How can you tell the difference between pink eye and allergies?

I think it's allergies. With pink eye, it usually makes your eye filled with puss and very hard to open. Here's some info from wikipedia also. Good luck at the doctor's!

Conjunctivitis symptoms and signs are relatively non-specific. Even after biomicrosopy, laboratory tests are often necessary if proof of aetiology is needed.

Prominent itch and pale watery swelling (edema) of the conjunctiva or eyelids suggests allergy.

A purulent discharge strongly suggests bacterial cause, unless there is known exposure to toxins. Infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae should be suspected if the discharge is particularly thick and copious.

A diffuse, less 'injected' conjunctivitis (looking pink rather than red) suggests a viral cause, especially if numerous follicles are present on the lower tarsal conjunctiva on biomicroscopy.

Scarring of the tarsal conjunctiva suggests trachoma, especially if seen in endemic areas, if the scarring is linear (von Arlt's line), or if there is also corneal vascularisation.

Clinical tests for lagophthalmos, dry eye (Schirmer test) and unstable tear film may help distinguish the various types of dry eye.

Other symptoms including pain, blurring of vision and photophobia should not be prominent in conjunctivitis. Fluctuating blurring is common, due to tearing and mucoid discharge. Mild photophobia is common. However, if any of these symptoms are prominent, it is important to exclude other diseases such as glaucoma, uveitis, keratitis and even meningitis or carotico-cavernous fistula.

Allergies Or Pink Eye

Pink Eye Or Allergies

With a bacterial infection, she would be expected to have quite a bit of snotty looking stuff around her eyes. Experts believe that bacterial conjunctivitis is diagnosed far more often than it occurs. Viral and allergic are very difficult to tell apart. This is true in general not just for the eyes. For example if you have sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes, do you have a cold(viral) or hay fever(allergic)? Allergies are generally believed to itch more. Viral conjunctivitis is often associated with swollen preauricular nodes. These nodes are lymph glands a little in front of the ears. The swelling can sometimes be felt by placing your fingers there. Just like there is no cure for the common cold, there is no real cure for viral conjunctivitis. A mild steroid drop can make the patient more comfortable. Viral conjunctivitis is pretty contagious so there should probably be a lot of hand washing at your house just in case. One drop sometimes used by lazy practitioners to treat all three possibilities is TobraDex. It is an antibiotic/steroid combination. It is not over the counter and some conditions should be ruled out before it is used.

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RE:

How can you tell the difference between pink eye and allergies?

My eyes have been pink for three days straight. I'm allergic to a lot of things (pollens, foods, medications), but usually the pink goes away eventually. Antihistimines have no affect, and my eyes don't itch. It's been three days straight and I'm seeing the doctor today. I wondering...

When you have pink eye you get a lot of drainage from the infected eye. Maybe it's neither pink eye or allergies...go to a doctor. Your vision is too important to fool around with.