Ask An Eye Doc: Why do I get pink eye when I have a cold?

Ever get pink eye when you have a cold? It's pretty common, but not all pink eye is the same. Just make sure you see the eye doctor for proper treatment. Use #AskAnEyeDoc to ask your eye-related questions on social media!

The reason you get pink eye when sick is that it's easy to spread the viruses and bacteria from places like your nose and mouth by simply rubbing your eye. In fact, you probably touch your eyes often without even realizing it...maybe even after coughing or blowing your nose.

Dr. Nafey talks about the different types of pink eye and how they can cause different symptoms. It's important to not use any drops you have around to treat pink eye because the wrong type can actually make the problem worse.

Pink eye is very contagious. So whenever you have pink eye, you should always see an eye doctor. If you don't have an eye doctor, you can find one near you on vsp.com.

If you have a question for the eye doctor, let us know! Make sure to use #AskAnEyeDoc in your post.

Disclaimer: Information received through VSP Vision Care's social media channels does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis or treatment.