A red, watery, or crusty eye can look like a pink eye. Sometimes it is. Pink eye urgent care can be a good choice when symptoms are getting worse, you have a lot of discharge, or you are not sure what is causing the problem. Many routine cases of conjunctivitis can be checked and treated at urgent care.Some cases can also be managed at home. Others need an eye doctor or emergency care.Here is how to tell the difference.
Can Urgent Care Treat Pink Eye?
Yes. Pink eye or conjunctivitis is a frequent condition that is evaluated by urgent care clinics.A doctor can examine your eye, ask questions about your symptoms, and search for clues as to what is causing the condition. They may also inquire about contact lenses, allergies, a recent cold, eye injury and contact with chemicals.
Treatment will be based on what they discover.This is important because not all pink eye can be treated with antibiotics. There have to be different treatments for viral infections, bacterial infections and allergies.The best uses of urgent health care are when the issue requires attention promptly, yet does not seem to be a serious eye emergency.
What Is Pink Eye?
Pink eye is inflammation of the thin clear tissue (conjunctiva) covering the white part of your eye and lining the inside of your eyelid.This tissue is easily irritated and/or infected, and small blood vessels can be seen. Your eye might then appear pink or red.Pink eye may be caused by:
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- A virus
- Bacteria
- Allergies
- Chemicals or other irritants
- A foreign object in the eye
Viral infections are a common cause.The cause affects both treatment and whether you can spread it to other people.
Pink Eye Symptoms to Watch For
Common pink eye symptoms include:
- Red or pink eyes
- Watery eyes
- Itching
- Burning
- A gritty feeling
- Puffy eyelids
- Mucus or other discharge
- Crust around the lashes, especially after sleep
Either one or both eyes can be involved.There are some symptoms that need more focus.If the eye hurts when you touch it, if the vision doesn’t clear up after wiping discharge out of the eye, if the eye is extremely sensitive to light or it is extremely red, it may be a more serious issue than everyday conjunctivitis.Not all red eyes are pink eye.
Viral, Bacterial, or Allergic Pink Eye?
Sometimes it is difficult to determine the cause by observing your eye. Symptoms often overlap.Nevertheless, there are a couple patterns that will assist you.
Viral Pink Eye
Pink eye (caused by a virus) can lead to watery discharge and can occur after or during a cold or respiratory infection.Can be easily passed from person to person.The majority of mild viral cases will not require antibiotics. Many people recover in about 7-14 days, but some may last longer, the CDC reports.
Bacterial Pink Eye
Thicker mucus or pus may be a symptom of bacterial pink eye. Eyelids can adhere to each other after sleep.A few mild cases of bacteria get better without a prescription for antibiotics. Antibiotic drops or ointment may be prescribed by a clinician when they are likely to be beneficial, e.g., when there is pus present or certain types of bacteria are suspected.Never use eye drops that are left over from another antibiotic.
Allergic Conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis often affects both eyes.Itching may be strong. Treatment may include avoiding the trigger and using allergy medicine or certain eye drops when appropriate.
When Should You Go to Urgent Care for Pink Eye?
Consider conjunctivitis urgent care when you need a medical exam soon and cannot get timely care from your regular clinician.Urgent care may make sense if:
- Your eye keeps getting redder
- You have ongoing discharge or crusting
- Symptoms are not improving
- You are unsure whether it is pink eye
- You may have a bacterial infection
- Symptoms are interfering with normal daily activities
- You have a weakened immune system
- You need guidance about work, school, or infection control
Infants who have symptoms of pink eye must see a doctor immediately.Extra care must also be taken by contact-lens wearers.Stop wearing contacts as soon as pink eye symptoms start. People who wear contact lenses may get infections on the front (cornea) of the eye. People wearing contacts and developing bacterial conjunctivitis are at greater risk of developing bacterial keratitis and should seek immediate eye care, CDC notes
Pink Eye: Home Care vs Urgent Care vs ER
This part trips people up.A red eye does not always mean you need the emergency room.
Home Care May Be Reasonable
Sometimes mild symptoms with no warning signs may be treated at home.Irritation and dryness can be alleviated by using cold compresses and artificial tears. Do not wear contact lenses while you have symptoms.If symptoms get worse or don’t improve, check.
Choose Urgent Care
An eye infection urgent care visit may be reasonable when symptoms need same-day or soon care but there is no major injury or sudden vision problem.Urgent care can often check routine conjunctivitis and decide whether you need prescription treatment or an eye specialist.
Get Prompt Eye or Emergency Care
Seek prompt medical care for:
- Moderate or severe eye pain
- Blurred vision that does not clear after removing discharge
- Strong sensitivity to light
- Intense redness
- Symptoms that are getting worse
These symptoms can occur with more serious eye conditions.A chemical splash, serious eye injury, or sudden loss of vision needs urgent emergency evaluation rather than a routine pink eye visit.
What Happens at Urgent Care for Pink Eye?
A pink eye exam is usually straightforward.
