Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFirst SignsSymptomsDiagnosisSelf-CareMedicationsSimilar ConditionsSymptom DurationWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
First Signs
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Self-Care
Medications
Similar Conditions
Symptom Duration
When to Seek Care
Pink eye—orconjunctivitis—is the inflammation that affects theconjunctiva, or the membrane located inside the eyelid and covering the white part of the eye. Early signs of pink eye include irritation, redness, and watery eyes. Viruses, bacteria, or allergies can cause pink eye. It can start in one eye and then spread to the other.
This article covers the early symptoms of pink eye, how pink eye is diagnosed and treated, and when to contact a healthcare provider.
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What Are the First Signs of Pink Eye?
The first signs of pink eye include:
Keep in mind that these symptoms may not develop early on for everyone.
Other symptoms of pink eye include:
What Does Pink Eye Look Like?
How Pink Eye Symptoms Develop
Pink eye can have a few different causes. The cause of your pink eye determines how symptoms develop, as follows:
How Pink Eye Is Diagnosed
A healthcare provider will typically diagnose pink eye using an eye exam and taking a patient history. Sometimes, the provider may also use a swab to test the eye drainage or discharge to pinpoint a specific type of infection and determine the appropriate treatment.It involves sending the drainage or discharge sample to a lab for analysis.
Conjunctivitis Self-Care
You may need to see a healthcare provider for pink eye. However, there are things you can do at home to ease any irritating symptoms, including:
If your pink eye is due to allergies, you can take the following measures:
How to Identify and Treat Pink Eye in Babies
Prescription Medications for Pink Eye
Often, you cantreat pink eyeat home. However, if you visit a healthcare provider for pink eye, they may prescribe you medication. The type of medication will depend on the cause of your pink eye. Here are the types of medications you might get prescribed for pink eye:
A Word From VerywellBacterial conjunctivitis is rare and usually seen in infants or very sick patients in the hospital. Most commonly, a mucous discharge is seen in allergic conjunctivitis and a clear discharge in a viral infection. Both forms respond nicely to a course of mild steroids.—ANDREW GREENBERG, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Bacterial conjunctivitis is rare and usually seen in infants or very sick patients in the hospital. Most commonly, a mucous discharge is seen in allergic conjunctivitis and a clear discharge in a viral infection. Both forms respond nicely to a course of mild steroids.—ANDREW GREENBERG, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Bacterial conjunctivitis is rare and usually seen in infants or very sick patients in the hospital. Most commonly, a mucous discharge is seen in allergic conjunctivitis and a clear discharge in a viral infection. Both forms respond nicely to a course of mild steroids.
—ANDREW GREENBERG, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Other Conditions That Cause Similar Symptoms
When you have irritation or other symptoms, such as redness or watery eyes, your first reaction might be to think it’s pink eye. However, many conditions can cause similar symptoms. These include:
Red, watery, irritated eyes also could be a sign of more severe conditions, including angle closure glaucoma or a corneal ulcer. When you’re unsure, contact a healthcare provider.
How Long Pink Eye Symptoms Typically Last
For many viral and bacterial forms of pink eye, symptoms usually clear up within one to three weeks. However, you may need prescription medication for more serious forms of pink eye. The medication could reduce the duration of the infection or your risk of spreading pink eye to others.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
You should contact a healthcare provider for pink eye if you have:
A healthcare provider can also guide you when you can return to work or school with pink eye. If you don’t have a fever or other symptoms, a provider may say it’s OK to return to your daily activities outside the home. If you still have symptoms and are in close contact with others, you may have to stay home longer to avoid spreading the infection.
If you have a newborn whom you suspect haspink eye, see a healthcare provider right away as it could be the sign of a more severe infection.
Summary
Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is inflammation of the conjunctiva or the white part of the eye. Bacteria, a virus, or allergens can cause it. Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are contagious to others, but allergic pink eye is not. Symptoms include red, watery, irritated eyes with discharge.
Healthcare providers will examine the eye and and take a patient history to diagnose pink eye. See a healthcare provider for pink eye if you have moderate to severe eye pain, your symptoms aren’t improving after home treatment, or you have a weakened immune system.
8 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.National Eye Institute.At a glance: pink eye. November 15, 2023.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivitis: what is pink eye?April 25, 2023.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pink eye.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis: Diagnosis.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Quick home remedies for pink eye. April 27, 2023.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis: treatment. January 4, 2019.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Is it pink eye or something else?July 26, 2023.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis (pink eye) in newborns.
8 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.National Eye Institute.At a glance: pink eye. November 15, 2023.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivitis: what is pink eye?April 25, 2023.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pink eye.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis: Diagnosis.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Quick home remedies for pink eye. April 27, 2023.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis: treatment. January 4, 2019.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Is it pink eye or something else?July 26, 2023.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis (pink eye) in newborns.
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.
National Eye Institute.At a glance: pink eye. November 15, 2023.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivitis: what is pink eye?April 25, 2023.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pink eye.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis: Diagnosis.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Quick home remedies for pink eye. April 27, 2023.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis: treatment. January 4, 2019.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Is it pink eye or something else?July 26, 2023.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis (pink eye) in newborns.
National Eye Institute.At a glance: pink eye. November 15, 2023.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivitis: what is pink eye?April 25, 2023.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pink eye.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis: Diagnosis.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Quick home remedies for pink eye. April 27, 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis: treatment. January 4, 2019.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Is it pink eye or something else?July 26, 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis (pink eye) in newborns.
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