Questions about Pink Eye

What is Pink Eye?

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is a viral infection in the thin tissue underneath your eyelid. Caused by viruses, irritants, bacteria, and allergies, conjunctivitis is highly contagious, and especially common in school aged children.

What are the symptoms of Pink Eye?

The symptoms of pink eye are unique to their causes, but in most cases pink eye can be identified by:

Redness around the white part of the eye
Yellow, green, or white discharge
Burning or itchy eyes
Increased tear production

Pink eye is not a serious condition and poses no long term vision threats; however its symptoms are similar enough to trachoma, a disease that can lead to permanent blindness, that your ophthalmologist should be consulted as soon as these symptoms appear.

How is Pink Eye treated?

The treatment for pink eye is dependent on its cause. Pink eye may simply run its course if it was caused by virus. When irritants are the culprit, washing your eyes with water to remove the problem will work. In the case of allergies, removing the allergen will cause pink eye to subside. If you have tried an at home remedy that has not worked, your conjunctivitis may be bacterial, and will require medicine prescribed by your ophthalmologist.

Learn more by visiting How Long Does Pink Eye Last.

How can I prevent Pink Eye?

Pink eye can be avoided by:

Keeping your hands clean and avoiding touching your face
Not making direct contact with someone who has pink eye
Using hypo-allergenic cosmetics
Protecting your eyes from dirt, smoke, and allergens
Removing contact lenses as soon as they start irritating your eyes

Of course, pink eye can not always be avoided, especially in children who are more prone to close physical contact with potential carries. When infection occurs, seeking medical assistance may be your best options.

Learn more by visiting How to Get Rid of Pink Eye.

If you have any of the symptoms of pink eye and at home treatments have not helped solve the problem, please contact an eye doctor in your area to discuss your problem, and set up an appointment.