Pink Eye or Conjunctivitis is among the most common eye conditions in adults as well as children. Somewhere around 3 million cases of it occur in the US alone every year.
If questions like what exactly is the Pink eye, what are its causes and what is the treatment have been circling your head, then you are on the right page. Just keep reading.
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Pink eye is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, clear tissue which covers the white part of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelid. Due to the inflammation, the blood vessels become more visible, giving the eye a pink or reddish appearance. Itching, burning sensation, and pain in the affected eye are some of its common symptoms. This can also cause the tearing of the eye or formation of the discharge which forms the crust that keeps our eyes shut in the morning.
Some other signs of conjunctivitis are:
#1. Swelling of the conjunctiva
#2. A sensation that there is a foreign body in the eye or eyes
#3. Sensitivity to bright lights
#4. Tenderness or enlargement of the lymph node in front of the ear
#5. Contact lens feeling uncomfortable due to bumps forming under the eyelids
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In most cases, pink eye is a result of bacterial or viral infections. Other causes include allergic reactions or exposure to irritants.
#1. Viral Conjunctivitis: While viral conjunctivitis can be caused by a variety of viruses, adenovirus and herpesvirus are observed to be the reasons behind most cases. This type of conjunctivitis may also occur with other conditions like upper respiratory tract infection, sore throat or cold.
#2. Bacterial Conjunctivitis: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus and other types of bacteria are often the cause of this type of conjunctivitis.
#3. Allergic Conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis can also occur if someone is allergic to pollen or dust mites. Some people are allergic to molds so that can also be the reason behind your conjunctivitis.
#4. Irritants: Chlorine in the swimming pool, contact lens, contact lens solution, cosmetics, smog or other such irritants can also cause conjunctivitis.
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While most cases of conjunctivitis are mild and treat by itself without any medical assistance, you can also use artificial tears for dryness and cold packs for inflammation. Viral conjunctivitis usually heals in 7 to 14 days and does not have any long term complications. However, it may take more than 2 weeks in some cases for the problem to go away. Bacterial conjunctivitis, which can be treated with antibiotic eye drops, can go on up to a month or longer. However, it stops being contagious within 24 hours of medication.
Since viral and bacterial conjunctivitis is contagious, try to avoid public places if you have come in contact with the problem. If what you are suffering from is allergic conjunctivitis, then the complication may go away as soon as the contact with allergen is terminated. The same goes for conjunctivitis caused by irritants. In order to maintain your vision, just take proper care of your eye and remember to never scratch it.
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