Can conjunctivitis be spread through kissing? Or must contact with the eye be made in some way?

Originally posted by jamin624:
Can conjunctivitis be spread through kissing? Or must contact with the eye be made in some way?

Yes, it would be possible to spread viral conjunctivitis to somebody else just by kissing them.

I caught conjunctivitis just by being in the same car with somebody who had it.

Conjunctivitis can only be spread through contact with the affected eyes, or with instruments that have come in contact, such as contacts, makeup, wash cloths,etc.

That is one way for it to be spread. But if it is viral conjunctivitis, it can be spread even if you don't touch the eye or something that has come into contact with it. In order to catch a cold you don't always have to be in direct contact with the person. A friend of mine had viral conjunctivitis and I didn't know it at the time (had I known, I would have steered clear of him!). I drove home with him one night. He was sitting right next to me for about 20 minutes. I had gotten my eyes examined a day before and did NOT have pink eye. Three days later I had it. I told my ophthalmologist that I had been in a closed car with someone who had it, and he said that I could absolutely have gotten it from him.

But you are right, of course it is also spread by touching, etc... The best way to prevent it is to wash ones hands often, and not use the same facial towels, washcloths, etc... as somebody who has it. I used to think that as long as I did that I couldn't catch it, but I was wrong. It's still possible.

[This message has been edited by purple2067 (edited 06-10-2003).]

This is nothing to play around with, see a doctor. I had a severe case that lasted 2 months. I was legally blind couldn't drive, couldn't go outside due to light sensitivity. I had two later reoccurrences and had to miss more work. It also left scars on my corneas which still cause blind spots.

wow! That's terrible! Is there anything they can do for you to help with the vision loss?

A lot of people (not necessarily anybody on this board) tend to think that conjunctivitis is not that serious and that it is a big nothing. But if you have it, and you don't do anything to get rid of it, you will be in big trouble.

The doctor said that the scars that caused blind spots would eventually fade. (That was 11 years ago)
However every time I have had an eye exam since, doctors have made comments about the scars being visible. I’m now 48 and have been diagnosed with DRY MACULAR DEGENERATION. This disease will also cause a blind spot to my central vision....it will get larger as time goes on.
I don't know if the VIRAL CONJUNCTIVITIS had anything
to do with this new diagnosis. I have an appointment with a doctor that specializes in MD in a month. Maybe she can shed some light on the topic. (No pun intended)

Originally posted by parkhere55:
The doctor said that the scars that caused blind spots would eventually fade. (That was 11 years ago)
However every time I have had an eye exam since, doctors have made comments about the scars being visible. I’m now 48 and have been diagnosed with DRY MACULAR DEGENERATION. This disease will also cause a blind spot to my central vision....it will get larger as time goes on.
I don't know if the VIRAL CONJUNCTIVITIS had anything
to do with this new diagnosis. )

Scarring on the cornea from a previous episode of conjunctivitis doesn't go away. The scarring is permanent.

There is no relationship between the viral conjuntivitis and dry macular degeneration.

HTH