When your eye suddenly feels irritated, itchy, or looks a little red, you may be worried about what is causing this sudden onset irritation. Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is a very common condition that causes redness and irritation in the eye. It can be caused by many different conditions, including viruses, bacteria, and debris getting into the eye. Knowing what pink eye symptoms feel like early on can help you decide when it’s time to seek medical treatment.
If you’re experiencing a red or irritated eye, and think you could have a case of pink eye, it’s important to seek medical care for evaluation and treatment. At AFC Urgent Care Centennial, we treat cases of pink eye on a walk-in basis at our urgent care clinic in Centennial, Colorado. Simply walk in for rapid same-day care when it’s convenient for your schedule, or save your spot online in advance below. We’re open 7 days a week.
Early Signs and Symptoms of Pink Eye
Pink eye symptoms often appear very quickly, however, symptoms can start off as mild irritation. This can lead to patients ignoring their symptoms, instead of seeking early treatment for them. However, symptoms can progress quickly and lead to severe irritation. Other common symptoms of pink eye include:
- A gritty or sand-in-the-eye sensation
- Mild itching or burning
- Redness in one or both eyes
- Watery eyes or increased tearing
- Sensitivity to light
- Slight eyelid swelling
- Discomfort when blinking
How to Differentiate Pink Eye Symptoms from General Eye Irritation
Pink eye is often described as feeling like something is in your eye, which can lead to excessive rubbing. Flushing your eyes with clean water or artificial tears can be a quick way to flush out any potential debris, and determine whether your irritation is caused by something getting in your eye or a case of pink eye. If your symptoms last more than a few hours, they’re likely caused by pink eye and you should seek medical treatment to avoid spreading your infection to others or damaging your eye.
How to Treat Pink Eye
Pink eye symptoms can be very irritating, and cause visible symptoms like intense redness of the eye. It can also be contagious if caused by bacteria or a virus. Pink eye can go away on its own in some mild cases, however, bacterial pink eye and severe cases require medical treatment. If you think you have a case of pink eye, you should always visit urgent care to determine the cause of your symptoms and begin treatment if necessary. Delaying treatment can lead to long lasting symptoms and severe discomfort. If you do have pink eye, you likely will require a round of prescription eye drops to clear up the infection effectively.
Get Rapid Pink Eye Treatment at AFC Urgent Care Centennial
Pink eye can cause severe discomfort, as well as visible symptoms such as extremely red and inflamed eyes. Luckily, cases of pink eye are easily treated with proper care. When you visit AFC Urgent Care Centennial for pink eye treatment, your medical provider will examine your eye and determine the underlying cause of irritation. If pink eye is suspected, prescription eye drops will often relieve symptoms within a few days.
At AFC Urgent Care Centennial, we’re available 7 days a week to provide rapid care for minor conditions like pink eye. We don’t require patients to schedule an appointment in advance, simply walk-in for rapid same-day care, or save your spot online in advance to save time. We work with most medical insurance providers, and have affordable self-pay rates for patients without insurance coverage. Walk-in today, or give us a call to learn more about the conditions we treat at (303) 220-9168.
