Same-day physician eye exam, fluorescein corneal staining when indicated, and appropriate antibiotic, antiviral, or antihistamine drops prescribed on-site — all walk-in, no appointment needed.
Joint Commission accredited. Physician on shift every day. Most insurance accepted.
TrufaMED treats pink eye (conjunctivitis) with no appointment required, seven days a week. A board-certified physician examines both eyes, stains the cornea with fluorescein when clinically indicated, identifies whether the cause is bacterial, viral, or allergic, and prescribes appropriate drops on the same visit.
Featured Answer
Most pink eye is viral and resolves in one to two weeks with supportive care — antibiotic drops are not indicated. Bacterial conjunctivitis responds quickly to topical antibiotic drops. Allergic conjunctivitis improves with antihistamine or mast cell stabilizer drops. At TrufaMED in Surfside, a physician determines the type during a same-day exam and sends the right prescription directly to your pharmacy.
“Pink eye” is a general term that covers three distinct conditions with very different causes and treatments. Identifying which type you have is the single most important step toward effective care.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae. The hallmark is thick, yellow or green mucopurulent discharge that causes the eyelids to stick together, especially overnight. One or both eyes may be affected. Vision is usually preserved.
Bacterial cases respond rapidly to topical antibiotic drops such as polymyxin B / trimethoprim, erythromycin ointment, or fluoroquinolone drops in adults. Treatment typically shortens the course from a week or longer down to three to five days and prevents spread to the other eye or to close contacts. Our physicians prescribe appropriate drops at the visit and send them directly to your pharmacy.
Viral conjunctivitis, most often caused by adenovirus, typically begins in one eye and spreads to the other within two to three days. The discharge is watery rather than purulent, the conjunctiva appears diffusely red, and there is often a gritty, sandy sensation. Preauricular lymphadenopathy — a tender lymph node in front of the ear — is a classic finding.
Antibiotics are not helpful for viral cases because there is no bacterial infection to treat. Management is supportive: cool compresses, preservative-free artificial tears, and strict hygiene to prevent spread. Adenoviral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can last two to three weeks. At TrufaMED we confirm the diagnosis, rule out bacterial co-infection, and give you clear guidance on contagion and return to work or school.
Allergic conjunctivitis is driven by an IgE-mediated response to pollen, dust, pet dander, or other airborne allergens. It almost always affects both eyes simultaneously and is dominated by intense itching — the single most distinguishing symptom. Redness, watery discharge, and swollen eyelids are common. There is no discharge of pus.
Treatment centers on topical antihistamines (such as olopatadine), mast cell stabilizers, and oral antihistamines. Cool compresses and preservative-free tears help. Identifying and avoiding the trigger — often a seasonal pollen or indoor allergen in Miami’s year-round climate — reduces recurrences. Our physicians can help distinguish allergic conjunctivitis from infectious causes and coordinate referral to allergy specialists when indicated.
At a Glance: Pink Eye Comparison
When to Seek Same-Day Care
Pink eye presents with a cluster of ocular symptoms that overlap with other eye conditions. Careful symptom pattern recognition is what guides the physician toward the correct diagnosis and treatment.
The most important distinction the physician makes on your visit is whether the picture is conjunctivitis (superficial, low risk) or something more serious involving the cornea, sclera, or deeper structures. Marked pain, significant light sensitivity, vision loss, or the presence of contact lenses changes the evaluation completely.
Contact lens wearers in particular should never self-treat a red eye with over-the-counter drops. Bacterial keratitis — a corneal infection that can develop from contact lens misuse — looks similar to pink eye at first but can cause permanent vision loss within days if missed. At TrufaMED we perform fluorescein staining under a cobalt blue light when clinically indicated to rule out corneal involvement. Learn more about our on-site urgent care services.
Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment. Our physicians use a structured examination to separate bacterial, viral, and allergic conjunctivitis from corneal and deeper eye conditions that require ophthalmology referral.
A board-certified physician examines both eyes, looks at the pattern of redness, checks visual acuity, evaluates the eyelids for blepharitis or styes, and palpates for the preauricular lymph node that signals viral conjunctivitis. External exam alone answers the diagnostic question in the majority of cases.
When pain, photophobia, vision change, or contact lens use raises concern for corneal involvement, the physician instills fluorescein dye and examines the cornea under a cobalt blue light. This rules out corneal abrasions, foreign bodies, and herpes simplex keratitis — conditions that require different treatment and sometimes urgent ophthalmology referral.
Vision is measured at every visit using a Snellen chart. Normal or near-normal visual acuity is reassuring and consistent with simple conjunctivitis. Significantly decreased acuity — particularly if it does not improve with blinking — changes the clinical picture and often warrants same-day ophthalmology referral.
Our physicians identify household and workplace exposure patterns, school attendance, and recent upper respiratory infections. This guides return-to-work and return-to-school recommendations and reduces the spread of adenoviral outbreaks in offices, daycares, and schools.
