The incubation period for an illness is the length of time it takes for the symptoms to begin after the person has been exposed to the virus or bacteria that causes the ailment. When someone becomes infected with a virus or bacteria, symptoms do not begin immediately. The pink eye incubation period for most kinds of pink eye ranges from a couple days to two weeks. After the incubation period, the pink eye symptoms start.

The pink eye incubation period varies with the type of pink eye. Many common types of bacterial conjunctivitis have an incubation period of one to three days. For bacterial pink eye, the symptoms often start on one eye. The infection is usually spreads to the other eye rather quickly.

For bacterial conjunctivitis from gonorrhea, the incubation period is two to five days in newborns. In adults, the incubation period for gonococcal pink eye, pink eye caused by gonorrhea, may be as short as twelve hours. After the incubation period, pink eye from gonorrhea can cause considerable eyelid swelling.

Inclusion conjunctivitis is caused by some strains of the Chlamydia bacteria. The pink eye incubation period for inclusion pink eye is five to fourteen days in newborns. The incubation period for inclusion conjunctivitis in adults is two to nineteen days. Trachoma is another kind of pink eye caused by Chlamydia bacteria.

Trachoma is common in poverty-stricken areas. The incubation period for trachoma is about seven days.
The viral conjunctivitis incubation period for most viruses is five to twelve days. Most cases of viral pink eye are caused by the same viruses that can cause the common cold and coughs. The viral pink eye due to herpes is usually caused by Herpes Simplex 1. In newborns, conjunctivitis due to herpes is rare, but is generally caused by Herpes Simplex 2. Herpetic pink eye in newborns occurs within two weeks of the birth. Conjunctivitis due to herpes usually affects only one eye and can be recurrent.

After the incubation period, the person starts to experience symptoms of pink eye. The common symptoms are redness of the eye, itchiness, watery eyes, swelling of the eyelids, and discharge from the eyes. Bacterial pink eye usually causes a pus-like, yellowish discharge from the eyes. Some people experience photophobia, which is sensitivity to light. Pink eye can cause foreign body sensation. Foreign body sensation is the sense that something is in the eye.