Pink Eye

Bristol & First Medical Clinic & Urgent Care can deliver prompt care for those dealing with conjunctivitis (commonly referred to as pink eye). If you’re suffering from pink eye, come in to
our Santa Ana urgent care clinic for a walk-in appointment.

About Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, occurs when the outer membrane of the eyeball (the conjunctiva) becomes inflamed or infected. This irritates the eye, causing it to become pink or red. Pink eye may also cause the eye to become itchy, cause a gritty feeling in the eye, or create discharge that leaks and may become crusted. Pink eye is quite common, affecting millions of people each year.

There are three primary types of conjunctivitis: viral conjunctivitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, and allergic conjunctivitis.

Viral Pink Eye
Viral pink eye is the most common type of pink eye. Viral pink eye occurs when the conjunctiva (in one or both eyes) becomes affected by a virus. Common symptoms of viral pink eye include itchiness, watering from the eyes, and light sensitivity. This type of pink eye may occur alongside common types of viral infections, such as the common cold or a viral respiratory infection. Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can be spread through sneezing or coughing.

Bacterial Pink Eye
Bacterial pink eye occurs when the conjunctiva (in one or both eyes) becomes infected by bacteria. A common symptom of bacterial pink eye is sticky discharge (which may be yellow or greenish yellow) from the corner of the eye. This discharge may become crusted and can cause the eyelids to stick together after sleeping. Like viral pink eye, bacterial pink eye is contagious. Bacterial pink eye is easily spread through contact with hands or objects that have touched an eye affected with bacterial pink eye.

Allergic Pink Eye
Allergic pink eye occurs when the eyes become irritated through an allergic response. Common symptoms associated with allergic pink eye include itching, watering, puffiness, and sneezing. This type of pink eye affects both eyes and, unlike the viral or bacterial types of pink eye, it is not contagious.

Treating Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
Treatment for pink eye will vary depending on the cause of pink eye. Viral conjunctivitis generally resolves on its own after a few days, though there are at-home treatments you can use to help soothe the symptoms of viral pink eye. Bacterial conjunctivitis, on the other hand, generally does not resolve on its own. Antibiotic eye drops or antibiotic ointments are the primary treatments used to resolve bacterial pink eye. Then, allergic pink eye is often treated with allergy medications that can prevent the allergic symptoms that lead to allergic pink eye.

Because the three different primary types of pink eye all require different types of treatment, it’s important that you seek medical care if you’re experiencing pink eye in order to determine the type of pink eye you’re experiencing. Additionally, pink eye is not the only type of eye condition that can cause the eye to become red or pink. So it’s important to seek treatment for a red or pink eye to ensure that you do not have a more serious eye condition.

The doctors at Bristol & First Medical Clinic & Urgent Care are available daily to treat patients experiencing pink eye. Our Santa Ana urgent care is open from 8AM to 9PM daily and no appointment is necessary to receive treatment for pink eye at our clinic.

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