Conjunctivitis - Pink Eye

Commonly known as "pink eye", conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the very thin, clear tissue that lies over the white part of your eye and lines the inside of the eyelid.

Causes of Conjunctivitis

There are several causes of pink eye including:

Viruses
Irritants (shampoos, dirt, chlorine)
Bacteria
Allergies

When conjunctivitis is caused by bacteria or viruses, it can spread quickly from person to person. If diagnosed and treated promptly, conjunctivitis is not a serious condition.

Based on an examination of the patient, answers to the doctor’s questions and lab results, an eye specialist is able to determine what caused your case of pink eye. Knowing what caused the infection will allow the doctor to treat the infection appropriately.

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

The symptoms of pink eye differ based on what actually caused the condition in the first place. The most common symptoms are:

Redness around the white part of the eye or inner part of the eyelid
Thick yellow discharge
Green or white discharge
Itchy eyes
Increase in the amount of tears
Blurry vision
Burning eyes
Light sensitivity

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or if someone in your family was exposed to pink eye, you should see your doctor or eye care professional for immediate treatment.

Treatment of Conjunctivitis

Just like with the symptoms, the treatment also depends on what caused the irritation. The following treatments are indicated for each cause:

Bacteria-caused: treatment with antibiotics is indicated (eye drops, ointment or pills)
Virus-caused: No treatment. Must just run its course.
Irritants-caused: Water will be used to wash out the substance, and your eyes should feel better within a few hours of being washed out.
Allergies-caused: Once the allergen is removed, the eyes should feel better.

Some preventative measures you can take to avoid getting conjunctivitis are:

Protect your eyes from outside irritants such as dirt and smoke
Avoid using makeup that irritates your eyes. Use hypo-allergenic makeup.
Don’t wear contact lenses or remove them if they are irritating your eyes
Use eye drops to keep your eyes moist and relieve burning and itching

To learn more about conjunctivitis, please contact an experienced eye doctor in your area today to schedule an appointment.