$99 flat-fee visit • 100% online • Fast physician review

Online Pink Eye Treatment In California

Meet Our Doctors

Asadullah Khan Awan, MD, MPH

Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer
Residency: Yale New Haven Hospital
Medical School: UC Davis School of Medicine

Nazeela Sabir Awan, MD

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Residency: Yale New Haven Hospital
Medical School: UC Davis School of Medicine

START MY PINK EYE VISIT — $99
START MY PINK EYE VISIT — $99

Red, itchy, watery, or crusty eyes? Get evaluated online by a board-certified California physician — from the comfort of your home.

✓ Board-certified physicians
✓ Available 7 days a week, 7 AM–11 PM PT
✓ Prescription sent to your pharmacy when medically appropriate
✓ 48-hour follow-up messaging included

For California adults 18+. Certain symptoms or medical conditions may require in-person evaluation.

Created by

MDCareNow Content Team

Reviewed by

Dr. Asadullah Awan, MD, MPH

Eye redness? Watery eyes? Itchy eyes?

Pink Eye Care Without the Waiting Room

MDCareNow makes it simple to get evaluated for common pink eye symptoms from home.

Healthcare that fits your life.

1. Share Your Symptoms

Answer guided questions and upload photos if needed.

2. Doctor Review

A board-certified doctor evaluates your symptoms in under 60 minutes. Doctor will assess if more information is needed through messaging, phone, or video call – all included in your visit.

3. Personalized Care Plan

Receive a tailored treatment plan and same-day prescriptions when appropriate.
START MY PINK EYE VISIT — $99

Can Pink Eye Be Treated Online?

Many straightforward cases of pink eye can begin with a telehealth evaluation.

An online physician can review your symptoms, medical history, risk factors, photographs, and symptom pattern to determine whether your presentation appears consistent with uncomplicated conjunctivitis or whether an in-person eye examination is needed.
This distinction is important because not every red eye is pink eye.
Some conditions involving the cornea or deeper structures of the eye can initially look similar to conjunctivitis but require hands-on examination. Online physicians can perform an initial conjunctivitis evaluation but cannot safely manage every presentation through telehealth alone.

MDCareNow physicians therefore screen specifically for symptoms such as eye pain, light sensitivity, vision changes, significant swelling, injury, and contact-lens-related complications before recommending virtual treatment.

What Are the Symptoms of Pink Eye?

Common symptoms may include:

  • Pink or red appearance of the white part of the eye
  • Watery or teary eyes
  • Eye discharge
  • Crusting around the eyelids or eyelashes, particularly after sleep
  • Itching
  • Burning or irritation
  • Gritty or foreign-body sensation
  • Mild eyelid swelling

The exact symptom pattern often varies depending on the underlying cause.

What Type of Pink Eye Do I Have?

The term pink eye does not describe one single infection.
Conjunctivitis can have several different causes.

Viral Conjunctivitis

Viral conjunctivitis is common in adults and may occur with a cold or other respiratory infection.

Typical features can include:

  • Watery discharge
  • Redness
  • Burning or irritation
  • Gritty sensation
  • Symptoms beginning in one eye and later spreading to the other
  • Recent cold or respiratory symptoms

Most viral conjunctivitis is self-limited and does not benefit from antibiotic eye drops. Many mild viral cases improve within approximately 7–14 days, although some can last longer.

Bacterial Conjunctivitis

Bacterial pink eye may be more likely when symptoms include:

  • Thick or pus-like discharge
  • Eyelids sticking together
  • Recurrent discharge during the day
  • Redness and irritation

Some mild bacterial cases improve without antibiotics. However, a physician may prescribe topical antibiotic treatment when clinically appropriate, particularly depending on discharge, severity, individual risk factors, and suspected bacterial cause.

Allergic Conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis commonly affects both eyes.

Symptoms may include:

  • Intense itching
  • Watery eyes
  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Sneezing
  • Runny or itchy nose
  • Seasonal or environmental allergy symptoms

Unlike viral and bacterial conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious.

Irritant-Related Conjunctivitis

Smoke, chemicals, cosmetics, chlorine, dust, foreign material, and other irritants can also produce red or watery eyes.
Some exposures—particularly chemical injury or eye trauma—require immediate in-person evaluation rather than routine telehealth care.

Who May Be Appropriate for Online Pink Eye Treatment?

  • Mild to moderate eye redness
  • Watery discharge
  • Mild mucus or discharge
  • Eyelid crusting
  • Itching associated with allergies
  • Mild burning or irritation
  • Symptoms without significant eye pain
  • No persistent vision changes
  • No major eye injury or chemical exposure

Each case is assessed individually.

The purpose of the telehealth evaluation is not simply to confirm that an eye looks red. It is to determine whether the symptom pattern is appropriate for virtual care and whether treatment is needed.

When Pink Eye Needs In-Person Care

Certain symptoms should not be managed as routine pink eye through telehealth alone. 

