When suffering from Conjunctivitis the white part of the eye appears either pink or red, it is due to this  primary symptom of conjunctivitis  that it is popularly known as pink eye. An eye care professional can determine the presence and cause of pink eye through an examination of the conjunctiva and surrounding area.

Aside from its trademark pink coloration, other telltale signs of pink eye include:

• Feeling of foreign objects in one or both eyes
• Itching or burning in one or both eyes
• Yellowish discharge from one or both eyes
• Excess tearing from one or both eyes
• Build-up or crusting overnight that makes it difficult to open your eyes
• Swollen eyelids

Your doctor will determine the exact cause of why your eyes look pink based on your symptoms and how they originated.

Pink eye will generally run its course but many steps can be taken to limit its spread and treat the infection. These include washing hands frequently, using a fresh tissue every time you wipe your eyes, immediately disposing of used tissues, and not sharing anything that may come into contact with your eyes like handkerchiefs, towels, sunglasses, makeup, eye drops, or pillows.

As mentioned, pink eye generally runs its course; any treatment would depend on the underlying cause. It is best to let an eye doctor diagnose the underlying cause based on your symptoms. For viral conjunctivitis, antiviral medication may be prescribed and for bacterial conjunctivitis, antibiotics may be prescribed; these may shorten the course of the infection.