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Pinkeye - Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

Blurred vision, loss of vision, or blood in your eye: Go to the topic Eye Problems, Noninjury.
An eye injury: Go to the topic Eye Injuries.
An object in your eye: Go to the topic Objects in the Eye.
A liquid or solid chemical in your eye: Go to the topic Burns to the Eye.


	Yes

Do you have eye pain?


	Yes

Do you have drainage from one or both eyes?


	Yes

Are your eyes sensitive to light (photophobia)?


	Yes

Have your eye symptoms continued longer than 7 days?


	Yes

Have your eye symptoms continued after starting antibiotic treatment for an eye infection?


	Yes

Do you wear contact lenses?


	Yes

Do you have severe eye pain?


	Yes

Do you have moderate eye pain?


	Yes

Do you have mild eye pain that has not improved after 24 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have swollen, red eyelids and a fever?


	Yes

Does your baby age 3 months or younger have new drainage from his or her eyes?


	Yes

Do you have a large amount of thick yellow drainage that continues to form after cleaning your eye?


	Yes

Do you have swollen, red eyelids that stay swollen after cleaning away eye drainage?


	Yes

Do you have white, yellow, or tan drainage from the eye that looks like pus and has gotten worse or not improved after 24 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Are watery eyes from allergies interfering with work, school, or other activities?


	Yes

Have you had a small amount of eye drainage off and on for longer than 2 weeks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Have your eyes suddenly become very sensitive to light (photophobia)?


	Yes

Is your long-term sensitivity to light getting worse?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have eye redness (hyperemia)?


	Yes

Do you have swollen, red eyelids without eye drainage?


	Yes

Do you have a lot of tearing?


	Yes

Do you feel like you have something in your eye (foreign body sensation)?


	Yes

Do your eyes itch or burn?


	Yes

Have you had any eye symptoms for longer than 2 weeks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Have your symptoms gotten worse after using an antibiotic treatment for 24 hours?Note: If you answered Yes, call your doctor to discuss your symptoms. An appointment may not be necessary.


	Yes

Have your symptoms not improved after using an antibiotic treatment for 48 hours?Note: If you answered Yes, call your doctor to discuss your symptoms. An appointment may not be necessary.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Have you had pinkeye more than once while wearing contact lenses?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: December 17, 2009

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.