The physician rules out mimics: iritis, episcleritis, acute angle-closure glaucoma, subconjunctival hemorrhage, and dry eye disease. Each has a distinct presentation and requires different treatment. Misdiagnosing iritis or acute angle-closure glaucoma as pink eye can lead to permanent vision loss.
When treatment is indicated — antibiotic drops, antiviral, antihistamine drops, or supportive artificial tears — our physicians send prescriptions directly to your pharmacy from the visit. A follow-up appointment is not required for straightforward cases that respond to therapy.
Pink eye treatment depends entirely on the cause. Using the wrong drops — or no drops when they are needed — delays recovery and in some cases worsens the condition. A same-day physician exam is the fastest path to the correct medication.
First-line treatment is a topical antibiotic drop or ointment: polymyxin B / trimethoprim solution, erythromycin ointment, or a fluoroquinolone drop such as moxifloxacin in adults. Drops are typically given every four to six hours for five to seven days. Most patients notice significant improvement within 48 hours. Untreated bacterial conjunctivitis usually self-resolves within seven to ten days, but treatment shortens the course, reduces contagion, and prevents complications.
Contact lens wearers are prescribed fluoroquinolone drops because of pseudomonal coverage — pseudomonal keratitis is a sight-threatening infection associated with contact lens misuse. Contact lenses are held until the eye is clear and the antibiotic course is complete.
There is no antiviral medication for adenoviral conjunctivitis — the most common viral cause. Management is supportive: cool compresses several times daily, preservative-free artificial tears as needed, and strict hand hygiene. The illness runs its course over one to three weeks. Contact lenses should not be worn until symptoms have resolved completely.
Herpes simplex conjunctivitis is a distinct, more serious entity. Suspected herpetic keratoconjunctivitis — often associated with a dendritic corneal ulcer seen on fluorescein staining — requires topical and sometimes oral antiviral therapy and prompt ophthalmology referral. Our physicians identify these cases and coordinate same-day referral when needed.
Topical antihistamine / mast cell stabilizer drops such as olopatadine, ketotifen, or azelastine are first-line. Oral antihistamines help when allergic rhinitis coexists. Cool compresses reduce itch. Identifying and avoiding the trigger — seasonal pollen, indoor molds, pet dander, or cosmetics — is the durable fix. Severe or refractory cases are referred to ophthalmology or allergy specialists for advanced therapy.
What You Can Get at TrufaMED Today
Typical Recovery Timeline
Pink eye is one of the most common reasons for day-care exclusion and missed workdays. Our physicians give clear, medically sound return-to-activity guidance and provide work or school notes at every visit.
01 · Bacterial
Return after 24 hours on antibiotic drops
Most school districts and employers accept 24 hours of topical antibiotic therapy as the threshold for return. Discharge typically thins within the first day of treatment, and contagion risk drops markedly. A physician note documents the date treatment started.
02 · Viral
Return when symptoms have resolved
Adenoviral conjunctivitis is highly contagious for the full duration of active symptoms — typically one to two weeks, occasionally longer. Best practice is to stay home until redness, discharge, and tearing have fully resolved. Strict hand hygiene during recovery is essential.
03 · Allergic
No exclusion required
Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious. School and work attendance is not restricted. Treatment is directed at symptom relief and, when possible, trigger avoidance. Our physicians provide documentation if an employer or school requires it.
Adenoviral conjunctivitis spreads readily through direct contact with eye discharge and contaminated surfaces. The virus can survive on fomites — doorknobs, phones, keyboards, pillowcases — for days. Outbreaks in offices, schools, and daycares are common. Standard prevention includes hand hygiene with soap and water, avoiding touching the eyes, not sharing towels or pillowcases, and cleaning high-touch surfaces. If multiple family members or coworkers develop pink eye in quick succession, viral etiology is highly likely and environmental disinfection helps break the chain.
Most pink eye is straightforward urgent care. However, certain features indicate a more serious process — corneal ulcer, iritis, acute angle-closure glaucoma, herpetic keratitis, orbital cellulitis — that requires emergency evaluation. The findings below change disposition from urgent care to ER or same-day ophthalmology.
Go to the ER or call 911 if you experience:
If you are unsure whether your symptoms warrant the ER or urgent care, the safer course is almost always to seek same-day evaluation. Walk in to TrufaMED and our physicians will triage on arrival. Cases that belong in the emergency department are identified and referred immediately. For most patients with typical pink eye symptoms, urgent care is the right venue and the treatment plan is ready before you leave.
Conjunctivitis is one of the most common reasons children visit urgent care. Our physicians see children of all ages, including infants and toddlers, and coordinate with pediatric urgent care protocols when indicated.
Adenoviral conjunctivitis sweeps through daycares, preschools, and elementary classrooms in predictable waves. Close contact, shared surfaces, and the hand-to-eye behaviors that characterize young children all contribute. Parents often come in with one child affected and a sibling beginning to show symptoms within days.
Most Florida school districts and daycares require a physician evaluation before a child with pink eye returns to class. Specific requirements vary: some require 24 hours on antibiotic therapy if bacterial is suspected, others require complete resolution. Our physicians document the diagnosis and treatment plan and provide a dated school note at every visit.
