10 Conditions That are Commonly Misdiagnosed as Pink Eye

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Published on: 03 Jul 2025

Has this happened to you that after seeing a red, itchy, or irritated eye, you might have thought, “Oh, it’s just pink eye.” It’s a common assumption for everyone. However, here’s the thing you must know; not every red eye is a pink eye. In fact, many different conditions can mimic the pink eye (also known as conjunctivitis). So, it's essential to get the right diagnosis for proper treatment and faster relief.

In this blog, we’ll explore some of the most common conditions that people, and even some doctors, can misdiagnose as pink eye. Knowing these can help you better understand your symptoms and know when to seek medical advice. Let’s get started!

What is the Pink Eye Anyway?

Before we get into the lookalikes, let's quickly talk about what pink eye really is.

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the thin, clear

mucous membrane (tissue) covering the white part of your eye and the inside of your eyelids.

Some common symptoms of pink eye usually include:

Redness in one or both eyes

Itching or burning sensation

Watery or thick discharge

Crusting on the eyelids, especially after sleep

Swelling in eyelids

Mild pain

Pink eye can be caused by viruses, bacteria, allergens, or irritants, and its treatment depends on the cause. Usually, viral pink eye clears on its own, bacterial might require antibiotics, and allergic pink eye needs allergy meds or avoiding triggers.

10 Conditions Often Mistaken for Pink Eye

Pink eye is common and looks in a way that many red-eye issues get mistaken as conjunctivitis quickly.

But some other eye problems have similar symptoms and require different treatments. If you treat the wrong condition as pink eye, symptoms can worsen, or complications might occur. Here’s a list of common conditions that you may often call a pink eye:

1. Blepharitis

Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelid edges. It causes redness, itching, and flaky skin around the lashes, which can look a lot like pink eye. But unlike conjunctivitis, blepharitis often comes with swelling of the eyelid and crusting or oily flakes on your eyelids and may affect both eyes chronically.

Treatment: Warm compresses and gentle eyelid cleaning can help you. Antibiotics may be needed for bacterial blepharitis.

2. Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eyes occur when your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or the tears evaporate too fast. This can cause redness, irritation, and a gritty feeling. Its symptoms mimic pink eye; however, dry eye is chronic while pink eye is an acute (short-term) condition.

Treatment: Artificial tears, lifestyle changes like reducing screen time, and sometimes prescription eye drops can work.

3. Corneal Abrasion

A scratch or injury on the cornea (the clear front part of your eye) causes mild to severe pain, redness, tearing, and sensitivity to light. It usually happens when your eye comes in contact with foreign objects like sand. The redness can be mistaken for pink eye, but the pain and light sensitivity are usually more intense.

Treatment: Prompt medical care is crucial. Antibiotic drops, pain medications and sometimes patching help healing.

Also Read: Natural Ways To Protect Eyes As You Age

4. Allergic Conjunctivitis

This is a version of pink eye but caused specifically by allergens like pollen, animal dander, or dust mites. It usually affects both eyes and comes with intense itching, swelling, and watery eyes. Unlike pink eye, allergies do not usually cause discharge.

Treatment: Antihistamine or anti-inflammatory eye drops, avoiding allergens, and sometimes oral allergy medicines.

5. Uveitis or Iritis

Uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, called the uvea. It is usually caused by infections, autoimmune diseases, and certain types of cancer. It can cause redness, pain, blurred vision, floaters, and light sensitivity. It looks like pink eye, but it is more serious and needs immediate attention.

Treatment: You may need steroid eye drops and treatment of underlying causes. Untreated uveitis can lead to vision loss.

6. Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

This condition looks scary but is usually harmless. A small blood vessel breaks just beneath the conjunctiva, causing a bright red patch on the white part of the eye. It looks like a burst blood vessel, not the usual pink eye redness, and usually doesn’t cause pain, irritation or discharge as pink eye does.

Treatment: Typically, no treatment is needed to fix this—just time.

7. Hordeolum (Stye)

A stye is a small bump on the edge of the eyelid along the eyelashes. It can cause redness, irritation in the eye, and can be painful and at times accompanied by swelling. It resembles a pimple and is caused when an oil gland near eyelashes gets blocked or infected.

Treatment: Apply a warm compress to the affected area. In case the situation worsens, contact your doctor.

8. Contact Lens-Related Problems

Wearing contact lenses improperly or for longer durations can cause irritation, redness, and infection that may look like pink eye. Sometimes, the cause is poor hygiene, overwearing, or damage to the lens.

Treatment: Removing lenses, proper cleaning, and sometimes antibiotics if infection develops.

9. Keratitis

It is caused by inflammation of the cornea. As the symptoms are common, keratitis is often misdiagnosed as pink eye. But keratitis is more painful than pink eye.

Treatment: Oral antibiotics or antibiotic eye drops can help, but it is important to consult your doctor.

10. Glaucoma

It’s a degenerative disease that is caused by damage to the optic nerve behind your eye. Usually, there are no early symptoms for this condition, and advanced stages may even cause vision-related issues.

Treatment: Regular eye checkups for early detection. If detected, religiously follow your medical practitioner's advice, which may include eye drops or surgical treatments.

Also Read: 8 Ways To Slow Down Aging Eyes

When to See a Doctor:

Severe pain or discomfort

Changes in vision (blurriness, halos, vision loss)

Sensitivity to light

Thick, colored discharge

Eye trauma or injury

How to Prevent Misdiagnosis:

Be specific about your symptoms (e.g., pain, vision changes, allergies).

Follow up if symptoms don’t improve with initial treatment.

Avoid self-medicating unless recommended by a professional.

Closing Thoughts

While pink eye is common and often harmless, other eye conditions can look similar and often misdiagnosed as pink eye. but need very different care. By understanding the conditions and knowing what else could be causing your red, irritated eye, you can make smarter decisions about your eye health.