[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/06\/red-eye-or-pink-eye\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/06\/red-eye-or-pink-eye\/","headline":"Can You Tell the Difference Between Pink Eye and Red Eye?","name":"Can You Tell the Difference Between Pink Eye and Red Eye?","description":"Red eye is the general term for an eye condition that causes redness, while pink eye is inflammation of the eye and eyelid lining.","datePublished":"2017-06-08","dateModified":"2021-11-17","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/primary-care-regions","name":"Primary Care","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/primary-care-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/primary-care\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/BLG_REDEYE.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/BLG_REDEYE.jpg","height":325,"width":751},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/06\/red-eye-or-pink-eye\/","about":["Family Health"],"wordCount":422,"keywords":["Bacterial infections","eye infection","eye irritation","pink eye","Primary care","red eye"],"articleBody":"Maybe it’s allergy season, or maybe you’re working outside on a windy day. Your eyes can become irritated and itchy for all sorts of reasons. A few hours later, you look in the mirror and the whites of one or both of your eyes are bright red.You wonder why: Is it pink eye? Is it red eye? And what’s the difference between these two eye conditions, anyway?RELATED:\u00a0Eye-Opening: How Our Eyes Reveal Health CluesPink Eye vs. Red Eye: What’s the Difference?When blood vessels in and around the eye expand because of some form of irritation, the eye and area around it appear red. “Red eye” is the general term for any condition that causes this redness. Red eye can be caused by:Eye infectionsDry eyesEye injuriesForeign objects in the eyePink eye (also called conjunctivitis) is a common cause of red eye. While red eye is a very general, non-clinical term, pink eye is the medical term for inflammation of the lining covering the eyeball and eyelid.Pink eye can be caused by:A virus \u2013 The same virus that causes many colds and cases of flu can also cause pink eye. This form is contagious and the most common type of pink eye.Bacteria \u2013 Bacterial infections can also result in pink eye. Bacterial pink eye is contagious and may cause mucus discharge from one or both eyes.Allergies \u2013 The same substances that cause allergic reactions, like pollen or smoke, can cause non-contagious pink eye.Learn the Symptoms of Pink EyeIf redness around your eyes is the result of pink eye, you may experience the following symptoms:Watery eyesItchiness\/burningClear, white, or yellow dischargeSwellingSymptoms associated with a coldIn some cases, these symptoms can indicate red eye that is not caused by conjunctivitis. If you’re experiencing an ongoing eye infection, you should check in with a doctor.Treatment for Pink Eye and Red EyeMost forms of a pink and red eye will resolve on their own within a week. If you have bacterial pink eye or another type of eye infection, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic. Allergy medicine or eye drops may help improve allergy-related pink eye. If your dry eyes cause red eye, your doctor may prescribe artificial tears. You should seek medical care if:You’re unable to keep your eyes openYou have a chemical or foreign object in your eyeYou experience light sensitivity, severe headaches, swelling, nausea, or fever"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2017","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"06","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/\/06\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Can You Tell the Difference Between Pink Eye and Red Eye?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/06\/red-eye-or-pink-eye\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]