Should I see an eye doctor for pink eye?
Yes. An optometrist is the right doctor for pink eye, and in Titusville you can usually see one of ours the same day. We see red eyes at both offices on S Washington Ave, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Our own appointment records from September 2025 through August 2026 show about two same-day visits for every day we are open. Nine in ten of those visits happen as planned, so the time we hold for your goopy eye is a real appointment, not a waiting list.
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is a name for a red, irritated eye, not one single problem. A red eye can be a virus, bacteria, an allergy, or something else, and the treatment differs for each type of pink eye. The fastest way to the right pink eye treatment is to let us examine your eyes before anyone guesses.
What does pink eye look like?
The conjunctiva is a thin, clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. When it gets inflamed, the tiny blood vessels in it swell and show, and the white of the eye turns pink or reddish. That inflammation is what the word conjunctivitis means.
Common pink eye symptoms include:
- Redness in the white part of one eye or both eyes
- Itching, burning, or a gritty feeling, like sand in the eye
- Watery eyes, or a thick yellow or green discharge
- Crusting along the eyelids and lashes, worst when you wake up
- Swollen eyelids and some sensitivity to light
Many of these symptoms show up in more than one kind of pink eye, and a few show up in other eye conditions too. That overlap is why a closer look matters more than the list.
Is my pink eye viral, bacterial, or an allergy?
We cannot tell you over the phone, and a search cannot either. In the exam chair we look at the front of your eye under the slit lamp, the microscope that shows the lids, the lashes, and the surface of the eye in fine detail. That close look is how we find the specific cause. Here are the main types and how they often show up.
- Viral pink eye: it often comes with a cold, a runny nose, or another respiratory infection. Viral conjunctivitis tends to bring watery eyes, and it may start in one eye and move to the other.
- Bacterial pink eye: bacterial conjunctivitis tends to bring a thick yellow or green discharge, and the lids may stick together in the morning.
- Allergic pink eye: allergic conjunctivitis usually itches, waters, and affects both eyes, often with sneezing. Common allergens are pollen, pet dander, and dust.
- Other irritants: smoke, chemicals, and pool water can turn eyes red without any infection.
What you go home with depends on the cause, and your own plan depends on what we see. A bacterial infection usually gets antibiotic eye drops or an ointment, used for the full course even if the eye looks better sooner. Antibiotics do not work on a virus, so viral pink eye usually gets comfort care to relieve symptoms while it runs its course, plus a clear word on what to watch for. An allergy gets allergy eye drops and a talk about what may be setting it off. A scratch or something under the lid gets removed and treated in the office.
Some red eyes are not pink eye at all. Eyes that burn and turn red by the afternoon, again and again, are often dry eye rather than an infection. We treat that at both offices, and dry eye treatment starts with finding the cause.
Can urgent care treat pink eye, or should I see an eye doctor?
An urgent care can look at a red eye, but most walk-in clinics do not have the tools to look closely. Many look, then send you to an eye doctor anyway. That can mean two visits and two waits for one red eye.
| For your red eye | Our exam rooms | Most walk-in clinics |
|---|---|---|
| A slit lamp microscope for the surface of the eye | Yes | Not always |
| A reading of the pressure inside the eye | Yes | Usually not |
| Retinal imaging of the back of the eye | Yes | Usually not |
| A close look for a contact lens infection | Yes, and we fit the lenses | Varies |
| A child's red eye | Dr. Bradley at Playalinda, Dr. Amanda Aker Downtown | A general provider |
What a red eye visit has in our exam rooms and at a typical walk-in clinic
For most red eyes, call us first at (321) 269-2021 and we will work you in for emergency eye care at whichever office has the first opening.
Is pink eye contagious?
Viral and bacterial pink eye can be highly contagious. The germs spread through direct contact: a hand touches the eye, then a doorknob, a towel, or a pillowcase. Allergic pink eye and pink eye caused by irritants do not spread from person to person.
Until we know which kind you have, act as if it could spread. Wash your hands with soap and warm water often, and avoid touching or rubbing your eyes. Use a clean washcloth and towel each time, and do not share them. Wash pillowcases and bed sheets, and do not share eye makeup. Ask us at the visit about school, work, and sports for the rest of the week.
How do I treat pink eye at home until I am seen?
Keep it simple until we have looked. Home remedies can help you feel better, but they cannot tell you what kind of pink eye you have. The home steps that matter most are the ones that keep you from making it worse.
- 1
Take your contact lenses out
Stop wearing them until we have seen you. Contact lens wearers can get infections that move fast, so bring the box or a lens in its case.
- 2
Leave the eye alone
Try not to rub it. Wipe away discharge with a clean tissue, use a fresh one each time, and wash your hands after.
- 3
Use a cool compress for comfort
Cool compresses on closed eyelids can ease itching and swelling. Plain artificial tears, the lubricating drops sold for dry eyes, can ease the gritty feeling too.
- 4
Skip the medicine cabinet
Do not use other drops you were not prescribed for this eye, including an old bottle from the last time someone had pink eye. Bring anything you already tried so we can see the label.
- 5
Call us in the morning
Tell us the eye is red, whether it hurts, and whether your vision is blurry. Monday and Tuesday are our fullest days, so on those mornings call when we open at 8am. We will say which office can see you first.
When is a red eye more than pink eye?
Call us the same day if the eye hurts, your vision is blurry, or light bothers you more than it should. A red eye with severe pain is a different problem from one that only itches, and those signs are the ones we want to see early. Call us too if your symptoms persist or get worse after you start treatment. If you are not sure, read what counts as an eye emergency, then call.
Some red eyes belong at the hospital instead. Go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 for an object stuck in the eye, a cut to the eyelid or the eyeball, an eye problem that came with a blow to the head, or a vision change with a severe headache, weakness, or trouble speaking.
My child woke up with pink eye. Should I call an eye doctor?
Yes, and call that morning. A red eye that came on fast in a child, a swollen lid, or a scratch from a fingernail is a same-day call to us. Kids do not always tell you how much an eye hurts, so we would rather take a look than guess. Our same-day visits run highest in October, then March and January. Children's first eye exams also peak with us in October and December, right in the school cold season.
Dr. Bradley, who trained just for children's eyes, sees kids at our Playalinda office, and Dr. Amanda Aker sees children Downtown. A routine check later on is a kids' eye exam, and we would be glad to see the whole family for one.
Does insurance cover a pink eye visit?
Usually, yes, through your medical insurance rather than your vision plan, because an infection is a medical problem. About one visit in three with us is a medical visit, not a glasses check, so billing a red eye to medical insurance is routine for us. Bring your medical card, not just the vision plan card. A copay like the one for your regular doctor is typical, and we check your benefits when you call.
No insurance? Tell us when you call and we will give you the self-pay price first. You can check which plans we take before you come. If the red eye turns out to be fine and you are due anyway, we can set up a comprehensive eye exam for another day, or you can book online any hour.
