Allergies or Pink Eye Quiz: How to Tell the Difference

Can't figure out if your itchy, watery, and red eyes are from eye allergies or pink eye?

Wyndly’s expert medical team uses this 2-minute questionnaire to help diagnose thousands of patients. Take this short assessment now to identify the cause of your symptoms and find the best treatment plans for relief!

What Are Common Eye Allergy Symptoms?

Allergy symptoms can vary slightly depending on the severity of your allergies. While you might not experience every allergy symptom while experiencing an allergy reaction, the most common eye allergy symptoms include:

• Redness of the eyes
• Itching, irritation, or burning sensation in the eyes
• Watery eyes
• Swelling of the eyelids
• Sensitivity to light
• Watery or clear discharge from the eyes
• Blurry vision
• Gritty feeling in the eyes

It is likely that you will experience several of these symptoms when dealing with your allergies.

What Are Common Pink Eye Symptoms?

Conjunctivitis (pink eye) can cause some similar symptoms to allergies, but there are also significant differences. Common pink eye symptoms include:

• Pink or red color in the white of your eye
• Swelling around your eye
• Increased tear production
• Urge to rub your eye
• Itching, irritation, and/or burning of your eye
• Eye discharge (pus or mucus)

How Are Pink Eye and Allergic Conjunctivitis Different?

Pink eye and allergic conjunctivitis are two eye conditions that can cause similar symptoms, but have different underlying causes. Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is often caused by a bacterial or viral infection, while allergic conjunctivitis is caused by an allergic reaction to irritants such as pollen, dust, or pet dander.

Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Pink eye symptoms include redness, itching, and discharge from the eye, as well as sensitivity to light. The discharge may be thick or watery, and can cause the eyelids to stick together. In some cases, pink eye can also cause a gritty feeling in the eye.

Eye Allergies (Allergic Conjunctivitis)

Allergic conjunctivitis, on the other hand, is typically characterized by itching, redness, and tearing of the eyes. Other symptoms may include swelling of the eyelids and a burning sensation in the eyes. Unlike pink eye, allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious and doesn't usually cause discharge from the eyes.

When Should I See a Doctor?

If you're experiencing symptoms of pink eye or allergic conjunctivitis, it's important to see an eye care professional or an allergy doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Pink eye may require antibiotics to clear up the infection, while allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with antihistamines or other allergy medications. In some cases, avoiding the allergen causing the reaction may be the best course of action. Allergy immunotherapy is the best solution for long-term allergy relief.

Take Our Allergy Assessment

If you have allergy symptoms and want to find long-term relief, choose Wyndly. Our doctors will create a personalized treatment plan using sublingual immunotherapy to retrain your immune system to stop reacting to your allergies.

Take our short online assessment now to get one step closer to a life without allergies!