The clinician may ask:
- When did the redness start?
- Is one eye affected or both?
- Is the discharge watery or thick?
- Does the eye hurt?
- Is your vision normal?
- Does bright light bother you?
- Do you wear contacts?
- Do you have allergies?
- Have you recently had a cold?
- Did anything get into your eye?
They will also study the eye and eyelids.The diagnosis of most cases of pink eye can be made based on history and ophthalmologic examination. Testing in the lab is not typically required, but may be considered in unusual or serious cases.If it’s indicated that the problem requires seeing an ophthalmologist, the clinician might suggest that the patient should seek a second opinion with an eye specialist.
Pink Eye Treatment Depends on the Cause
There is no single pink eye treatment that works for everyone.
Viral Pink Eye Treatment
Viruses can’t be cured with antibiotics.With mild viral pink eye, treatment typically is aimed at comfort only until the virus has passed. Cold compresses and artificial tears may help.If symptoms are worsening or severe, some less common viral eye infections will require prescription antiviral treatment.
Bacterial Pink Eye Treatment
In some bacterial cases, antibiotic treatment is not required.Sometimes antibiotic eye drops or ointment are prescribed by the clinician if necessary. Antibiotics may be more beneficial where there is pus, immune system problems or where some bacteria are suspected.Request instructions on how to take any medication you are prescribed from your clinician or pharmacist.
Allergic Conjunctivitis Treatment
This is directed at the allergy, not an infection.Minimizing or eliminating exposure to the trigger can help. Allergy medications and/or prescription eye drops may also be recommended by the clinician.
What If You Wear Contact Lenses?
Remove the lenses.Unless told otherwise by an eye care professional, do not replace them in with a red or infected eye.Inquire about the replacement of the disposable lens, the storage case, or the cleaning solution. After conjunctivitis, contact-lens care is dependent on the type and cause of the conjunctivitis, notes Mayo Clinic.
How to Keep Pink Eye From Spreading
Viral and bacterial pink eye can spread easily.A few simple steps help:
- Wash your hands often
- Avoid rubbing your eyes
- Do not share towels or washcloths
- Do not share eye makeup
- Keep your hands away from eye-drop bottle tips
- Follow contact-lens cleaning rules
- Wash pillowcases and items that may have eye discharge on them
If one eye is infected, be careful not to move germs from that eye to the other.Allergic conjunctivitis does not spread between people.
Pink Eye Urgent Care in Chicago and Mount Prospect
For those looking for urgent care in Chicago for pink eye, there are a number of options available, such as primary care, immediate care, urgent care, and eye specialists.Pink eye is now included on urgent or immediate care conditions lists at these Chicago health systems. Pink eye is an example of the conditions that can be evaluated at Rush Urgent Care and Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care.
Lurie Children’s currently has an urgent care for Pediatric patients in Mount Prospect available for pink eye treatment for children and young adults seeking urgent care in the area. One of the conditions listed in its immediate care network is pink eye.This doesn’t imply that one spot should work for everyone. That does not mean one location is right for every person.
Before leaving home, check:
- Current hours
- Age limits
- Whether appointments are needed
- Insurance network status
- Whether the clinic handles your specific eye symptoms
If you have severe eye pain, sudden vision changes, a serious injury, or another emergency warning sign, do not choose a clinic just because it is close.Choose the level of care your symptoms require.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can urgent care prescribe treatment for pink eye?
Yes. Urgent care may be the clinic of choice where the clinician feels that using a prescription is warranted. Treatment depends on the cause, which is either bacterial, viral, allergic or other.
Do I need antibiotics for pink eye?
Not always.Viral or allergic pink eye will not be treated with antibiotics. They may also be beneficial for some mild cases of bacteria. Only your clinician will be able to determine if antibiotic treatment is appropriate for your condition.
How can I tell viral pink eye from bacterial pink eye?
Watery discharge is common with viral pink eye. This bacterial pink eye can cause thicker discharge. In cases of allergies, itching is very intense.However, these indications overlap.An examination will be more useful than making a diagnosis from discharge.
Is allergic conjunctivitis contagious?
No. Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by an allergic reaction, not an infection.
Can I wear contacts with pink eye?
No. Stop wearing contact lenses while you have pink eye symptoms. Ask an eye-care professional when it is safe to start again.
When is a red eye an emergency?
Sudden vision loss, serious eye trauma, or chemical exposure needs emergency attention.Eye pain, blurred vision, strong light sensitivity, or intense redness also deserve prompt medical evaluation because they may point to something other than routine pink eye.
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Know When to Get Your Eye Checked
Most cases of mild pink eye can resolve without significant treatment. However, estimation is not always accurate.Seek medical attention rather than waiting it out if the eye is painful, vision is affected, light causes discomfort, symptoms get worse or if you wear contacts and suspect that there is an infection.If you have a recurring problem with pink eye, a visit to an urgent care clinic in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs can help determine what the problem is and what to do next.
