One of the common eye infections is the Pink eye and more than 6 million people are affected in the US. 

Let’s be honest. Have you ever heard the rumor? 

“Don’t let anyone fart on your pillow or pink eye will haunt you”

Sounds funny, absurd or hilarious? 

or 

Do you feel like it’s a forgotten episode of MythBusters?

But the question is:

“Can someone really get pink eyes from a fart?”

Internet, middle school classroom, neighbour or siblings must have mentioned it once in your life. So, let’s dive deep into the science, myth, reasons and possibilities behind this strange question. 

Are you ready for this extraordinary educational journey? 

What is Pink eye?

First of all, you need to confirm if fart can really give you a pink eye. Before that, you need to understand what pink eye actually is. 

So pink eye is equal to conjunctivitis. In fact, it is the common name for conjunctivitis that means infections or inflammation of the conjunctiva. This conjunctiva is a very thin and clear tissue inside of the eyelids that covers the white part of your eyes. 

Moxicip 0.5% Eye Ointment – Effective Treatment for Bacterial Conjunctivitis

If you’re experiencing symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis, such as redness, itching, and discharge from the eyes, Moxicip 0.5% Eye Ointment may offer effective relief. This ophthalmic ointment contains Moxifloxacin, a potent antibiotic that targets a broad spectrum of bacteria, including those commonly responsible for pink eye. For more information and to purchase, visit the Moxicip 0.5% Eye Ointment

Causes of Pink eye

Conjunctivitis are of many types and each type has different causes and contagion levels. 

• Viral Conjunctivitis: It is caused by viruses like adenoviruses which are similar to the common cold. This is highly contagious and usually clears up on its own after some time. 
• Bacterial conjunctivitis: The reason for this conjunctivitis is bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Haemophilus influenzae which are contagious. You might need antibiotic drops to cure it. 
• Allergic conjunctivitis: Allergic conjunctivitis caused by allergens like dust mites, pet dander or pollen. It is not contagious. 
• Irritant conjunctivitis: This conjunctivitis is caused by smoke, outer things or chlorine in the eye. It is not contagious. 

So, if a person gets pink eye from another person, then this conjunctivitis must be viral or bacterial & here, fart theory begins to get traction.

Fart facts:

Let’s break down what exactly a fart is. You need to understand what you are actually dealing with when talking about farts. Farts are also known as flatulence and are composed of gases that are by products of digestion. The primary ingredients in a fart include Nitrogen, Methane, Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen or sulfur compounds. These sulphur compounds make it smelly. 

Are Farts Sterile?

It is very interesting to know that farts are generally sterile. It means unless something goes wrong, fart doesn’t spread any bacteria as it is a gas from your intestines. So, this gas doesn’t carry anything else on the way out. So, if a person is wearing full clothes and passing gas, there are negligible chances of bacteria spreading into the air. Now, the question arises:

If someone is naked and fart directly onto a surface like bed, mattress or pillow, then?

There is a myth that fart can deliver bacteria and its answer is: yes. But not in all conditions. There are several specific circumstances. Several studies have shown that bacteria can be present in fart but this is not the full truth. It means if tiny bits of fecal matter or skin particles get released, then these can deliver bacteria. So, the fact is that fart itself doesn’t cause pink eye but fecal particles present in the fart could contain E. Coli, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes etc. If these bacteria are on the surface and then you touch or rub your eyes with a pillow, towel or hand, then conjunctivitis could occur. 

Let’s talk about the pillow:

People say that fart can cause pink eye but there must be following steps involved: 

1. Suppose someone was sleeping bare-bottomed on a pillow and farts. 
2. That fart includes fecal particles responsible for pink-eye.
3. These bacteria remain on the pillow surface. 
4. Meanwhile, other people use that pillow. 
5. Then their face and eye come into contact with the bacteria. 
6. This bacteria infects the eyes. So, fart is undoubtedly a long chain of events and ridiculous but it is not entirely impossible to spread through pillows as bacteria can’t survive long on fabric surfaces exposed to air. 

Reality behind the myth: 

This is just a myth and started as a joke or prank. It is a great topic for internet forums or a story for older siblings to threaten their younger siblings. 

In actual, there are very common and genuine reasons like if you: 

• Touch your eyes without washing your hands. 
• Share washcloths and towels
• Came in contact with someone who is already suffering from a bacterial infection. 
• Have used contaminated eye makeup.
• Use bad quality contact lenses. 
• Allergic to eyes care products. 

In short, your own routine and habits causes pink eyes and not any gaseous emissions. 

Tips to prevent pink eye:

There are some common steps to avoid conjunctivitis like:

1. Wash your hands properly before touching your eyes. If you have used any shared surfaces, make sure to clean your hands. 
2. Don’t touch your eyes without any reason. Some people have the habit of touching their eyes even if their hands haven’t been washed. 
3. There can be bacteria and allergens on bedding so change pillowcases and towels regularly. Wash it in hot water. 
4. A phone screen is always dirtier than a toiled seat. Disinfect your phone regularly. 
5. Don’t share your eye makeup, contact lenses, or face towels with anyone. 
6. If you have a pink eye infection, stay at home. Follow your doctor’s instructions till recovery. 

Conclusion: So, technically farts can give you a pink eye but under very specific circumstances. But farts are directly not responsible for pink eye but your own hands, hygiene, shared towels, viral exposure are indirectly involved. If next time, someone teases you for pink eye because of your fart, then ask them to wash their pillow first. You know.. Slapping without touching. Join the myth but clear it with fact and science behind it.