Conjunctivitis Symptoms: How Can You Tell If You Have Pink Eye?
 Conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the eye that is more commonly referred to as pink eye, has several different types. Treatment and conjunctivitis symptoms vary from type to type, so it is very important to determine what the pink eye cause is before beginning a treatment regimen.
If you suspect you may have pink eye, you may want to look for these common conjunctivitis symptoms in order to help figure out the cause of your infection:
- Bacterial:
- Goopy or puss-filled eyes
- Prominent infection in one eye
- Redness
- Itching
- Crusty eyes, especially in the morning
- Pain or discomfort
- Swelling
- Sensitivity to light
- Viral:
- Watery discharge
- Redness
- Itching
- Infection in one or both eyes
- Sore throat
- Pain or discomfort
- Light sensitivity
- Allergic:
- Puffy, red eyes
- Increased tear production
- Stuffy nose
- Swelling
- Itching
- Blurred vision
While all three main types share some similar conjunctivitis symptoms (red, itchy eyes with some type of discharge), the approaches to each are very different. Bacterial conjunctivitis usually requires antibiotics to help heal the infection, while allergic conjunctivitis can often be eased with antihistamines and other allergy medication. It's generally accepted that there is no treatment for viral conjunctivitis, and the infection is frequently left to clear up on its own while treating the discomforting conjunctivitis symptoms in order to bring relief.
No matter the type, pink eye is extremely contagious. Visit your doctor as soon as you begin experiencing conjunctivitis symptoms in order to help determine the best treatment option and help prevent the spread of the infection to others.
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