Do I Have Pink Eye Quiz
Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. This is the clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids.
Pink eye can be either from a viral conjunctivitis, or a bacterial conjunctivitis. Below we have the “Do I have pink eye quiz” to help guide you.
Common Symptoms Of Pink Eye
Whether pink eye is from a viral infection or bacterial infection, there are a few common symptoms. Patients can experience the following pink eye symptoms:
- Watery eyes or excessive tearing
- Red eye
- Blurry vision in the eye
- Discharge from the eye or eyes (can be clear, white, yellow, or green)
- Crusting or matting of the lashes, especially upon waking in the morning
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision in the affected eye
- Feeling like something is in the eye
The biggest difference between viral conjunctivitis and bacterial conjunctivitis is that for viral conjunctivitis, no antibiotic is required. This is because it is not likely to be helpful. Medical care for bacterial conjunctivitis includes the use of eye antibiotics.
Do I Have Pink Eye Quiz?
Use the questions below to get an idea if you have pink eye or not. Remember that this is just a guide, and it is very important to seek medical attention from a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
1. Do you have eye redness?
If yes, could be pink eye.
Eye redness or having bloodshot eyes is a common symptom of pink eye (conjunctivitis). This condition causes inflammation and dilation of blood vessels in the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane covering the white part of the eye, leading to a reddish or pink appearance. Eye redness in pink eye may be accompanied by other symptoms like itching, discharge, or tearing, and can affect one or both eyes.
2. Do you also have a viral illness?
If yes, could be pink eye.
Viral illnesses, particularly those affecting the upper respiratory tract like the common cold, are often associated with viral conjunctivitis, a type of pink eye. The same virus that causes the respiratory symptoms can also infect the conjunctiva of the eye, leading to symptoms of pink eye. You may have a sore throat or a runny nose as well as symptoms of conjunctivitis. You can also feel your neck for lymph nodes.
Pink eye, especially viral pink eye, is often seen when patients already have a viral infection. So, it’s not uncommon for someone with a cold or similar viral infection to also develop conjunctivitis.
3. Have you been exposed to someone who has pink eye?
If yes, could be pink eye.
Pink eye, particularly the viral and bacterial types, is highly contagious. If you’ve been exposed to someone with a viral illness or someone with pink eye, there’s a significant risk of transmission.
Viral and bacterial pink eye can be spread through direct contact with the infected person or their secretions, such as by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes. This is why its so important to wash hands frequently when you have pink eye.
4. Does your eye itch or feel gritty?
If yes, could be pink eye.
Itching or a gritty feeling in the eye are common symptoms of pink eye. These sensations result from irritation and inflammation of the conjunctiva. In allergic conjunctivitis, itching is a predominant symptom, while a gritty feeling can be more commonly associated with viral or bacterial conjunctivitis. Cool compresses rather than warm compresses can often be helpful and soothing for this red eye infection.
5. Do you have discharge from your eye?
If yes, could be pink eye.
Discharge from the eye is a hallmark symptom of pink eye, especially in bacterial conjunctivitis. This discharge can be watery, mucous-like, or pus-like, and its presence helps differentiate between the types of conjunctivitis. For example, a thick, green or yellow discharge is often seen in bacterial conjunctivitis, whereas a clear, more watery discharge is typically associated with viral conjunctivitis.
6. Is one or both of your eyelids puffy or red?
If yes, could be pink eye.
Eyelid puffiness and redness can be symptoms of pink eye. These symptoms occur due to inflammation and swelling of the conjunctiva and the surrounding tissues. In some cases, the eyelid swelling can be significant enough to partially close the eye, and this symptom can be present in viral, bacterial, or allergic conjunctivitis.
The eyelids may also become swollen from rubbing them. It is common for patients with pink eye to want to rub their eye, especially in severe cases. Using artificial tears can be helpful for this.
7. Do you have allergies?
If yes, it may be allergies and not pink eye.
Allergic conjunctivitis is a very common kind of conjunctivitis. Medical treatment includes oral allergy medication, allergy eye drops, and avoidance of the allergen that irritates the eye. Sometimes this may be pets, dust, or even eye makeup. If the allergy symptoms you typically experience are also happening alongside eye allergies, they can be confused for pink eye.
If you have a history of allergies and taking allergy medication helps your symptoms, its probably not pink eye. The medical term allergic pink eye is not really accurate. When doctors and the medical community talk about pink eye, it is specifically referring to either viral or bacterial conjunctivitis.
8. Do you have eye pain?
If yes, unlikely pink eye
Eye pain can sometimes be associated with pink eye, though it’s less common than symptoms like redness or discharge. Eye pain in the context of pink eye might indicate a more severe inflammation or possibly the involvement of other parts of the eye beyond the conjunctiva.
It’s important to differentiate this from the mild irritation or discomfort commonly seen in typical cases of conjunctivitis. Severe pain, particularly if accompanied by vision changes, warrants prompt medical attention as it may indicate more serious conditions such as keratitis or iritis.
9. Do you have vision loss?
If yes, seek medical attention immediately.
Pink eye does not cause vision loss. Pink eye may cause some blurry vision in one eye or both but it does not cause vision loss. If you have experiencing vision loss, you should see an eye doctor as soon as possible.
Do I Have Pink Eye Quiz: Summary
The above pink eye quiz is meant only to be a guide for patients and it is not a replacement for an accurate diagnosis by a healthcare provider. There are many different reasons for having a red eye. Its important to engage the help of an eye doctor to figure out the underlying cause. This can help you get appropriate treatment and avoid having any serious complications. If you have bacterial conjunctivitis, you will need to be put on antibiotic eye drops. On the other hand viral conjunctivitis takes a couple weeks to resolve and there are no anti viral drops that can help.
It’s important to seek medical attention if you have persistent symptoms or if your vision is affected. Remember that this quiz is simply an educational guide and the actual diagnosis of pink eye can only be made by seeing an eye doctor.
Sources:
Villegas BV, Benitez-Del-Castillo JM. Current Knowledge in Allergic Conjunctivitis.Turk J Ophthalmol. 2021;51(1):45-54.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33631915/
Azari AA, Barney NP. Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment [published correction appears in JAMA. 2014 Jan 1;311(1):95. Dosage error in article text].JAMA. 2013;310(16):1721-1729. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.280318
