How do you determine if you have pink eye or really bad allergies?

they both can have the same symptons.... not sure if its pink eye or just allergies.. any facts or clues?

Any form of conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva which is the moist skin of the eye ball itself) will manifest as dilated blood vessels on the surface and thus can be termed as "pink or red eye." But from what I get from your question is that you're asking how to differentiate an INFECTIOUS cause of conjunctivitis vs an ALLERGIC cause.

Without the help of proper diagnostic equipment, Infectious and Allergic conjunctivitis will and do appear almost exactly the same.

However, there are some "rules of thumb" that you can use.

The hallmark of allergic conjunctivitis is itchiness. Allergic conjunctivitis will classically manifest as severely itchy eyes which feel really good when you start rubbing them.

Infectious conjunctivits on the other hand will usually manifest more on the painful side than the itchy. Viral (also infectious) conjunctivitis will also be accompanied by the appearance of lymph nodes just infront of your ear (pre-auricular lymphadenitis)

The best thing you should do is to get a proper ophthalmic evaluation from an ophthalmologist BEFORE you start dropping anything into your eyes. Source(s): I am an ophthalmologist.

another sign to having bad allergies is excessive bloating/puffiness to your face/body/hands

in my case is looking like a cooked lobster...red all over
If your eye is gushing out a bunch of white gunk in the corners and gets matted down when you sleep, its pink eye.
The best way to be sure is to see a doctor. If you suspect pink eye, get in right away. Pink eye is very contagious!
If you wake up every morning with your eyes sealed shut from crusty green/yellow gunk you have pink eye. Your eyes will also be extremely blood shot and itchy.
see your doctor
if it is pink eye it is very contagious and you only have 1 set of eyes why risk damaging them