy symptoms like itchy eyes, have not been specifically studied in human pregnancy for effects on birth defects, pregnancy complications, or child development, which makes this a decision to make with your provider rather than a default yes or no. 6

Is pink eye safe in each trimester?

  • First trimester. Ask before using any eye drop, including allergy drops you may have used casually before pregnancy, since this is when medicine decisions typically get the most caution. Simple hygiene measures and a cool compress are reasonable first steps while you sort out the cause.
  • Second trimester. If symptoms persist beyond a week, worsen, or you wear contact lenses, get evaluated rather than continuing to wait it out, since a persistent case is more likely to be bacterial or to need a closer look.
  • Third trimester. Keep up hygiene steps around a new baby's arrival, since a contagious case close to delivery is worth extra care with hand-washing and avoiding shared towels around the newborn.

Pink eye by likely cause

TypeTypical courseWhat generally helps
ViralSelf-limited; clears on its ownSupportive care; antimicrobial medicine is not usually needed
BacterialOften improves within days of the right dropsTopical antibiotic drops or ointment from your provider
AllergicFollows allergen exposure; not contagiousAntihistamine drops or reducing the allergen, discussed with your provider first
Contact lens wearer, any typeHigher risk of a more serious infectionStop lens wear and get prompt evaluation

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between viral, bacterial, and allergic pink eye?

Viral and bacterial pink eye are infections and can spread to others, while allergic pink eye is a reaction, often to pollen or another allergen, and is not contagious. Viral cases are the most common and usually clear on their own; bacterial cases need antibiotic drops or ointment; allergic cases are managed with antihistamine drops or by reducing the allergen.

Do I need antibiotics for pink eye while pregnant?

Only if it's bacterial. Most pink eye in adults is viral and clears on its own without antimicrobial medicine, so an antibiotic drop is not automatically needed. Your provider can help identify which type you have, especially if you wear contact lenses, since that raises the urgency of an accurate assessment.

Is it safe to use allergy eye drops like olopatadine while pregnant?

This is a discussion to have with your provider rather than an automatic yes. Olopatadine has not been specifically studied in human pregnancy for birth defect or pregnancy-complication risk, and eye drops generally result in lower medication exposure than a pill, but that is not the same as a confirmed safety record.

Will having pink eye affect my pregnancy or my baby?

An ordinary case of pink eye from a virus, allergy, or bacteria is a surface eye infection and is not known to affect the pregnancy itself. Newborn conjunctivitis is a separate, distinct concern tied to exposure during birth rather than something caused by a parent having pink eye earlier in pregnancy, which is one reason routine newborn eye care exists.

How do I keep from spreading pink eye to my other kids or partner?

Wash your hands often, especially before and after touching your eye or applying drops, avoid sharing towels, pillowcases, or eye makeup, and don't use the same eye drop bottle in both eyes if only one is affected. These simple steps meaningfully cut the chance of passing a viral or bacterial case along.

Can I still wear my contact lenses?

Stop wearing contact lenses until symptoms are gone or your eye doctor says it's okay to start again. Any disposable lenses worn during the infection should be thrown away rather than reused, since contact lens wear during pink eye raises the risk of a more serious eye infection.

What if I'm not sure whether it's pink eye or something else?

Eye pain, changes in vision, significant light sensitivity, or a lot of thick discharge are reasons to have it examined rather than assume it's ordinary pink eye. Contact lens wearers in particular should be evaluated promptly, since some other eye infections can look similar at first but progress faster.

How long does pink eye usually last during pregnancy?

Viral cases are self-limited and typically clear within days to about two weeks on their own. Bacterial cases often improve within a few days of starting the right antibiotic drops or ointment. Pregnancy itself is not described as changing this general course, though any medicine decision should still go through your provider.

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References

  1. About Pink Eye

    CDC · https://www.cdc.gov/conjunctivitis/about/index.html

  2. Clinical Overview of Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

    CDC · https://www.cdc.gov/conjunctivitis/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html

  3. Pink Eye

    MedlinePlus · https://medlineplus.gov/pinkeye.html

  4. How to Prevent Pink Eye

    CDC · https://www.cdc.gov/conjunctivitis/prevention/index.html

  5. Erythromycin

    MotherToBaby · https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/erythromycin/

  6. Olopatadine

    MotherToBaby · https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/olopatadine/

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.