Eye discharge in a newborn under 28 days old is handled differently than in older children. Neonatal conjunctivitis can be caused by chlamydia, gonorrhea, or herpes acquired at birth — all of which require urgent evaluation and sometimes systemic treatment. Infants with eye discharge should be seen promptly, either at urgent care or the emergency department depending on severity and age.
Giving eye drops to a wiggling toddler is a practical challenge. Our physicians and nurses demonstrate the technique at the visit: lay the child on their back, gently pull down the lower lid to create a small pocket, drop the medication into the pocket, and let the child blink naturally. Drops can also be placed in the inner corner of a closed eye and will enter when the child opens it.
Pediatric Pink Eye Quick Facts
TrufaMED brings a standard of clinical care to urgent care that is uncommon outside of hospital systems — with no appointment, no wait, and no discount-feel for our patients.
01 · Accreditation
Florida’s Only Joint Commission-Accredited Urgent Care
We are one of just eight Joint Commission-accredited urgent cares nationwide. Accreditation reflects documented clinical protocols, medication safety programs, infection control, and continuous quality measurement — the same standards hospitals are held to.
02 · Physicians
Board-Certified Physicians Every Shift
Every patient is evaluated by a board-certified physician — not a physician extender triaging on their own. Our medical staff is led by Dr. Uri Gedalia (Chief Medical Officer) and Dr. Shane D. Naidoo (Medical Director, Emergency Medicine). Meet our team on the clinical staff page.
03 · Same Visit
Exam, Prescription, School Note — One Visit
Walk in, be seen, get diagnosed, receive the prescription sent to your pharmacy, and leave with a dated school or work note. Typical visit time 20 to 45 minutes. No follow-up appointment required for straightforward cases.
04 · Location
Surfside Location, Regional Reach
9445 Harding Ave, Surfside — minutes from Miami Beach, Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, and surrounding communities. Free parking. Walk-in seven days a week.
05 · Technology
On-Site Digital Imaging & Testing
Our clinic has digital X-ray, on-site lab testing, and diagnostic ultrasound available every visit. Pink eye rarely requires imaging, but when additional workup is indicated we can complete it in one visit.
06 · Coverage
Most Insurance Accepted
We accept Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Humana, Oscar Health*, Medicare, and most commercial plans. Self-pay patients welcome. Transparent pricing — no surprise bills.
Red eye in a contact lens wearer is never routine. Bacterial keratitis — corneal infection — is more likely in contact lens users and can cause permanent vision loss if missed. If you wear contact lenses and develop eye redness, pain, or discharge, stop wearing lenses immediately and seek same-day care.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis is the classic sight-threatening infection associated with contact lens misuse — overnight wear, swimming or showering in lenses, extended wear beyond prescribed duration, or contaminated cases and solutions. It can progress from an early redness to a dense corneal infiltrate within 24 to 48 hours.
At TrufaMED we evaluate every contact lens wearer with red eye using fluorescein corneal staining and examine under cobalt blue light to rule out keratitis. Contact lens wearers with pink eye features receive fluoroquinolone drops as a first-line treatment because of pseudomonas coverage. Our physicians coordinate same-day or next-day ophthalmology referral whenever keratitis is suspected.
Practical guidance for contact lens wearers with any red eye:
Below are the questions our physicians answer most often about pink eye diagnosis, treatment, contagion, and return to daily activity.
TrufaMED is located at 9445 Harding Ave in Surfside — minutes from Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, Miami Beach, and every surrounding neighborhood. Walk in without an appointment seven days a week.
9445 Harding Ave, Surfside, FL 33154 · Contact our team · Walk-in only — no appointment needed for pink eye or any urgent care visit.
Monday – Friday
9 AM – 9 PM
Saturday
11 AM – 11 PM
Sunday
12 PM – 8 PM
TrufaMED is Florida’s only Joint Commission-accredited urgent care. Our physicians see patients across the full spectrum of urgent care conditions — including pink eye, ear infections, strep throat, sinus infections, and allergy flares — seven days a week with a board-certified physician on duty every shift.
We accept most insurance plans. Self-pay patients are welcome. Visit our clinical team page to meet the physicians who will care for you.
We accept most major insurance plans. Pink eye evaluation — including physician exam, fluorescein staining when indicated, and prescriptions — is a standard urgent care visit covered by most plans.
Walk in today — no appointment needed. A board-certified physician will examine both eyes, identify the type of conjunctivitis, and have the right drops prescribed and sent to your pharmacy before you leave.
Medical Disclaimer: The content on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Pink eye symptoms vary by individual, and proper diagnosis requires an in-person physician evaluation. Do not use this content as a substitute for professional medical care. If you are experiencing significant vision loss, severe eye pain, severe light sensitivity, penetrating eye injury, chemical splash, or any other sight-threatening symptom, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. TrufaMED Urgent Care & Concierge Medicine — 9445 Harding Ave, Surfside, FL 33154 — (305) 537-6396. Joint Commission accredited.
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