Pink eye is caused by a variety of factors including viruses, bacteria, irritants such as shampoos, dirt, smoke, and pool chlorine or a reaction to eye drops. Though pink eye can be irritating, it rarely affects your vision. What are three sensations indicating early signs of pink eye?
Common signs warning of pink eye include:
- Redness in one or both eyes
- A gritty feeling in one or both eyes
- A discharge in one or both eyes that forms a crust during the night that may prevent your eye or eyes from opening in the morning
- Tearing.
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Your ophthalmologist will examine the eyes to determine if it is in fact pink eye.
An acuity test may be done to see if vision has been affected.
Diagnosis of pink eye can usually be made based on symptoms and health history. Rarely are other tests ordered.
However, if bacteria are thought to be the cause or if the infection is severe, your healthcare provider may send a sample (cotton swab) of the secretions around your eye to a lab to identify the specific organism.
