Can You Get Pink Eye If Someone Farts on Your Pillow?

You CAN’T catch pink eye from farts

The belief that passing gas onto pillows can lead to pink eye is false.

Dr. Amir Mozavi concurs with this assessment.

He notes in a 2017 piece that flatulence is mainly methane, and methane does not carry bacteria. Any microbes that might be present in the gas would rapidly perish once expelled from the body.

You CAN get pink eye from feces

Feces — specifically the bacteria or viruses within fecal matter — can be a source of pink eye.

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), touching your eyes with hands contaminated by fecal material can result in conjunctivitis.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises against touching your anus and then immediately touching your eye, since you could transfer bacteria that cause bacterial conjunctivitis, a frequent type of pink eye.

Typical causes of pink eye

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva — the thin, transparent membrane covering the white of the eye and lining the eyelids.

Common triggers of pink eye include:

• allergic reactions, such as pollen, mold, or animal dander
• bacterial agents like Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis
• viruses, including adenoviruses, rubella, and herpes viruses
• a foreign body in the eye
• chemical exposure to the eye
• a blocked tear duct (especially in newborns)

Ways to avoid pink eye

The Mayo Clinic states that conjunctivitis spreads easily, roughly comparable to the common cold.

To reduce the risk of passing on pink eye, maintain good hygiene, such as:

• frequently washing your hands, particularly after using the restroom
• refraining from touching your eyes
• changing pillowcases regularly

More on flatulence

Flatulence refers to the release of intestinal gas through the rectum. This gas typically originates from gut bacteria acting on undigested food or from swallowed air.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, most people pass gas at least 14 times per day.

Certain medications can also increase gas production, such as orlistat (Xenical), which is prescribed to assist with weight management.

Cholestyramine (Questran), a medication for high cholesterol, may similarly lead to increased gas.

Flatulence can also signal conditions like giardiasis (a parasitic infection) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Takeaway

Can pink eye be caused by a fart? No.

That said, pink eye is contagious. You can lower the chance of spreading it by keeping good hygiene and avoiding touching your eyes with unclean hands.