Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat They AreSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What They Are

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

Your eye is red and watery and your vision is blurred. Something is wrong, but you’re not quite sure what. Is this a case of pink eye from an infection, allergy, or chemical exposure? Or, could you have a corneal abrasion (scratched cornea), where the top layer of thecornea, the clear dome of the eye, is scraped?

These symptoms could be a sign of either condition. Other signs and symptoms can help to differentiate the two. For example, a thick eye discharge is a sign that you’re dealing with bacterial pink eye and not a corneal abrasion.

This article will explore what’s involved with pink eye and a scratched cornea, including symptoms, causes, diagnostic procedures, and treatment. Here’s what to keep in mind if you find yourself in this situation.

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Person having eye symptoms of tearing and discomfort that could be pink eye or scratched cornea

Is It Scratched Cornea or Pink Eye?

With your eye red and irritated, it may be hard to determine what condition is present. But a scratched cornea and pink eye are very different despite some similar symptoms.

What Is Scratched Cornea?

With a scratched cornea, there’s an issue with the top layer of corneal tissue. Some of this layer has been inadvertently removed, exposing the tissue underneath, which it normally protects. This is not unlike if you scrape some of the skin off your knee, which, among other things, can be painful.

What Is Pink Eye?

Pink eye, also known asconjunctivitis, means your conjunctiva (the clear membrane over the white part of the eye) is either infected or irritated. This is something that can happen in one or both eyes.

Your first clue that something is amiss will be when you see a red, tearing eye in the mirror. Both a corneal abrasion and pink eye can have overlapping symptoms.

If you have a corneal abrasion, the symptoms will be in only one eye. Symptoms you’re likely to have include:

In cases of pink eye, the following symptoms may occur in one or both eyes:

One of the things that can distinguish these two conditions can be the cause. If you know that something physical happened to your eye just before the symptoms started, that may mean you’re dealing with a corneal abrasion. But if friends and family members also have similar complaints, it’s likely pink eye, which can be contagious.

Consider some of the causes of each.

Scratched Cornea

This can occur after something has gone into the eye, such as a tree branch, fingernail, or even some sand or grit. It can also happen from wearing contact lenses. People who rub their eyes or have dry eyes may also be vulnerable to corneal abrasions.

Pink Eye

Figuring out whether you have a scratched cornea or pink eye will begin with taking a detailed history of how it may have occurred. Then, a healthcare practitioner may perform certain tests. Here’s what to expect.

Don’t be surprised if they put you in front of what’s known as aslit lampto take a closer look at the eye. This uses a strong light source and a microscope to allow a detailed look at the eye’s surface.

A healthcare provider will usually diagnose pink eye based on your history, symptoms, and examining the eye. If the pink eye is not going away on its own, they may culture the eye to determine the cause. This can help guide treatment.

After making the diagnosis, a healthcare provider will tailor treatment to your unique circumstances.

If you have a scratched cornea, potential treatments may include the following:

With pink eye, the treatment approach will vary depending on the type, including:

Summary

A scratched cornea and pink eye may look similar when you have a red, teary eye. The conditions have very different causes. A detailed history of what happened before symptoms were noticed may help distinguish between the two.

A Word From Verywell

Realizing that your eye is red and teary and that you may have either a scratched cornea or pink eye may concern you. The good news is that in most cases, once either is properly diagnosed, it can be effectively treated. Your eye problem should soon clear up and return to normal.

Yes. Some of the symptoms, such as having a red, teary eye, are similar. But the causes are very different.

Either bacterial or viral pink eye can be contagious. Bacterial pink eye is contagious from when symptoms first appear and for as long as you have discharge. If you take antibiotics, you will be contagious for up to 24 hours after you begin the treatment.Viral pink eye can be contagious for the entire time you have symptoms until this eventually clears up, which may take from several days to a couple of weeks. Other forms of pink eye are not contagious.The virus can also stay on surfaces for up to two weeks.

Either bacterial or viral pink eye can be contagious. Bacterial pink eye is contagious from when symptoms first appear and for as long as you have discharge. If you take antibiotics, you will be contagious for up to 24 hours after you begin the treatment.

Viral pink eye can be contagious for the entire time you have symptoms until this eventually clears up, which may take from several days to a couple of weeks. Other forms of pink eye are not contagious.The virus can also stay on surfaces for up to two weeks.

If you have pink eye, you generally have red, teary eyes with slight swelling and discharge. In some cases, your lids may also be puffy with some crusting near the lashes.

Usually, there are no long-term complications with pink eye. But if it becomes a chronic condition, with lingering inflammation, it could cause permanent vision issues.Corneal abrasions usually do not cause any permanent damage. However, a deep scratch may cause corneal scarring, which can result in permanently hazy vision.

Usually, there are no long-term complications with pink eye. But if it becomes a chronic condition, with lingering inflammation, it could cause permanent vision issues.

Corneal abrasions usually do not cause any permanent damage. However, a deep scratch may cause corneal scarring, which can result in permanently hazy vision.

9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wills Eye Hospital.Corneal abrasion.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivitis: what is pink eye?Yale Medicine.Corneal abrasion.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Corneal abrasion and erosion.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis (pink eye).University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.How long is pink eye contagious?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pink eye.Columbia University.Corneal disease, facts about.American Academy of Ophthalmology.First aid for eye scratches.

9 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wills Eye Hospital.Corneal abrasion.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivitis: what is pink eye?Yale Medicine.Corneal abrasion.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Corneal abrasion and erosion.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis (pink eye).University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.How long is pink eye contagious?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pink eye.Columbia University.Corneal disease, facts about.American Academy of Ophthalmology.First aid for eye scratches.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Wills Eye Hospital.Corneal abrasion.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivitis: what is pink eye?Yale Medicine.Corneal abrasion.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Corneal abrasion and erosion.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis (pink eye).University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.How long is pink eye contagious?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pink eye.Columbia University.Corneal disease, facts about.American Academy of Ophthalmology.First aid for eye scratches.

Wills Eye Hospital.Corneal abrasion.

American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivitis: what is pink eye?

Yale Medicine.Corneal abrasion.

American Academy of Ophthalmology.Corneal abrasion and erosion.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis (pink eye).

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.How long is pink eye contagious?

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pink eye.

Columbia University.Corneal disease, facts about.

American Academy of Ophthalmology.First aid for eye scratches.

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