Do you know about pink eye and it’s causes?
There are many causes of symptoms for pink eye and we will cover some today. Irritation, itchiness, and watery eyes are the most common symptoms when dealing with pink eye. The most scientific term is conjunctivitis, which is essentially inflammation of the clear part of your eye. Both viruses AND bacteria can cause conjunctivitis.
Additionally, both the bacterial and viral forms are highly contagious. However, symptoms are slightly different between the two. The bacterial form is easier to notice because thick greenish-yellow mucous is apparent on one’s eyes and eyelid. Both forms of pink eye usually starts in one eye and spreads to the other eye in a couple of days. The main therapy is prescribed antibiotics that can help clear up the infection in a few days.
The viral form has symptoms that are less thick but more watery. One very important thing to know is that Antibiotics won’t heal viral conjunctivits. However, artificial tears (especially when it’s stored in the fridge) and warm compresses can soothe the irritation until the inflammation resolves. Viral conjunctivitis usually goes away by itself but be careful, it spreads MUCH easier and quicker than bacterial conjunctivitis. Keep those sheets clean and wash your hands.
Maybe it’s Allergies
Another common way the eyes can be irritated and inflamed is from allergies. The red, itchy, and irritated eyes can typically be treated with allergy medications or better yet, avoiding the cause of the allergy. Contact lens wearers may develop Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis, which is a form of pink eye due to allergies to the cleaning solution or it could mean over wear of their current pair of lenses!
How Do We Prevent Pink Eye?
The goal of healthcare of the eyes is the prevent the bad things from happening. However, there are some thing we can do to decrease the chance of infection or severity of inflammation:
- Wash your hands often and carefully.
- Don’t rub or touch your eyes after touching objects.
- Never ever share certain eye products (contact lenses, makeup, etc) with others.
- Follow your optometrist’s recommendations for contact lens care and replacement.
- Take your contacts out when showering or swimming.
Let Us Treat Your Pink Eye symptoms!
If you are experiencing pink eye symptoms, feel free to give us a call and we are happy to help. We can help you schedule an appointment to find out the cause of the symptoms and treat the issue.
Give us a call or text at 832-554-1100 or book below