Seek prompt in-person medical or eye care for:

  • Significant eye pain
  • Moderate or severe sensitivity to light
  • Persistent blurred or reduced vision
  • Intense eye redness
  • Rapidly worsening symptoms
  • Significant swelling around the eye
  • Eye injury
  • Chemical exposure
  • Suspected foreign object in the eye
  • Symptoms that worsen despite treatment
  • A weakened immune system with significant eye symptoms

Medical evaluation is required for eye pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision that does not improve after wiping away discharge, intense redness, or symptoms that worsen or fail to improve.

Contact Lenses and Pink Eye

If you wear contact lenses and develop a red or irritated eye, remove your lenses and stop wearing them while symptoms are present.
This deserves special attention because contact-lens wearers can have an increased risk of corneal infection. Contact-lens wearers with bacterial conjunctivitis are at increased risk of bacterial keratitis and should receive prompt ophthalmologic evaluation.

If you wear contacts and experience:

  • Eye pain
  • Light sensitivity
  • Vision changes
  • Significant redness
  • Discharge
  • Increasing discomfort
  • your physician may recommend prompt in-person eye evaluation rather than routine virtual treatment.

How MDCareNow's Pink Eye Telehealth Visit Works

Step 1: Complete Your Medical Intake

You will answer questions about:

  • When symptoms started
  • One eye or both eyes
  • Watery versus thick discharge
  • Eyelid crusting
  • Itching
  • Burning or gritty sensation
  • Eye pain
  • Light sensitivity
  • Vision changes
  • Recent cold or respiratory infection
  • Allergy symptoms
  • Contact-lens use
  • Eye injury or chemical exposure
  • Current medications
  • Medication allergies
  • Previous eye conditions

You may also upload clear photographs of the affected eye.

Step 2: Board-Certified Physician Review

A California-licensed, board-certified physician reviews your intake and available photos.

The physician considers whether your symptoms are more consistent with:

  • Viral conjunctivitis
  • Bacterial conjunctivitis
  • Allergic conjunctivitis
  • Or another cause of red eye.

If more information is needed, the physician can continue the evaluation through secure messaging, phone, or video.

Step 3: Personalized Treatment and Follow-Up

Your physician provides a treatment plan explaining:

  • The likely cause of your symptoms
  • Recommended treatment
  • Prescription medication when appropriate
  • Self-care measures
  • Hygiene and infection-control recommendations
  • Symptoms that should prompt urgent evaluation
  • When additional in-person care may be needed

When medication is prescribed, the prescription is sent electronically to your chosen California pharmacy.

You also receive 48 hours of follow-up messaging to ask questions or report changes in your symptoms.

Can I Get Pink Eye Medication Online?

Yes—when medication is medically appropriate.
The treatment recommended for pink eye depends primarily on the cause.

  • Bacterial Pink Eye If your physician believes your symptoms are consistent with bacterial conjunctivitis and prescription treatment is appropriate, an antibiotic eye drop or ointment may be prescribed. However, antibiotics are not automatically necessary for every bacterial case. Mild bacterial pink eye can sometimes improve without antibiotic treatment.
  • Viral Pink Eye Antibiotic drops do not treat viral conjunctivitis. Treatment generally focuses on symptom relief while the infection resolves naturally.
  • Allergic Pink Eye Treatment may include reducing exposure to the allergen, artificial tears, cool compresses, and appropriate antihistamine or allergy eye drops depending on your symptoms and medical history. This physician-led approach is important because prescribing antibiotic drops for every red eye can result in unnecessary treatment.

Pink Eye Home Care and Symptom Relief

Some forms of uncomplicated pink eye can be managed partly with supportive care.

  • Artificial Tears Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops can help relieve dryness, burning, and irritation.
  • Cool Compresses Applying a clean, cool compress gently over the closed eye may reduce irritation and swelling.
  • Keep Your Eyes Clean Use clean hands and a fresh damp cloth or cotton pad to gently remove discharge around your eyelids. Avoid using the same cloth on both eyes.
  • Stop Wearing Contact Lenses Contact lenses should generally be avoided while pink-eye symptoms are active. Cold compresses and artificial tears are recommended for symptom relief and advises stopping contact-lens wear until it is safe to resume.

Is Pink Eye Contagious?

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can spread from person to person. Allergic and irritant-related conjunctivitis are not contagious.

If infectious pink eye is suspected:

  • Wash your hands frequently
  • Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes
  • Wash your hands before and after applying eye drops
  • Do not share towels or washcloths
  • Avoid sharing eye makeup
  • Do not share contact-lens equipment
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces
  • Avoid transferring discharge from one eye to the other
  • Frequent handwashing and avoiding touching the eyes or sharing potentially contaminated personal items reduces transmission.

How Long Does Pink Eye Last?

Duration depends on the cause.

Viral pink eye

Most mild viral conjunctivitis improves in approximately 7–14 days, although some cases can last two to three weeks or longer.

