2. Red or pink eyes
“Red or pink in the eye can be very complicated and very dangerous,” warns Dr. Andreoli, who is an ophthalmologist at the Wheaton Eye Clinic in Wheaton, Illinois. It’s associated with a variety of conditions, including conjunctivitis (an inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin layer of transparent tissue that covers the whites of your eyes and inner eyelids), allergies, or even an uncommon type of glaucoma. (Most often glaucoma, a condition often caused by a buildup of pressure inside the eye, has no symptoms at all.)
See your primary care doctor first, but if you still have red or pink eyes after 24 to 48 hours, it’s worth giving an ophthalmologist a visit. “Something may be more complex than a primary care doctor is able to detect,” says Dr. Andreoli.
Takeaway: A red or pink eye can be a sign of a serious eye problem, so make an appointment with an ophthalmologist.
