When someone has pink eye, it can be difficult to distinguish the pink eye as a specific type of pink eye. A person with pink eye may not be able to tell if they have viral, bacterial, or allergic conjunctivitis. Some symptoms of conjunctivitis are more common with certain types of conjunctivitis.

Since bacterial conjunctivitis is medically treatable, the person with pink eye should be aware of the signs and symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis. Like with other types of pink eye, the whites of the eyes affected by bacterial conjunctivitis will appear pinkish or reddish. Signs and symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis include a yellowish-green discharge that may cause the eyelids to be stuck together upon waking in the morning.

The eye discharge from bacterial conjunctivitis is thicker and more yellow than what most cases of other types of pink eye cause. Allergic and viral conjunctivitis can cause discharge from the eyes and the eyelids may stick shut after sleeping. However, in most cases of allergic and viral conjunctivitis, any discharge in the morning is dry and crusty. Bacterial conjunctivitis discharge is thick and often wet and gooey on the eye and in the eyelashes.

The most of the other symptoms of bacterial pink eye are commonly caused by viral conjunctivitis as well. The eyes that have bacterial or viral infections may have mild pain, itchiness, the sensation that something is in the eye, and a mild sensitivity to light. Bacterial conjunctivitis does not usually cause any pain, but in some cases there is mild pain. Bacterial conjunctivitis may cause occasional, periodic blurring of vision due to residue from the pus-like discharge covering the eye.

Bacterial conjunctivitis may cause swelling of the eyelids. Bacterial conjunctivitis does not usually cause symptoms that are not related to the eyes or eyelids. Viral conjunctivitis can happen during or after the individual experiences symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections. People with allergic conjunctivitis may have sneezing, runny nose, or other symptoms of allergies.

Bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with prescription antibiotic eye drops or ointment. The course of antibiotic medication for bacterial conjunctivitis usually takes one to two weeks. People can often return to work or school after being on prescription treatment for at least twenty-four hours. After twenty-four hours of antibiotic treatment, the bacterial conjunctivitis is no longer considered contagious. This does not mean that the symptoms have cleared, though many people feel significant improvement very quickly with antibiotic treatment.