# Pink eye? PINK EYE?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 30, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-eye-pink-eye/479227 "2008-12-30T16:23:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-eye-pink-eye/479227/21 "2008-12-31T01:52:03Z")
> [@cromulent](#): > > Actually, optometrists can and do prescribe medications, and get years of training in the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial/viral/fungal infections of the eye. If you’re having trouble making an appointment with your doctor of choice, I would definitely schedule a visit to your eye doctor’s office — either an ophthalmologist or an optometrist, as both are trained to treat conjunctivitis. Huh, interesting, OK. The only optometrist I know is also a PharmD, so that never really came into play. Thanks for the info. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dazzling_White_Diamonds)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-eye-pink-eye/479227/22 "2008-12-31T01:58:50Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Thank goodness for CVS Minute Clinic! Walked right in and out, got me some eyedroppey goodness (I put the first drops in about 12 feet away from the pharmacy counter!) and was feeling relief within 20 minutes. Faboo. I did this last week - except I went to our local walk-in urgent care clinic (that’s fully covered by BC/BS, thankfully). Doc looks at me and sez, “What can we help you with?” to which I responded, “I think I have bacterial conjunctivitis.” He asks me all the questions: Itchy? Check. Redness? Check. Grittiness? Check. Crusting of the eye? OMG YES CHECK. Flashes his penlight in my eye to check things out, then asks one final question: “Anyone else at home have this?” “No,” I responded… and then after a pause, “Not yet.” That was good for a chuckle from us both. Got me a scrip for Tobradex which worked just beeeeyoutifully. I got it at the local CVS and put the drops in my eye right there in the car. The other eye acted up the next day. It was drops in both eyes 3x a day for the next week. You couldn’t even tell I had Pink Eye, the drops worked so well. ---
**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-eye-pink-eye/479227/23 "2008-12-31T02:04:43Z")
I used to work in a minor emergency clinic (“doc-in-a-box”). One Saturday afternoon, I had to tell the senior pastor of a very large church that he had pink eye and would be contagious for 24 hours. I told him he could preach, but he could not stand at the door and shake hands with all of the church members. He was not happy. ---
**Author:** ![EpiGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8c91f0/32.png) [@EpiGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EpiGirl)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-eye-pink-eye/479227/24 "2008-12-31T02:41:09Z")
Interestingly enough, I have never had pink eye. Ever. And I touch my eyes often. _goes and knocks on wood_ ---
**Author:** ![Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dazzling_White_Diamonds)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-eye-pink-eye/479227/25 "2008-12-31T02:49:09Z")
> [@EpiGirl](#): > > Interestingly enough, I have never had pink eye. Ever. And I touch my eyes often. _goes and knocks on wood_ Neither had I. Made it through childhood, raising kids, and now have a 10 y.o. grandson… and up until last week, I’d never had the stuff. I do like my brand new eye makeup and applicators, though. :: grumble :: ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-eye-pink-eye/479227/26 "2008-12-31T03:46:47Z")
I’ve had pink eye in the past and I think it might be due to wearing contact lenses all the time. I’ve gone back to wearing them only for special occasions and my glasses all the time. Gah. Crusty, runny, itchy nastyness. Get well soon **WhyNot**!!! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-eye-pink-eye/479227/27 "2008-12-31T04:21:06Z")
Never had pink eye either (well, maybe during childhood but if so I don’t recall) and considering where I work, I’m glad! My husband’s bout with keratitis was brought on by a combination of wearing contacts and visiting his mother in the hospital. He picked up some nasty bacteria while there and got it into his eye via whatever usual means. He wears contacts still (barring the time period where they told him to avoid them) but mostly just for work. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-eye-pink-eye/479227/28 "2008-12-31T04:28:28Z")
Had pinkeye once, about 15 years ago. I think I got it from my bro, who had some leftover meds for me to use. Dayum, it’s irritating…but great to have the med on hand. Too bad the OP didn’t get it two months ago. Could have made part of a great Halloween horror getup. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-eye-pink-eye/479227/29 "2008-12-31T04:41:02Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Too bad the OP didn’t get it two months ago. Could have made part of a great Halloween horror getup. Oh, that would have been perfect! Better looking like a red-eyed zombie at Halloween than a wasted party girl at New Year’s Eve! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-eye-pink-eye/479227/30 "2008-12-31T05:13:17Z")
> [@EpiGirl](#): > > Interestingly enough, I have never had pink eye. Ever. And I touch my eyes often. _goes and knocks on wood_ I don’t think it’s terribly common to get it past childhood if you’re not around little kids. The only time I ever got it was as a senior in high school, and I volunteered with 3rd graders once a week back then. The only adult (early 20s) I know who got it was working with small fry at the time as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-eye-pink-eye/479227.md?page=1)