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Doctor insights on: Pink Eye Or Just Irritated

History: Pink eye is a generic term for inflammation of the eye. The causes include allergy, viral or bacterial. To determine the cause of pink eye the events prior would help detained the cause.

Slang: Pink eye is also known medically as conjunctivitis. Both irritated eyes and pink eye can have similar symptoms. Ophthalmologists often look for the presence of inflammed lymph nodes for conjunctivitis. Allergy follows a different pattern in terms of symptoms and can cause much more itching. All can create watery irritated eyes. Your local eye specialist can help.

Red eye: If simple redness, try visine over the counter. However, if it bacterial conjunctivitis (Bacterial pink eye) than it would require an antibiotic to treat it. Keep your hands clean always and best wishes.

Conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis ("pink eye") is a viral or bacterial infection of the conjunctiva of the eye, which is the lining over the white of the eye. Symptoms include redness, discharge, itching and swelling. More severe cases can cause pain or blurred vision. One or both eyes can be affected. Viral infections are more common and are highly contagious with a watery discharge. Bacterial discharge is pus-like.

Not really: Those 3 are very similar when it comes to symptoms, however on an eye exam, they are very different. Usually the primary care doctors give anti allergy drops for all 3 and if it doesn't work them they send it to an eye doctor. However, keep in mind that pink eye is contagious, so you want to get an accurate diagnosis.

Yes he can: Most likely because the pink eye was actually viral and the antibiotics were not able to treat it. There are no treatments for viral infections - it just takes time to go away. He should probably see his doctor or urgent care today or tomorrow to find out if an antibiotic eye drop is necessary. In the meantime - warm compresses and Naphcon-A eye drops.

Yes: It could be more serious than pink eye. A visit to your local eye doctor is suggested.

Comforting: Similasan is a tear replacement with no therapeutic qualities. It is generally used for eye dryness, and may provide comfort when pink eye is present. It will not alter the course of the self limited infection of the lining of the eye. No harm will come from its use.

Pink eye: If red pink eye is due to a virus, artificial tears will help relieve symptoms of irritation and should do no harm (non preserved are best as can use every hr if need; preserved no more than 4x/d); but they do not cure virus: needs to run its course 2 wks; see eyeMD if need stronger meds for relief & for rapid antigen test to see if is a virus.

Can be either: The eye irritation may be the start of a "pink eye"--but also could just be irritation from pool chemicals. Would suggest using saline eye drops for the next day. If you start having any drainage from the eyes, then this is prob an infection and will require antibiotic eye drops. IF the irritation goes away with the saline drops, then it was just from the pool chemicals. If question, medical ap

Conjunctivitis: Eye irritation can be secondary to foreign body, dust, strong wind, etc. Conjunctivitis can be viral, bacterial or allergic in origin. You have redness in your eye, purulent discharge, pain in bacterial conjunctivitis. Consult md for antibiotics. If your eyes started itching with redness and lacrimation, get eye gtts. For allergy. Go to your md for further evaluation nd treatment.

Massage and? Antibx: Plugged tear ducts are what you are describing and are not uncommon. When the tears can't drain properly because of the blocked duct, the tears sitting by the lids can cause intermittent irritation and make the baby more prone to developing conjunctivitis. You need to be doing tear duct massage several times a day, (have your pediatrician show you how), and may need on ; off antibiotic treatment.

Please see an eye: Doctor or go to the emergency room to have this looked at. This may still be pink eye (bacterial conjunctivitis), but it also could be a scratch on the eye or a broken blood vessel (could happen from vomiting or trauma) or the start of a viral or allergic conjunctivitis. The only way to tell is to be examined.

Probably a virus: The most likely cause would be a viral conjunctivitis. It is possible some of the spray paint went into your eyes but you would would have noticed this almost immediately. You might also be allergic to the paint. This would have caused both reddening of the eyes and the swelling of the eyelids. Try cool compresses to the eyes and artificial tears. If no relief see your doctor.

Opthal med in ear: Your eye medications aren't made for your ears and certainly not the outer ear. Furthermore, you don't know if the outer ear has a bacterial infection or not (antibiotics only work on bacteria, not on viruses). What you are proposing is not recommended. Please see your primary medical doctor for a careful evaluation.

Pink eye: If you have discharge, you need to be seen right away because you are infectious. If you have no discharge, you can make an appointment with your specialist eye md and wait. Many conditions such as allergy, dry eye, and autoimmune diseases can cause red eyes that are not infectious. Hope that helps!

Pinkeye: Pinkeye, or conjunctivitis, has many causes, including viruses, bacteria, allergy, inflammation, foreign bodies in the eye, etc. The first thing to do is not rub the eye. Then, you could try some cold artificial tears, such as theratears (available over-the-counter). If this does not bring relief within a few hours, call your local eye doctor for an appointment.

Exam: She needs an exam. Getting poked would typically only cause tearing, and then lead to possible redness. An infection would be red with possible discharge and tearing, irritation could be all of the above.

A few clues to this: Pink eye is an infection with rapid onset, usually in one eye and then spreading to the other with a clear discharge and a sensation of sandy eye feeling. Allergy is episodic, seasonal, usually both eyes, with itching and sometimes lid swelling. Neither usually affect the vision. Sometimes the symptoms overlap. You might need an ophthalmologist to make the distinction.

Infection likely: Although allergy can cause the symptoms you describe, they usually are present in both eyes. The feeling of sandiness is more likely associated with infection rather than allergy.