What Does Pink Eye Look Like? Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Discover how to recognize, treat, and prevent pink eye with detailed symptom breakdowns, causes, and visual signs.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 25, 2025

Discover how to recognize, treat, and prevent pink eye with detailed symptom breakdowns, causes, and visual signs.

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is one of the most common and recognizable eye conditions, especially in children. The inflammation and redness that characterizes pink eye can cause discomfort, but accurately identifying symptoms and understanding the causes can lead to faster treatment and prevention of its spread. This article provides a comprehensive overview of what pink eye looks like, its types, symptoms by cause, potential complications, and guidance on when to see a doctor.

Understanding Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Pink eye is medically known as conjunctivitis. It involves inflammation of the conjunctiva — the thin, transparent tissue lining the inside of your eyelid and covering the white part of your eyeball. When the small blood vessels in this tissue become inflamed, they become more visible, making the eye look pink or reddish.

The condition is very common in both children and adults.
It can affect one or both eyes.
It is highly contagious in viral and bacterial forms, but not in allergic or irritant cases.

What Does Pink Eye Look Like?

The classic appearance of pink eye includes:

Red or pink tint to the white part of the eye (sclera)
Swollen eyelids or under-eye area
Discharge from the eye, which may be watery, white, yellow, or green
Crusty lashes, especially in the morning (eyes may be stuck shut upon waking)
Itchy, gritty, or burning sensation in one or both eyes
Tearing or increased tear production
Sensitivity to light (photophobia)

Other symptoms can include blurred vision and, in some viral forms, swollen lymph nodes just in front of the ear or under the jaw.

Visual Guide: Pink Eye vs. Healthy Eye

Feature	Pink Eye	Healthy Eye
Eye Color	White of eye appears pink or red	White (no visible redness)
Discharge	Watery, mucous, or pus-like (yellow, white, green)	Clear, minimal tearing
Eyelid	Swollen, sometimes crusty upon waking	Normal, not swollen, clean lashes
Sensation	Itchy, gritty, burning sensation	No discomfort

Types of Pink Eye

Not all cases of pink eye have the same cause, and symptoms sometimes differ depending on the type.

Viral conjunctivitis: The most common form, often spreads easily. Causes watery discharge and often starts in one eye before spreading to the other. Associated with the same viruses that cause colds. Can include slight swelling in front of the ear. May be accompanied by cold symptoms such as a runny nose or sore throat.
Bacterial conjunctivitis: Caused by bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and others. Tends to cause more pus-like (thick yellow, white, or green) discharge that can glue the eyelids shut, especially in the morning. May begin in one eye but often spreads to the second eye.
Allergic conjunctivitis: Triggered by allergens (pollen, pet dander, dust). Not contagious. Causes redness, itching, tearing, and swelling. Both eyes are usually affected, and people may also experience other allergy symptoms, such as sneezing or nasal congestion.
Other irritant conjunctivitis: Chemicals (like chlorine in pools or air pollutants) or a foreign object in the eye can also cause similar symptoms, typically in one eye only, and these cases typically resolve quickly after the irritant is removed.

Comparing Symptoms by Pink Eye Type

Symptom	Viral	Bacterial	Allergic	Irritant
Redness	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Itching	Sometimes	Sometimes	Yes	Sometimes
Watery Discharge	Yes	Sometimes	Yes	Yes
Thick Discharge	No	Yes	No	Rarely
Crusting in Morning	Sometimes	Yes	Sometimes	No
Both Eyes Affected	Often begins in one eye, spreads to the other	Usually one, can spread	Usually both	Usually one
Other Symptoms	Cold symptoms, swollen lymph node	No systemic symptoms	Other allergy symptoms	Irritation only

Early Pink Eye Symptoms

Pink eye sometimes starts with mild, subtle symptoms before it becomes fully obvious. Recognizing early symptoms can help prevent spreading the infection.

Sensation of sand or grit in the eye
Mild redness or irritation
Mild itching or dryness
Watery or slightly mucous-like discharge
Slight tenderness or swelling around the eye

As the condition progresses, symptoms intensify—especially discharge, redness, and swelling. In bacterial cases, thick discharge leading to stuck eyelids in the morning is common.

What Causes Pink Eye?

