Urgent Care for Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) Near Me
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is an inflammation of the clear membrane covering the white of your eye and inner eyelids. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or allergies — each requiring a different approach. Urgent care providers can examine your eye, determine the type of conjunctivitis, and prescribe antibiotic eye drops if bacterial infection is confirmed. Getting prompt treatment helps relieve discomfort and prevents spreading the infection to others.
Urgent care can help with:
- Slit-lamp-free eye examination to distinguish bacterial from viral and allergic conjunctivitis
- Antibiotic eye drops or ointment for bacterial conjunctivitis
- Guidance on antihistamine drops and cool compresses for allergic conjunctivitis
- Assessment for corneal involvement or foreign body
- Return-to-school or return-to-work clearance documentation
- Referral to an ophthalmologist for complicated or non-resolving cases
Go to the ER if:
- Sudden severe eye pain or significant decrease in vision
- Eye injury, trauma, or exposure to chemicals
- Photophobia (light sensitivity) combined with severe pain, which may indicate iritis or corneal ulcer
- Proptosis (eye bulging forward) or inability to move the eye normally
When in doubt, call 911 or go to your nearest ER.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pink eye contagious?
Bacterial and viral pink eye are both highly contagious. You can spread it by touching your eye and then touching surfaces or other people. Wash hands frequently, avoid sharing towels or pillowcases, and stay home from school or work until symptoms improve — or 24 hours after starting antibiotic drops for bacterial cases.
How do I know if my pink eye is bacterial or viral?
Bacterial conjunctivitis often produces thick yellow or green discharge and crusting. Viral conjunctivitis typically has watery discharge, often accompanies a cold, and may start in one eye before spreading to the other. Allergic conjunctivitis causes intense itching in both eyes without discharge. A provider can help distinguish between them.
Do I need antibiotic eye drops for pink eye?
Only bacterial conjunctivitis requires antibiotic drops. Viral pink eye resolves on its own in 1–2 weeks with supportive care (cool compresses, artificial tears). Prescribing antibiotics for viral cases is unnecessary and doesn't speed recovery.
Can pink eye go away on its own?
Viral and allergic conjunctivitis typically resolve without antibiotics. Bacterial conjunctivitis may also improve on its own within 1–2 weeks, but antibiotic drops can shorten the duration to 3–5 days and help prevent spreading the infection. See a provider if symptoms are severe or not improving.