Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is the infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye called the sclera. In addition to inflammation, a sticky discharge, which develops into a crust while one sleeps, can make it difficult for the patient to open their eyes.
Pink eye is highly contagious. While pink eye is more common in children, adults can also experience this condition. These are the three major causes of pink eye:
Bacteria
Streptococci and Staphylococci are the bacteria most responsible for pink eye; however, chlamydia and gonococci are also causes of pink eye. Pink eye is accompanied by eye pain, itching, swelling, redness, and discharge. The spread of bacterial pink eye usually results from sharing personal items of those with pink eye, such as makeup, or from putting dirty hands on the eyes. If untreated, pink eye can last for more than 10 days, but if treated, pink eye should resolve in less than 3 days.
Allergies
Pink eye caused by allergies can cause minimal pain but typically comes with quite a bit of discomfort, such as itching and tearing of the eyes. Most of the time, pink eye caused by allergies is accompanied by sneezing or coughing. Allergens that trigger pink eye include grass, dust, pollen, mold, and ragweed. Allergy-based pink eye is not usually contagious.
Viruses
Viruses such as the adenoviruses and herpes virus are the most common causes of pink eye. When a virus is the cause, there is usually a lot of teary discharge accompanied by nasal congestion, puffy eyelids, runny nose, and sharp pain. Virus-caused pink eye is usually contracted from cough and sneeze droplets from an infected individual and can take as long as 2 weeks to treat, depending on the seriousness of the infection.
General Symptoms of Pink Eye:
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Itchy eyes
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Redness of the sclera
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Pain
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Watery discharge
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Swollen eyelids
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Hazy or blurry vision
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Oversensitivity to light
Prevention
The best way to prevent pink eye is by practicing good hygiene which includes:
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Avoid touching your eyes with unwashed hands.
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Frequently wash your hands.
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Avoid sharing towels and other personal items.
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Do not use dirty items.
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Changing your pillow covers regularly.
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Do not leave a makeup item open for too long.
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Avoid sharing makeup items such as eyeliners, mascara, etc.
Treatment Of Pink Eye
The treatment of pink eye is dependent on its underlying cause.
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If pink eye is caused by a virus, patients will have to wait for the virus to run its course, which usually is between 4 to 7 days. Virus-caused pink eye is easily contracted, so it is imperative to take measures to prevent further spreading of the virus. Viruses cannot be cured by antibiotics, but some antiviral drugs could be helpful.
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Antibiotics are most effective against bacteria-caused pink eye since they reduce the lifespan of these bacteria. Antibiotics come in the form of eye drops or pills. Based on the doctor’s prescription, eye drops should be administered approximately 4 to 6 times a day. It’s important you finish using your antibiotics even after the disappearance of symptoms.
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In the case of allergy-caused pink eye, the allergy should be treated. Once the allergy is treated, pink eye should disappear.
Whenever symptoms of pink eye emerge, you should visit your doctor to begin treatment. While mild pink eye generally goes away on its own, some more serious forms of pink eye can scar the cornea. If you are infected, it is recommended you stay home until the watery discharge ceases in order to avoid the spread of the bacteria or virus to others.