Eye Infection

For most eye infections causing redness, discharge, itching, or mild discomfort, urgent care is the appropriate choice. Visit ContinuEM Urgent Care for pink eye, styes, contact lens problems, or mild eye pain. Choose the emergency room if you experience sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, eye injury or trauma, chemical exposure, or eye symptoms with severe headache and fever. When in doubt, call our clinic at (562) 731-3990, and we can help guide your decision.

Bacterial infections typically produce thick, yellow-green discharge that causes your eyelids to stick together, especially after sleeping. Viral infections usually cause watery, clear discharge and often accompany cold or flu symptoms. Allergic reactions cause intense itching with clear, watery discharge and typically affect both eyes equally. Our providers can examine your eyes and determine the specific type of infection to prescribe the most effective treatment.

Healing time depends on the type of infection and treatment. Bacterial infections typically improve within 24-48 hours of starting antibiotic drops, with complete resolution in 3-7 days. Viral infections usually resolve on their own in 1-2 weeks without antibiotics. Styes often improve in 1-2 weeks with warm compresses. Contact lens-related infections may take longer to heal and require discontinuing lens wear during treatment. If your symptoms don’t improve within a few days of starting treatment, return to urgent care for reevaluation.

No, you should remove your contact lenses immediately if you suspect an eye infection. Continuing to wear lenses can worsen the infection, delay healing, and increase the risk of serious complications like corneal ulcers. Discard the lenses and case you were using when the infection started, as they may be contaminated. Don’t resume wearing contacts until your provider confirms the infection has fully resolved, and always start with fresh lenses and a new case.

Viral and bacterial pink eye are highly contagious and spread easily through direct contact, contaminated surfaces, or respiratory droplets. You’re contagious as long as you have symptoms. Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious. To prevent spreading infectious pink eye, wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, don’t share towels or pillows, and stay home from work or school until symptoms improve or your doctor clears you to return. Most schools require children to be symptom-free or on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning.

See a doctor if you experience moderate to severe eye pain, vision changes, severe light sensitivity, thick or increasing discharge, symptoms that worsen or don’t improve after 2-3 days, eye infection with contact lens use, or if you have a weakened immune system. Children, elderly adults, and people with diabetes should see a doctor promptly for any eye infection. It’s always better to have your eyes examined when you’re concerned, as some infections can threaten your vision if left untreated.

Mild symptoms like slight redness or irritation may improve with home care such as warm compresses, artificial tears, and avoiding eye makeup and contact lenses. However, most eye infections benefit from professional evaluation to ensure proper treatment. Never use old prescription eye drops, share someone else’s medication, or delay seeking care if symptoms persist or worsen. Viral and bacterial infections often look similar but require different treatments, so professional diagnosis is important.

Yes, eye infections can easily spread from one eye to the other through touch or contaminated items. To prevent spreading, wash your hands before and after touching your eyes, use separate towels for each eye, avoid rubbing your eyes, apply medications only to the affected eye unless directed otherwise, and sleep on the opposite side of your infected eye to avoid pillow contamination. If both eyes are affected, treat each eye separately with clean applicators.

This depends on the type of infection and your occupation. Viral and bacterial eye infections are contagious, and you should stay home until symptoms improve or you’ve been on antibiotics for 24 hours (for bacterial infections). Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious, so you can work or attend school. Check your workplace or school’s policy, as many require a doctor’s note to return after infectious conjunctivitis. Healthcare workers, food handlers, and childcare providers may have stricter requirements. Our providers can provide documentation for work or school as needed.

A stye is a localized infection of the oil glands in your eyelid, appearing as a painful, red bump along the eyelid edge or at the base of your eyelashes. It affects the eyelid itself and is not contagious. Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white of your eye, causing widespread redness, discharge, and irritation across the entire eye. Pink eye is often contagious and affects the eye surface rather than the eyelid. Both require different treatments, so proper diagnosis is important.

No appointment is necessary. Walk-ins are always welcome during our extended hours. If you prefer, you can call ahead at (562) 731-3990 to let us know you’re coming, but this is not required.

Bring your photo ID, insurance card, a list of current medications (including supplements), and any relevant medical records if you have them. If possible, prepare a brief timeline of your symptoms, including when the pain began, what triggers it, and any associated symptoms you’ve noticed.

Most insurance plans cover urgent care visits. ContinuEM accepts both in-network and out-of-network insurance. We charge a $99 upfront service fee, with the remaining balance billed to your insurance. We recommend checking with your insurance provider about your specific coverage and copayment requirements. See Insurance & Payment options for more information.