Bacterial pink eye

Mild bacterial conjunctivitis may begin improving within a few days even without antibiotics, although complete resolution can take longer.

Allergic pink eye

Symptoms generally improve when the triggering allergen is removed or appropriately treated, but they can recur with continued exposure.

Pink Eye and Returning to Work

Whether you should stay home depends on:

  • The suspected cause
  • Whether symptoms are still active
  • Whether you have other symptoms of illness
  • Your occupation
  • Your level of close contact with others
  • Your physician's recommendation

There is not one universal “24 hours after antibiotics” rule for every person with pink eye.

People may return to work or school with clinician approval when appropriate therapy has been implem/ented, while people with systemic illness or who cannot avoid close contact may need to remain home.

MDCareNow Pink Eye Treatment Pricing

One Transparent $99 Visit

MDCareNow uses a direct-pay model.
Your $99 pink eye telehealth visit includes:

  • Physician evaluation
  • Review of symptoms and submitted photos
  • Personalized treatment plan
  • Prescription when medically appropriate
  • Secure messaging, phone, or video clarification when needed
  • 48 hours of follow-up messaging
  • Prescription costs are separate and depend on the medication and pharmacy.
START MY PINK EYE VISIT — $99

Why Choose MDCareNow for Online Pink Eye Treatment?

  • Real Board-Certified Physicians Your case is reviewed by a licensed physician—not simply an automated symptom checker.
  • California Telehealth Care MDCareNow provides virtual care specifically for eligible adults located in California.
  • Fast Physician Review Eligible visits are reviewed during MDCareNow's operating hours of 7 AM–11 PM PT, 7 days a week.
  • Treatment Based on the Cause Your physician first considers whether the presentation appears viral, bacterial, allergic, irritant-related, or potentially something requiring in-person examination.
  • Prescription Treatment When Appropriate When medication is clinically indicated, a prescription can be sent electronically to your selected pharmacy.
  • 48-Hour Follow-Up Included You can update your physician, ask questions, and report changes in your symptoms after the initial evaluation.
  • Transparent $99 Pricing Know the cost of your medical evaluation before beginning care.

Real doctors. Real care. Real fast.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Pink Eye Treatment

Many uncomplicated cases can begin with an online physician evaluation using detailed symptoms, medical history, photos, and additional communication when necessary.
However, some symptoms require an in-person eye examination.

Yes. If your physician determines that prescription treatment is medically appropriate, eye drops or other medication can be prescribed and sent electronically to your pharmacy.

No.
Viral pink eye does not respond to antibiotics. Allergic conjunctivitis requires allergy-directed treatment, and some mild bacterial cases may improve without antibiotics.

Viral conjunctivitis more commonly produces watery discharge and may occur with cold or respiratory symptoms.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is more commonly associated with thick discharge that may cause the eyelids to stick together.
However, symptoms can overlap, which is why physician evaluation may be useful.

Allergic conjunctivitis typically causes significant itching, watering, redness, and swelling and usually affects both eyes. Other allergy symptoms such as sneezing or an itchy nose may occur.

Viral and bacterial pink eye can be contagious.
Allergic and irritant-related conjunctivitis are not contagious.

Stop wearing contact lenses while symptoms are active. Contact-lens wearers with red, painful, or infected-looking eyes may require prompt in-person eye evaluation because of the risk of corneal infection.

Mild viral conjunctivitis often resolves in approximately 7–14 days, although some cases take longer. Bacterial and allergic cases have different recovery timelines depending on the cause and treatment.

Not necessarily.
Your evaluation begins with your medical intake and any requested photos. If your physician needs additional information, secure messaging, phone, or video may be used as clinically appropriate.

Your physician will recommend the appropriate next level of care when an in-person examination is needed.
The goal is not to treat every red eye online—it is to help you receive the right care for your symptoms.

Get Care Now

Get Online Pink Eye Treatment in California

Red, watery, itchy, or crusty eyes can be uncomfortable—and determining the cause matters.

Get evaluated online by a board-certified California physician without sitting in a waiting room.

  • $99 flat-fee visit
  • Available 7 days a week
  • Prescription treatment when medically appropriate
  • 48-hour follow-up messaging included
START MY PINK EYE VISIT — $99

Real doctors. Real care. Real fast.

References

  • Azari, Amir A., and Neal P. Barney. "Conjunctivitis: A Systematic Review of Diagnosis and Treatment." JAMA, vol. 310, no. 16, 2013, pp. 1721–1729.
  • Durand, Marlene L., Miriam B. Barshak, and Lucia Sobrin. "Eye Infections." New England Journal of Medicine, 2023.
  • Johnson, Daniel, Danny Liu, and David Simel. "Does This Patient with Acute Infectious Conjunctivitis Have a Bacterial Infection?" JAMA, 2022.
  • Winters, Stephen, William Frazier, and Jennifer Winters. "Conjunctivitis: Diagnosis and Management." American Family Physician, 2024.

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