Pink eye is an eye disease, caused by inflammation or redness to the membranes covering the whites of the eyes. A pink eye infection can be caused by many things- a virus (like passing a cold into the eyes), or via bacteria, such as debris getting into the eye or other irritation. Pink eye is set into 2 categories basically- contagious and not contagious, and can be contracted by allergy irritants.
Pink eye is mostly common in children, but adults can (and sometimes do) get pink eye as well. Pink eye can be highly contagious, but in the case of allergies, pink eye is a bacterial infection, or mainly an irritation gone awry, and isn’t contagious. Are your allergies contagious? Nope- neither is your pink eye if it’s caused by allergies.
You’ll know basically if your pink eye is caused by allergies because your other allergy symptoms will show up as well. Itchy, scratchy throat? Check. Sneezing, coughing? Check. Super red, itchy, watery eyes? OK- double check. Yes, pink eye can affect both your eyes at the same time.
While pink eye caused by allergies may not be contagious, pink eye can look extremely scary and can be painful and itchy. Relief for pink eye comes with antibiotics and time. For pink eye caused by allergies, it’s important to see your doctor, because the infection in the eye can spread to other areas of the body, such as a sinus infection. Seeking antibiotics is the best way to treat pink eye caused by allergies, and to keep the infection in check.
There are other remedies you can try at home to relieve your symptoms of itching, pain, and gooey discharge, however (the yellow and green discharge is normal and is your eyes’ response to the pink eye infection). Flush your eyes with cool water to get allergens out, and try to stay indoors. Wear sunglasses or other protective eyewear when you are outdoors to prevent allergies from getting in your eyes and causing pink eye to begin with, and never rub your eyes.
Placing a cool cloth over your eye when you have pink eye can relieve the itching and swelling. Taking an antihistamine, such as Benadryl, can help relieve your pink eye sytmptoms as well as your allergy symptoms that come along with it. And always follow through with your prescribed antibiotics, so you can be sure get rid of the pink eye infection. Without aid, the infection will still run its course, but can last weeks at a time and cause infections elsewhere as well. With antibiotics, you should find your eyes looking and feeling better within a week or so.
Source:
http://www.medicinenet.com/pink_eye/article.htm