Eyes & mouth
Conjunctivitis (bacterial, allergic, viral)
A red, sticky eye rarely picks a convenient day. The pharmacists at Murray Shore Pharmacy in North York assess conjunctivitis in person, work out whether the picture fits bacterial, viral, or allergic causes, and prescribe where appropriate, with the assessment covered by OHIP.
Common signs
- Pink or red colouring in the white of one or both eyes
- Discharge: thick and yellow-green, or thin and watery
- Eyelashes crusted together on waking
- A gritty, sandy feeling in the eye
- Itching, especially when both eyes are affected at once
- Recent contact with someone who had pink eye
See a doctor instead if
- Eye pain, rather than surface irritation
- Any change in vision, or unusual sensitivity to light
- You wear contact lenses, which raises the risk of a corneal infection
- A chemical splash or something stuck in the eye
- A newborn with eye discharge, which needs a physician the same day
Any of these sound like you? Call 416-789-1800 and we will point you the right way — or reach Health811 (opens in a new tab) by calling 811.
How the assessment works
The three types of conjunctivitis look similar at a glance, so the assessment focuses on what separates them: the kind of discharge, whether one eye or both, itch versus grit, allergy history, and recent exposure to others with pink eye. Where the picture fits a bacterial infection, an antibiotic eye drop may be prescribed where appropriate; allergic and viral pictures get their own advice and follow-up plan. Anything touching vision, pain, or contact lens wear goes straight to a physician or optometrist, and we will tell you why.
Sources 1, 2Three ways to get started. Do it all from home, or come in.
Start online from your phone, call us, or walk in and ask for the pharmacist. No appointment is needed. When you start online, a pharmacist calls or messages you back to finish the assessment. Prefer email? Write to us.
Frequently asked questions
Plain answers from the pharmacy team. Tap a question to open it.
How do you tell bacterial pink eye from viral or allergic?
No single sign settles it, so the pharmacist weighs the whole picture: thick discharge that returns minutes after wiping leans bacterial, watery discharge with a recent cold leans viral, and itching in both eyes with sneezing leans allergic. The assessment walks through each of these.
Can my child go back to school or daycare?
That depends on the likely cause, and it is one of the questions we answer during the assessment. Some forms spread easily and some do not, so we give you a practical answer to take to the school rather than a blanket rule.
I wear contact lenses. Can the pharmacist still assess me?
Come in, but expect a referral. Red eye in a contact lens wearer can be a corneal infection, which is beyond what a pharmacy assessment can safely rule out. We will check the basics and direct you to the right level of care quickly.
Do I need an appointment for a pink eye assessment?
No. Walk into the pharmacy at 3537 Bathurst Street, or call 416-789-1800 first if you want to time your visit. Bring your Ontario health card, since OHIP covers the assessment.
Both my kids woke up with sticky eyes. Can you see them together?
Yes, but each child is assessed individually, because siblings can have different causes even in the same week. Bring both health cards and any drops or medications either child already uses.
What should I bring to a pink eye assessment?
Your Ontario health card, any eye drops you have already tried, and a list of your medications. If you wear contact lenses, bring your glasses so you can rest the lenses if advised.
When is a red eye an emergency rather than pink eye?
Significant pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision that does not clear with blinking, or an injury to the eye all point beyond pink eye. Those symptoms need same-day medical care rather than a pharmacy assessment, and we will direct you there immediately if we see them.
Could my itchy, gritty eyes be dryness rather than an infection?
Possibly. Dry eye causes burning, grittiness, and redness that is easy to mistake for mild conjunctivitis, and it has its own pharmacist assessment. See our dry eye page or simply come in, and the pharmacist will sort out which one fits.
How do I keep pink eye from spreading at home?
Wash hands often, avoid touching or rubbing the eyes, and give the affected person their own towel and pillowcase. Discard any eye makeup used since symptoms began. These steps matter most for the contagious forms, which the assessment helps identify.
Is the pink eye assessment covered by OHIP?
Yes, the assessment is billed to OHIP for Ontario residents with a valid health card. If drops are prescribed, the medication cost goes through your drug plan or is paid out of pocket like any prescription.
What follow-up should I expect after the assessment?
Most cases improve within a few days once the plan starts. If your eye is not clearly better in that window, or it worsens at any point, call us and the pharmacist will reassess or refer you to a physician.
Sources & further reading
Numbered references, linked from the sections above.
Your pharmacist is one call away.
416-789-1800 Call nowPrefer not to call? Email info@murrayshore.com or visit us at Bathurst & Baycrest.