kThe Start of Pink Eye?

Just want to tell you that I found out when my son's eye did this several years ago, that only an eye doctor can tell if it's viral or bacterial conjunctivitis. Bacterial is highly contagious. Viral is not. If it's bacterial, you have to keep him home from school and wash stuff like crazy at home to keep it from spreading to his other eye and other famiy members. If it's viral, you get a note from the eye doctor saying that he can go to school. Eye drops clear both of them up.

Poking himself in the eye is not going to cause the same problem in both eyes. It could well be conjunctivitis, which doesn't always hurt or itch - you will know soon enough, when you get more crusty crud when he wakes up, watering/weeping, or worse redness. Assume it's highly contagious and take precautions (hand washing, not touching the eyes). Use a clean washcloth each time - don't rub, just press warm water against the eye to dissolve the crud. I'm not sure it's necessary to see an eye doctor, as suggested below. Pediatricians and primary care physicians deal with this all the time. Don't use eye drops especially those that are used by others in the family. Sometimes allergies cause redness but it's hard to know until the symptoms get worse and more distinctive.

It might be or it might not be.
Wait and see.

One of the tell-tale signs is leakage or weeping of the eye. Next time he wakes up, see if there's a crusty or gooey substance at the corner of his eye or if his lashes/lids are stuck together, I'd be willing to bet it's Pink Eye. It usually takes a day or so for it to get to that point. Also, watch if he's rubbing it, or if it seems to be watering more than the other eye.

You can get some warm salty water to flush his eye. That can help.

Good luck!

I would wait a day and see if they get redder. When I have had pink eye, my eyes did not itch-same with my kids. I have had a little bit of stuff in the corner of my eye recently but it was not pink eye. Also, I have had virul more times than bacterial. Like a cold in my eye. Looks like pink eye but not as much stuff/goop.

Being that it is flu season, it is probably pink eye. You should be able to purchase some over the counter eye drops that will cure it. They do sell specific pink eye medication, however, I was unable to find it on the shelf. I purchased a bottle of irritated red eye - crusted eye drops and it worked fine. It was the same maker and I don't recall the brand.

It was this stuff Similasan Healthy Irritated Eye Relief Eye Drops. I found it at Walgreens and CVS.

If he has any sinus congestion then that's probably what it is.

Snot has to get out one route or another. Either through the throat. The nose by blowing. Draining out the ears which causes massive ear infections or through the eyes. The mucus has to get out. I often have drainage from my eyes when I have a sinus infection, especially where one sinus is clogged up and I can't blow it out from there.

Both eyes or just one?

One eye: Yes, conjunctivitis. Treat with hot, damp compresses held to the eye for 5 minutes every couple hours or so. It will usually resolve on its own in about 3 days.

Both eyes: Allergies. Treat with Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin or whichever antihistamine you know words for him.