Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) In Pregnancy: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

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Pink eye in pregnancy is a common eye-related infection, which gives the eyes a red or pinkish-red appearance. Pink eye or conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva (clear membrane covering the white of the eye) and the inner lining of the eyelid. The incidence is also high in children and adults and is contagious (1).

The infection usually resolves within a week and is harmless. Learn about the causes, symptoms, treatment, and ways to treat pink eye naturally.

What Are The Causes Of Conjunctivitis During Pregnancy?

The causes of conjunctivitis or pink eye in pregnancy are similar to the causes in other people. The most common ones include (1):

• Bacteria: Bacteria are one of the most common causes of pink eye. If you notice red eyes with yellow or green discharge or crusting throughout the day, you will likely have bacterial conjunctivitis. This may affect one or both eyes. Bacterial conjunctivitis may be caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria (2).

• Virus: If you notice that your eyes are red but have little or no discharge and crusting on waking up in the morning, you will likely have viral conjunctivitis. This might affect both eyes. Common cold virus (adenovirus), flu virus, and even coronavirus may cause pink eye (3).

• Allergies: Apart from bacteria and viruses, another prevalent cause of pink eye in pregnancy is allergies (1). Seasonal conjunctivitis is often seen in spring and can affect both eyes in most cases. You will notice redness in the eyes without any drainage and minimal itching. Common allergens include dust, pollen, and mold.

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• Irritants: Sometimes, irritants or chemicals from products, including shampoos, conditioners, contact lenses, lens solutions, chlorine in swimming pools, and even smoke, can trigger pink eye.

Other conjunctivitis causes include foreign objects in the eye and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Is Pink Eye Contagious?

Most women who contract pink eye during pregnancy worry about passing on the infection to their baby.

While there are several myths about this eye infection, you should know that only bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are contagious and can spread to the other eye or from one person to the other. Viral conjunctivitis is relatively contagious until the discharge from the eye subsides (4).

While the pink eye can be highly annoying during pregnancy, it cannot spread to your unborn baby.

What Are The Symptoms Of Pink Eye During Pregnancy?

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The symptoms of pink eye differ based on the cause of the condition. Some common symptoms of pink eye include (5):

• Pink or red color of the white of the eye
• Swelling or inflammation of the conjunctiva
• Increased production of tears
• Feeling of something stuck in the eye
• Itchiness
• Irritation or burning sensation
• Pus or mucus discharge
• Crusting of the eyelids or eyelashes, especially on waking up from sleep
• Discomfort on wearing contact lenses

Other symptoms specific to the different types of pink eye are (5):

• Bacterial conjunctivitis: Pus discharge causing the eyelids to stick to each other. It might occur with an ear infection.
• Viral conjunctivitis: It may occur due to cold and flu or any respiratory infection that you may develop. The discharge from the eye is watery.
• Allergic conjunctivitis: May be accompanied by other allergy symptoms, including an itchy nose, sneezing, throat irritation and asthma.

Caution

Avoid using Visine or other redness-reducing eye drops. These eye drops may make you uncomfortable if you have an infection. Additionally, they might aggravate your symptoms (11).

How To Treat Pink Eye During Pregnancy?

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The treatment for pink eye during pregnancy varies depending upon the cause and severity of the condition. From no treatment to topical and systemic medications, a wide range of treatment options are available.

While allergic conjunctivitis in pregnant women can be treated with mast-cell stabilizersⁱXMedications used to prevent allergic disorders by inhibiting the production of chemicals responsible for allergic reactions , antihistaminesⁱXMedications that help relieve allergic symptoms and steroids, viral and bacterial conjunctivitis may require topical viral or antibiotic eye drops or oral formulations (6). The doctor might prescribe the medications only after a thorough evaluation of the condition and risks to the mother and the baby.

Did you know?

When the white of the eye is salmon pink in color, it indicates a viral infection, while when it is reddish, it indicates bacterial conjunctivitis (9).

What Are The Natural Remedies For Treating Pink Eye During Pregnancy?

Natural treatments can help treat pink eye and aid in the prevention of recurrent infections.

• Apply a warm or cold compress

Applying a cold or a warm compress using a clean moist washcloth or hand towel three to four times a day can help relieve conjunctivitis symptoms (7). This can remove all the sticky discharge built-up on your eyelids and the crust on your eyelashes. Applying a cold compress helps relieve itching and inflammation in the eyes.

Avoid rubbing your eye when applying the compress. Be careful not to apply the washcloth on the unaffected eye to avoid spreading the infection.

• Maintain personal and hand hygiene

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If you do not wash your hands properly after holding contaminated surfaces, touching your eyes, or rubbing them, you may be at risk of developing pink eye. Our body’s immunity falls lower than normal during pregnancy, making you susceptible to infections, including pink eye.

• Avoid contact lenses till the condition subsides

Irrespective of the eye infection during pregnancy, avoid wearing contact lenses until your symptoms subside. Most times, the contact lenses become the source of infection or cause the infection to spread from one eye to the other. Wearing contact lenses and the discomfort of the pink eye during pregnancy can cause extreme discomfort.

If you wear contact lenses and get pink eye, it is best to discard the contact lenses and use a new pair.

• Avoid triggers

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If your conjunctivitis is due to chemical triggers found in cosmetic or beauty products you use, avoid using them until your condition improves (7). Ask your doctor for a safer alternative to the trigger-containing product to avoid a recurrent conjunctivitis infection.

Be watchful

If you experience eye pain, an ulcer, a lot of discharge, or decreased vision, contact your doctor immediately (9).

Can Conjunctivitis Affect Pregnancy?

Although pink eye can be annoying and highly uncomfortable during pregnancy, it is not harmful to you or your baby. Visit your doctor when you notice one or more symptoms of the condition. If your doctor suspects your conjunctivitis has viral or bacterial origins, they might prescribe you accordingly. If your conjunctivitis is due to an STI, you will be prescribed appropriate medication to avoid spreading the infection to the fetus.

Infographic: Identifying Symptoms Of Conjunctivitis During Pregnancy

The signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis during pregnancy may vary depending on the cause. However, some common signs indicate the condition. The infographic below lists the various symptoms of conjunctivitis in pregnant women.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Image: Dalle E/MomJunction Design Team

Learn effective home remedies for treating pink eye. Relieve the discomfort promptly and effortlessly by implementing simple, natural remedies.

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Dr. Richa Hatila SinghMS

Dr. Richa Hatila is a practicing gynecologist in Varanasi, with 14 years of experience. She did her MS in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, DNB, and a Fellowship in Laparoscopic surgeries (FMAS). She is currently associated with Shubham Hospital and Sah Speciality Clinic in Varanasi.read full bio

Dr. Meenakshi MaruwadaBDS, PGCAD

Dr. Meenakshi is a dentist and a passionate writer with over eight years of experience in dentistry and four years in writing. She started her career as a dentist with a dental chain in Mumbai and soon rose to lead the clinic as a Head Dentist. She then switched to working for two start-ups in healthcare, before beginning her own...read full bio

Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU). She has been into health and...read full bio

Dr. Joyani DasM.Pharm, PhD

Dr. Joyani Das did her post-graduation from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and PhD in Pharmacology. Previously, she worked as an associate professor, faculty of Pharmacology, for two years. With her research background in preclinical studies and a zeal for scientific writing, she joined MomJunction as a health writer. Her research work was published in international journals and publications, such...read full bio