Also known as "pink eye," conjunctivitis typically causes eye redness, excessive tearing, itching, irritation, and light sensitivity, also known as photophobia. It can also cause eye discharge and eyelid swelling, and you may also feel like there is sand in your eye. In some cases, conjunctivitis can cause blurred vision and severe eye pain. If you develop any signs or symptoms of pink eye, visit an urgent care center for an examination and treatment. Here are some interventions you can expect during your urgent care visit for conjunctivitis. 

Eye Examination And Vision Test

After your vital signs have been assessed, you will be given an eye examination. The healthcare provider will examine your eyes with either an ophthalmoscope, a slit lamp, or both. During your eye examination, the urgent care medical provider may assess your pupils to see if they react to light, and they will also assess your retina for any signs of inflammation.

After your eye exam, the healthcare provider will test your vision. It is not unusual to experience blurred vision when you have pink eye. Visual deficits associated with pink eye are usually temporary and will resolve once your conjunctivitis has resolved. 

Numbing Eye Drops And Antibiotics

If your pain is severe, the urgent care provider may offer you temporary relief by instilling an anesthetic drop into the affected eye. While the effects of these numbing drops wear off rather quickly, they will give you temporary relief if you are in severe pain. In some cases, infectious pink eye can be so painful that opening the eye is very uncomfortable. Anesthetic drops may be necessary in order for the provider to examine your eyes.

If you are unable to open your eye for your eye examination, an anesthetic eye drop may be warranted. The healthcare provider may also apply a "ribbon" of antibiotic ointment inside of your lower eyelid. They may also send you home with a prescription for antibiotic eye drops. Your pink eye may be more likely to be caused by a bacterial infection if you have a yellowish discharge oozing out of your eye. If there is no discharge, your pink eye may be the result of a viral infection.

If you develop any signs or symptoms of conjunctivitis, see your eye doctor or visit an urgent care center. When pink eye is diagnosed and treated quickly, the infection may clear up faster and it may be less likely to spread to the other eye. 

For more info, visit a local urgent care facility.