What is pink eye?
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the clear membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white part of the eyeball. It has tiny blood vessels within the membrane that can become inflamed and enlarged with irritation, which causes the eye to turn red or pink. Many sources can cause pink eye, with some of the most common being bacteria, viruses, allergies and environmental irritants.
What causes pink eye?
Infectious causes of conjunctivitis are bacteria and viruses. Bacterial conjunctivitis often produces a yellow-green discharge, and viral conjunctivitis often has a watery discharge. Both types are contagious. Therefore, it is important to wash your hands, especially after touching your eyes. You should also discard or wash anything used to wipe the eyes, such as a towel, washcloth or handkerchief.
How is pink eye treated?
Antibiotic or combination antibiotic/steroid eye drops are prescribed for bacterial conjunctivitis. There is no treatment for most cases of viral conjunctivitis. Drops may be recommended to help provide some relief from the symptoms, but the virus needs time to run its course, usually over a period of about two to three weeks. If your provider determines that viral conjunctivitis is caused by the herpes simplex virus, then antiviral medications are used.
Allergic conjunctivitis can make the eyes itchy and watery, or it may just cause a chronic redness. It can be accompanied with other common allergy reactions, such as sneezing and a watery nasal discharge. Some cases may respond to systemic allergy medications, but others need a specific allergy drop. There are several prescription and over-the-counter prescription eye drops that can provide relief.
When to see a doctor
There are several eye diseases that also produce a red eye and can lead to vision loss if not recognized and treated. To avoid confusing these diseases with pink eye, please make an appointment by calling 253-792-6630. A provider will diagnose your child’s specific case of red eye and prescribe the proper treatment.