What is pink eye and how to treat it

Conjunctivitis, also known as conjunctivitis, is a condition that can be caused by an infection or a reaction to allergens. The term pink eye comes from the fact that it typically causes redness or swelling of the whites of the eye.

“You can develop conjunctivitis by coming in contact with the virus or bacterial organism on a surface and then touching your face or your eyes,” says Desinee Drakulich, OD, optometrist at Nebraska Medicine. “People who wear contact lenses are also more susceptible to conjunctivitis if they don’t wash their hands well when changing their contact lenses or if they wear them beyond recommended use.”

Viral conjunctivitis

Viral conjunctivitis is the most common and highly contagious. These infections usually go away on their own after about seven to 14 days.

Symptoms of viral conjunctivitis

• Redness in the whites of the eyes
• prominent blood vessels
• pain or burning
• watery eyes
• Fever

Because most cases of viral conjunctivitis are mild, treatment is rarely recommended unless you have a very severe form. Over-the-counter drops like artificial tears can be used to soothe your eyes.

Because the virus is highly contagious, you should be careful not to touch your face or eyes when you are around others to avoid spreading the virus.

Treatment of viral conjunctivitis

• Over-the-counter artificial tears
• Frequent hand washing
• Change pillowcases and sheets frequently
• Avoid sharing towels
• Avoid close contact with others, such as touching or shaking hands

Bacterial conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis caused by a bacterial infection is most common in young children. “Adults rarely get this form of conjunctivitis. Typically, over the years, they’ve come into contact with and become immune to this type of bacteria quite frequently,” says Dr. Draculous.

Although it’s not as contagious as viral conjunctivitis, it can spread quickly in a daycare or school because children tend to touch everything around them, as well as their faces and eyes, notes Dr. Draculous.

The symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis are slightly different from a viral infection. The telltale sign of a bacterial infection is green-yellow discharge. It also causes itching and is usually not painful.

Symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis

• Red swollen eyes
• Itchy watery eyes
• Green and yellow discharge from the eyes
• Fever

Bacterial conjunctivitis is treated with a topical antibiotic. “While it may get better without treatment, an antibiotic will shorten the duration of the infection, prevent complications, and reduce its spread to others,” says Dr. Draculous. “I strongly recommend getting your child diagnosed and treated. If left untreated, the infection could become more serious. This can require hospitalization and cause permanent vision damage. When your child develops a fever, it’s often a sign of a more serious infection and requires medical evaluation.”

dr Drakulich recommends leaving your child at home for the first 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotics to reduce the spread.

Treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis

• Topical antibiotic
• Frequent hand washing
• Wash pillowcases, sheets and bedding frequently
• Avoid sharing towels

Allergic conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious and is more common in people with allergic conditions, asthma, or eczema. Antibiotics don’t improve the condition, but they can help relieve symptoms by soothing the eyes and reducing itching.

Treatment of allergic conjunctivitis

• allergy medication
• Over-the-Counter Allergy Eye Drops

Other causes of conjunctivitis include:

Fungal conjunctivitis

Fungal conjunctivitis is usually associated with organic matter getting into your eye like a branch and being injured. This type of infection can be very difficult to treat and should be checked out by your doctor right away.

Symptoms of fungal conjunctivitis

• Red, painful eye
• inflammation of the eye

What if my pink eye keeps coming back?

If your conjunctivitis comes back after treatment, it’s likely a sign it wasn’t treated appropriately and needs further investigation, advises Dr. Draculous. It can also recur due to allergies or dry eyes. Dry eye is a condition caused when your eyes cannot be adequately lubricated. It can cause your eyes to become red, inflamed, and stinging or burning.

When to see a doctor for conjunctivitis

• Your child has normal symptoms of conjunctivitis in addition to a fever
• vision problems
• Extreme eye pain
• Suppressed immune system or other chronic medical problems
• Bacterial infection that does not go away after five days