What Is Pink Eye?
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the thin, clear tissue (conjunctiva) that covers the white of your eye and lines your eyelid. The "pink" look comes from dilated blood vessels in response to irritation or infection. Pink eye has three main causes — and knowing which type you have determines the right treatment.
The Three Types of Pink Eye
Viral conjunctivitis is the most common type, usually associated with a cold or upper respiratory infection. It causes redness, watery discharge, and sometimes a gritty or burning sensation. It spreads easily and resolves on its own in 1–2 weeks. Antibiotics do not help viral pink eye.
Bacterial conjunctivitis typically presents with thick, yellow or green discharge that causes the eye to crust shut, especially after sleep. One or both eyes can be affected. This type responds well to antibiotic eye drops (erythromycin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin) prescribed by a physician.
Allergic conjunctivitis comes with intense itching, redness, and watery eyes — often in both eyes simultaneously and often during allergy season. Antihistamine eye drops or oral antihistamines are the treatment here.
How to Tell the Types Apart
Here's a quick clinical guide:
- Itchy, both eyes, during allergy season? → Allergic
- Watery discharge, accompanied by cold or sore throat? → Viral
- Thick yellow-green discharge, crusting, sudden onset? → Bacterial
During a video visit, I can see your eye directly and assess discharge characteristics, whether both eyes are involved, and your full symptom picture to make this determination.
Can I Get Eye Drop Prescription Online?
Yes — for bacterial conjunctivitis, a physician can evaluate your symptoms via video and prescribe antibiotic eye drops electronically to your pharmacy. This is one of the most straightforward telehealth encounters there is. Most pharmacies have the medication ready within an hour.
Pink Eye Prevention (It's Extremely Contagious)
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly
- Don't share towels, pillowcases, or eye makeup
- Avoid touching your eyes
- If bacterial: stay home from work or school until 24 hours after starting treatment and discharge has significantly cleared
When to Go In Person Instead
Seek urgent in-person evaluation for: severe eye pain (not just discomfort), significant vision changes, a foreign body sensation that won't resolve, or eye redness in a contact lens wearer that doesn't improve — this can indicate a more serious infection.
| FAQ: How do I know if my pink eye is bacterial or viral? Bacterial pink eye typically produces thick, yellow-green discharge and crusting. Viral pink eye produces watery discharge and often accompanies cold symptoms. A physician can differentiate based on your full symptom picture. |
| FAQ: Will pink eye go away without treatment? Viral and allergic pink eye resolve on their own. Bacterial pink eye also often self-resolves, but antibiotic eye drops significantly shorten the course and reduce contagiousness faster. |
| FAQ: How long is pink eye contagious? Viral pink eye can be contagious for 10–14 days. Bacterial pink eye is contagious until 24–48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment and discharge has cleared. |
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