If you have inflammation of the eye or eyes that lasts more than a day or two, you may have pink eye, especially if you have a cold or other respiratory infection at the time. It is a good idea to see a doctor about any eye irritation that lasts more that a few days or that causes pain or changes in your vision.

Seeing a doctor can help determine the cause of your eye irritation and rule out other eye problems. In some cases, treatment may be available to relieve the symptoms of the irritation and shorten the length of the infection. Because infectious pink eye can be highly contagious, it is important to seek diagnosis and treatment early to avoid spreading the infection around. Children with suspected cases of pink eye should be kept out of group settings until they have seen a doctor and started treatment.

Occasionally, pink eye can causes complications in both adults and children, including damage to the cornea and vision loss. Seeing the doctor early can help prevent such complications from happening.