• Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search
Close Search
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Pink eye coronavirus symptom

Is Pink Eye a COVID Symptom?

May 31, 2020 |
By Sandra A. Kemmerly, MD
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

COVID-19 affects people differently, so it can be tricky to pinpoint which symptoms indicate the presence of the virus. As a virus that affects the respiratory system, the primary symptoms of coronavirus are fever, dry cough, tiredness and shortness of breath. Other less common symptoms include sore throat, headache, aches and muscle pain and loss of smell or taste. These symptoms can take anywhere from two to 14 days to appear.

Some medical experts have suggested that pink eye, which is also called conjunctivitis, may be a possible symptom of COVID-19. Pink eye is an inflammation of the thin clear tissue that covers the white part of the eye and also lines the inside of the eyelid. This tissue, called the conjunctiva, is very sensitive and can be inflamed by bacteria, irritants like smoke and pool chlorine, allergies and viruses including the one that causes the common cold. Pink eye appears as a pink or red color in the white of the eye and can increase the eye’s production of tears and discharge. While it can be itchy and uncomfortable, pink eye on its own is not a serious health risk and is unlikely to damage the eye’s vision.

Currently, there is very little evidence that pink eye is a consistent symptom of the coronavirus, and the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control do not list it as a major symptom. The coronavirus can be spread through the eyes, nose, and mouth if an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks closely enough to spread virus particles. While it is possible for the virus to be introduced through the eyes, it is much more likely that you will breathe it in through either your nose or your mouth. Pink eye may appear in some cases; however, research and evidence indicate it is a symptom in less than 1% of all COVID-19 cases.

If you have developed pink eye and are uncertain whether it could be related to a possible coronavirus infection, contact your physician over the phone or through a virtual visit. You may be asked a series of questions to identify the potential origin of the pink eye infection and to rule out other causes such as seasonal allergies or a reaction to a new bath or body product. If your doctor has cause for concern, they will advise the next steps which may include a visit to your ophthalmologist or a COVID-19 test (if necessary).

One of the prevention strategies that we started to communicate early on was to avoid touching your face as much as possible. The eye’s mucous membrane is very thin and susceptible to the transmission of the virus. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has also suggested switching to glasses temporarily if you use contact lenses, to limit the amount that you touch your eyes each day. If you continue to use contacts, be extra careful to follow eye hygiene tips like handwashing and using fresh solution during each application. While certainly not 100% effective, wearing corrective lenses and sunglasses can reduce your exposure to the virus during outings and encounters when other social distancing measures are also in place. 

For the latest updates from Ochsner on COVID-19, visit Ochsner.org/coronavirus

The information in this blog post is accurate at the time of publication. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to change, it's possible that information has changed since being published. While Ochsner Health is trying to keep our blog posts as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations by using the CDC website.

Tags
pink eye
coronavirus

You may also be interested in:

Shortness of breath coronavirus
Conditions & Treatment
Apr 7, 2020

Shortness of Breath and Coronavirus

If you have shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, the thought of having coronavirus (COVID-19) may cross your mind.
By Pedro Cazabon, MD
Woman smelling fresh flowers
Apr 13, 2020

I Can’t Smell Anything. Do I Have Coronavirus?

Anosmia is the loss or altered sense of smell, and could be a symptom of coronavirus.
By Sandra A. Kemmerly, MD
Weird dreams coronavirus
Prevention & Wellness
May 15, 2020

Why Am I Having Weird Dreams Right Now?

Dr. Amy Meoli, Director of Sleep Medicine, explains what may be causing your dreams to feel more vivid during the coronavirus shutdown.
By Amy Meoli, MD

Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health Ochsner Health

Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

Follow us: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Pinterest

Healthy living tips, delivered weekly to your inbox.

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Hello Health Seminars
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

Healthy Living Tips, Delivered Right To Your Inbox

* indicates required


Must Reads
Food and Fitness
Men’s Health
Parenting
Women’s Health

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:


Get Weekly Health Tips

Select the weekly newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition

Let us know where to send your weekly newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox every week.

Ochsner Health System
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide