Do your eyes look pink or red where they should be white? Conjunctivitis, more commonly called “pink eye”, is an inflammation of the membrane on the white part of the eye and the inner eyelid. Sometimes it’s accompanied by a yellow discharge, but vision remains unaffected. Children easily pick it up from other school kids because it’s generally caused by a viral or bacterial infection that can be passed around from towels, pillowcases, eye makeup and, of course, dirty hands. Worse, because pink eye mildly itches, children often re-infect themselves – and those around them – making it harder to keep your family healthy. People infected with conjunctivitis should stay home from work or school and wash their hands frequently.
Treatment depends on the cause:
- Viral conjunctivitis – the most common and most contagious – is often associated with a sore throat, cold or upper respiratory tract infection. There is no specific treatment for a viral infection, but cold compresses and artificial tears may offer some reduction of symptoms. Viral conjunctivitis can last several weeks.
- A bacterial infection often has a yellow discharge. If bacterial conjunctivitis doesn’t go away within 3 days, antibiotics, eye drops or ointment may be required.
- Allergies are sometimes the culprit. Conjunctivitis caused by allergies may disappear when the allergen is removed. Cold compresses can also help.
Unfortunately, not all “pink eye” is conjunctivitis. If you experience pain, blurred vision or sensitivity to light along with pink eye, you may have a more serious disease, such as glaucoma or meningitis. Either way, if the problem does not go away within a few days, please contact us at (855) 522-2020 or email us at info@jenkinseyecare.com to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jenkins.
