Ophthalmologist Questions Ophthalmologist

Should I stay off work with conjunctivitis?

I am a 37 year old female and I have conjunctivitis. Should I stay off work with conjunctivitis?

8 Answers

Yes
Given that some types of conjunctivitis are highly contagious you should avoid close contact to people to reduce risk of spread. However, you should visit your eye doctor in order to determine the etiology and start proper treatment.
Yes
Depends on the type. Viral causes are very easy to spread and should require time off from work. You need to see an ophthalmologist to be sure.
It all depends on the type. Some viral forms are very contagious. Please check with your ophthalmologist.

George D. Fivgas
Maybe, If you are having a significant amount of wet, sticky discharge then it is better to stay home as you may be contagious.
Yes, good hygiene is important.
If you have viral conjunctivitis, "pink eye", you should use strict hand washing. Anytime you touch your face, you wash your hands. Wipe down your counter surfaces, wash your pillow case, and try not to put others at risk for pink eye. If your job entails working with children or people over 65 years old, I usually recommend you stay home.