Pink eye spreads rapidly in elementary schools, as kids rub their eyes and spread the germs. But just because you’ve moved on to middle school or high school, doesn’t mean that you’re in the clear. Pink eye is caused by a number of things – from bacteria to contact lenses – so it’s important that you know how to keep your eyes healthy.

“Eww your eye is all pink!” It’s the last thing you want to hear, especially when rumors spread as quickly as pink eye in the school halls. Covering up an infected eye is impossible, unless you can manage to wear sunglasses in the classroom! Although pink eye is not a serious condition when properly treated, most kids at school are still prone to effectively quarantine an infected person. This can wreak havoc on your social life; how is so-and-so going to get up the guts to talk to you at lunch NOW? But don’t worry, the pinkness will pass, and so will your friends’ worries over catching the condition.

So what are the causes of pink eye, and how can you avoid them? And if you’ve already got all the symptoms, what should you do? Read on to find out more!