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Understanding Pink Eye - Symptoms
What Are the Symptoms of Pink Eye?
- Burning, itchy eyes that discharge a thick, sticky mucus may indicate bacterial pink eye.
- Copious tears, a swollen lymph node, and a light discharge of mucus from one eye are signs of viral pink eye. People with viral pink eye often have symptoms of an upper respiratory infection or cold.
- Redness, intense itching, and tears in both eyes may indicate allergic pink eye.
- Inflamed red bumps are usually visible on the underside of the upper eyelid in people with giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC). This occurs mainly in contact lens wearers, particularly those wearing soft lenses.
Call Your Doctor About Pink Eye If:
- You physically injured your eye. Eye injuries can become infected and lead to corneal ulcers, which lead to irreversible vision loss.
- Your eyes become red when you wear contact lenses. Remove the lenses immediately and see your ophthalmologist; you may have a corneal infection.
- The redness in your eye is affecting your vision and is accompanied by severe pain or excessive yellow or green discharge. You may have a bacterial infection.
- Your conjunctivitis frequently recurs or appears to be getting worse after three days of home treatment; you may have a bacterial or viral infection.
- Your newborn baby's eyes are red or produce a discharge. This may indicate ophthalmia neonatorum, which must be treated immediately to prevent permanent eye damage.
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by
John P Keenan, MD on November 25, 2008
© 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
Common Treatments for Eye Problems
A new eye treatment has patients seeing the world in a new light. It’s called conductive keratoplasty and "CK” is not only effective but also fast.