Pink eye has several potential causes:

Viruses: Most common cause, highly contagious, spreads through hand-to-eye contact or shared items.
Bacteria: Spread by direct contact with infected hands or surfaces. Less common than viral types, also contagious.
Allergens: Pollens, dust mites, animal dander. Usually not contagious; tied to seasonal allergies.
Chemical irritants: Such as chlorine in swimming pools, smoke, or air pollution.
Poor contact lens hygiene: Wearing contacts too long or without cleaning them properly can increase risk.
Foreign object in the eye: May cause localized inflammation that mimics pink eye but improves once removed.

Common Misdiagnoses

Several eye conditions can look similar to pink eye, leading to potential misdiagnoses. These include:

Dry eye syndrome
Blepharitis (eyelid inflammation)
Allergic reactions unrelated to conjunctivitis
Foreign body in the eye
Iritis (inflammation of the iris)
Chemical burns or irritations

Treatments for Pink Eye

Treatment depends largely on the cause of the conjunctivitis:

Viral pink eye: There is no specific treatment—symptoms usually resolve within 1–3 weeks. Artificial tears and cold compresses can help relieve discomfort. Avoid touching or rubbing eyes, and wash hands frequently.
Bacterial pink eye: May require antibiotic eye drops or ointments, especially in moderate or severe cases. Symptoms typically improve after several days of treatment.
Allergic pink eye: Treated with allergy medications (oral antihistamines, allergy eye drops). Removing or avoiding the allergen is important. Symptoms may disappear once the trigger is eliminated.
Irritant pink eye: Flushing the eye with water and removing the irritant usually resolves symptoms quickly.

Self-care tips also play a vital role:

Avoid wearing contact lenses until the infection or irritation clears.
Do not share towels, pillowcases, or cosmetics.
Apply cold or warm compresses (use a clean cloth each time) to reduce swelling and soothe discomfort.
Practice frequent handwashing, especially after touching the eyes.
Avoid touching or rubbing the affected eye(s).

When to Call Your Doctor

Most cases of pink eye resolve without complications, but medical evaluation is important if you experience any of the following:

Profuse yellow or green discharge, or eyelids stuck together in the morning
Severe pain or tenderness in the eye
Blurred vision that does not improve after wiping away discharge
Inability to tolerate light (photophobia)
High fever, chills, or significant facial pain
Symptoms persist beyond two weeks
If a newborn develops pink eye, seek prompt medical attention to prevent serious complications

Do not hesitate to contact your healthcare provider to make sure you get the right diagnosis and care, especially if your symptoms worsen or do not improve.

How to Prevent Pink Eye

Prevention is essential, especially since some forms of pink eye are highly contagious. Follow these tips to reduce your risk:

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes.
Do not share towels, washcloths, makeup, or eye drops.
Change pillowcases and towels regularly, especially if you or someone in your family is infected.
Follow good contact lens hygiene, including remover and cleaning as directed by your provider.
Stay home from school or work until symptoms improve, as advised by your healthcare provider.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I tell if my eye infection is pink eye or something else?

Pink eye typically causes redness, discharge, and irritation, while other eye conditions like styes involve a clear bump or localized swelling, and dry eye does not usually produce discharge. If you have pain, vision changes, or severe discomfort, consult an eye doctor to rule out other conditions.

Is pink eye always contagious?

Viral and bacterial pink eye are contagious, especially while there is discharge. Allergic and irritant conjunctivitis are not contagious.

Can pink eye cause permanent vision problems?

Most cases do not cause lasting problems when treated promptly. Severe or untreated bacterial infections may lead to complications, but this is rare.

How long does pink eye take to clear up?

Viral pink eye often resolves in 1–3 weeks. Bacterial pink eye can improve within a few days of antibiotic treatment. Allergic conjunctivitis resolves when exposure to allergens stops and appropriate medications are used.

What should I avoid if I have pink eye?

Avoid wearing contact lenses, sharing personal items, and touching your eyes. Always wash hands after wiping your eyes or applying any medications.

Key Takeaways

Pink eye usually causes redness, discharge, swelling, and discomfort.
Most cases are mild, but proper hygiene and care prevent further spread.
Seek medical advice for severe or persistent symptoms, or in infants and newborns.
Viral and bacterial types are contagious; allergic and irritant pink eye are not.

Being able to identify what pink eye looks like and knowing when to seek professional help can prevent complications and keep your eyes healthy.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

Read full bio of medha deb