Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, involves inflammation of a part of the eye called conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is a thin membrane that protects the eyelid and eyeball. When the vessels of the conjunctiva become swollen and inflamed, the eye appears pink. Conjunctivitis is often caused by a viral infection, although it can be caused by a bacterial infection, an allergic reaction, or a tear duct that hasn’t opened yet in children.
Common symptoms of conjunctivitis include:
If you’re experiencing redness, eye pain, or the feeling that something might be stuck in your eye, it’s important to seek medical care right away. If you wear contact lenses, don’t wear them once you start experiencing the symptoms of pink eye. It’s important to make sure you don’t have a more serious eye infection.
There are several potential causes of conjunctivitis, including:
Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are most frequently caused by adenovirus but can also be caused by varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex.
Conjunctivitis also occurs alongside respiratory infections and can occur if you wear contact lenses that aren’t yours. Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are extremely contagious and can spread through contact with liquid from the eyes of an infected person.
Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by exposure to an eye irritant, like pollen. The body produces a chemical when exposed to irritants called immunoglobulin E(IgE). IgE causes the release of histamine, a chemical that causes symptoms like itchy eyes, sneezing, and tearing up of the eyes. Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious.
Risk factors for conjunctivitis include exposure to a person who has bacterial or viral conjunctivitis, exposure to a substance you have an allergy to, and using contact lenses.
Your healthcare provider can diagnose you with conjunctivitis by doing a physical exam and asking about your recent symptoms. In some cases, a doctor may take a little bit of the liquid that drains out of the eye and do some tests on it if they suspect a cause that poses a serious threat. These include foreign objects in the eye, sexually transmitted infections, and serious bacterial infections.
Complications of conjunctivitis include eye pain, blurred vision, and light sensitivity.
Treatment for conjunctivitis focuses on symptom management. Some solutions include cleaning the eyelids with a damp cloth, using a cold compress over the eyes, or artificial tears.
If you wear contact lenses, throw away any that you’ve already used and wait until your pink eye has cleared up to start wearing new ones. You may also want to replace any contact lens accessories and throw out any eye makeup. Continue to disinfect your contacts overnight.
You may be prescribed antibiotic eye drops if your conjunctivitis is bacterial. Antiviral medications or anti-allergy medications may also be options.
Good hygiene practices can prevent the spread of conjunctivitis, including not touching your eyes with your hands, washing your hands a lot, using a clean towel and washcloth, not sharing towels and washcloths, throwing away old eye makeup, and changing pillowcases often.
Try to avoid close contact with others and practise good hygiene if you have conjunctivitis and have to be around others. Pink eye can be prevented in newborns by a standard antibiotic ointment.