Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, occurs when the conjunctiva in your eye becomes inflamed by a viral, bacterial, or allergic reaction. The conjunctiva is the transparent membrane that lines your eyelid and the whites of your eyes. When it is infected, the small blood vessels in the conjunctiva become inflamed, which makes them more visible and gives the white part of your eyes a red or pink hue. However, pink eye is but one among many different types of eye infections! As such, the main difference between conjunctivitis and eye infections in general is that pink eye is one example of an eye infection, while an eye infection can refer to several different types of infections. For instance, the following is a list of other types of eye infections besides pink eye: - Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) - Cellulitis (infected eye tissues) - Endophthalmitis (severe inflammation of the inside of the eye) - Keratitis (infected cornea) - Ocular herpes (herpes simplex virus of the eye) - Sty (pimple-like bump that appears on the outer edges of the eyelids) - Uveitis (infected uvea) Eye infections that are potentially life-threatening or are considered medical emergencies include orbital cellulitis, keratitis, or endophthalmitis.