Your Eye M.D. can diagnose most cases of conjunctivitis with an eye examination. Tell your doctor whether your pink eye symptoms came on gradually or appeared suddenly, and whether you have been exposed to anyone else with pink eye symptoms.
In some cases, additional diagnostic tests can be helpful in diagnosing pink eye. Your Eye M.D. may collect a sample (culture) for analysis. To do this, he or she will numb your eye and swab the surface to collect a sample. The analysis of this culture will help determine if the infection is caused by a bacteria or a virus, which will guide appropriate treatment. Most often no culture is taken and the diagnosis is made in the office.
Next Page: Conjunctivitis: Pink Eye Treatment
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