True conjunctivitis can be either viral or bacterial, but inflamed eyes can also mean something else. Waking up to a red, inflamed eye that might even be hard to open can be terrifying. Is it a temporary infection or a virus? Maybe it's the dreaded pink eye, the common name for conjunctivitis, which can be contagious.

What mimics conjunctivitis?

Similarly, keratitis – the inflammation of the cornea, the transparent part of the eye in front of the pupil and iris – gives the eye a comparably reddened, irritated look. "They both look like red eye or pink eye.

How do I know if I have viral or bacterial conjunctivitis?

Viral conjunctivitis usually lasts longer than bacterial conjunctivitis. If conjunctivitis does not resolve with antibiotics after 3 to 4 days, the physician should suspect that the infection is viral. Bacterial conjunctivitis is characterized by mucopurulent discharge with matting of the eyelids.