What is a Pink Eye?
Pink eye, in simple terms, is called conjunctivitis. This disorder is characterised by irritation or infection of the conjunctiva, the membrane lining the eyelids and eyes’ whites (sclera). This can be contagious and is very common in children, but it can happen to anyone. People staying with an infected person are more prone to this condition. Your eye will remain contagious until it produces a discharge. It may last up to 10 days if it’s a bacterial case. Meanwhile, a viral infection may take 14 days to recover. It is not a fatal condition and usually goes away in a week or two. However, the severe cases may lead to vision loss or corneal damage, hence one should seek medical advice for relevant pink eye treatment.
Causes of Pink Eye
The reason why your eye might have turned pink is because of an increased blood flow or swelling in the sclera. It can be caused by viruses, infectious agents, or bacteria. If someone has an allergy or has been exposed to chemicals that may irritate their eye, it can also cause it to turn pink. Viral conjunctivitis is usually accompanied by runny nose and sore throat and the viral pink eye treatment is different from bacterial infection. A bacterial conjunctivitis can lead to an ear infection.
Other causes of spreading conjunctivitis to other people are:
- Poor hand washing
- Sharing objects like washcloths, towels, eye make-up, contact lenses, or eye medicine
Signs or Symptoms of Conjunctivitis
The pink or red colour of your eyes can cause discomfort, which is generally the first sign. In addition, you may even have itchiness in your eyes. Many people also experience swelling, pain, and discharge of the conjunctiva. If the discharge is watery, it may indicate a viral infection and you may have to go for viral pink eye treatment. However, if there is mucus or pus, it can be a bacterial infection.
There can also be a situation where your eyelids stick together when you wake-up (it is normal in conjunctivitis, and you should not be alarmed).
When to See a Doctor for Conjunctivitis?
Depending on its kind and condition, you may need to see a doctor if you have conjunctivitis. You must see an ophthalmologist if you have one of the below symptoms:
- You have trouble seeing and are experiencing pain
- You face sensitivity to light
- It has been a week or more, and the symptoms are getting worse
- There is a lot of mucus or pus in the eye
- There are other symptoms, like fever, infection, or achiness
Your doctor may suggest a viral pink eye treatment or other options depending on diagnosis.
How is Conjunctivitis Diagnosed?
Doctors ask several questions about your medical health and symptoms to diagnose conjunctivitis. They may even do a thorough check-up of your eye. In rare cases, the doctor may take the liquid sample from your eye for a culture lab test. This is generally done if the symptoms are severe or they suspect a high chance of one of the following:
- Foreign object in the eye
- Sexually transmitted infection
- Severe bacterial infection
Once the diagnosis is complete, the next step is treatment – which could either be a viral pink eye treatment or bacterial infection.
Pink Eye Treatment
So, the viral pink eye treatment depends on the reason behind it. For instance, it may be because of a bacterial or viral infection, an allergy, or some irritating substance in the eye. In case of a bacterial infection, antibiotic drops are suggested. If you have an allergic or chemical reaction, your physician can recommend medicine to ease pain and suffering.
Viral conjunctivitis cannot be cured, unlike bacterial conjunctivitis, which is the most common. In most cases, viral pink eye treatment won’t require medical intervention. You can also do pink eye treatment at home easily through these simple home remedies:
- Use cold compresses to reduce dryness and inflammation.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses until the illness clears up.
- Clean your eyes with a clean and washed cloth dipped in warm water to loosen up the stuck eyelids.
- Keep your hands away from your eyes
- Wash your hands more frequently
- Avoid using an eye makeup during the infection
- Do not share your towel, handkerchief, or eye makeup
An important thing is never to use an eye drop prescribed to someone else or in the past for some other infection. These drops may be contaminated or not suitable for this condition.
Takeaway
Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is an eye infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or allergic reactions. It is a contagious condition that mostly happens to children and quickly spreads to people around them. Depending on the cause, you may experience the symptoms suddenly or after some days. It can take several hours to days to show symptoms of viral or bacterial infection. However, an allergic reaction will have sudden symptoms in the eye. In most cases, you won’t need a medical intervention, and the condition will improve in a few days. However, always visit a healthcare provider if the symptoms worsen or become severe.
