Conjunctivitis or Pink eye is one of the most common eye disorders we have today. It is a topical problem and while irritating not very painful. Conjunctivitis is when the conjunctiva, the clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the inner eyelids surface become inflamed. This inflammation causes the blood vessels in the eye to become more prominent and opaque hence, giving your eye the blood red look. While usually there is no cause for alarm as the disorder is capable of clearing itself away without any permanent damage at times treatment is necessary.
Conjunctivitis can be caused by various factors which include bacteria, virus, allergy and local irritants like contact lenses. Cold viruses, sore throat viruses and some respiratory bacterial infections can trigger conjunctivitis along with other infections like those bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases. Allergies like hay fever, irritants like fumes and pollutants and even contact lenses can aggravate this disorder.
The symptoms include redness, itching, grittiness in one or both the eyes, tearing, swelling of the eyelid and a sticky discharge. Usually your eyelids tend to stick together and have to be constantly wiped with a wet and soft washcloth to ensure they remain separate due to the sticky discharge. The symptoms vary with the individual and the intensity of the disorder. This is a very contagious condition as people have a habit of rubbing their eyes due to irritation and thus, spreading the germs. Doctors recommend the infected person stay away from others for at least 5 days or until the redness clears up.
Treatment of the viral conjunctivitis and local irritant type of pink-eye is through normal saline and topical drops, if bacterial in genre, antibiotic drops may be needed and for the allergic type, anti-allergens maybe prescribed.
You can prevent getting conjunctivitis by ensuring that you wash your hands thoroughly and keep clear of germs by having good hygiene. If you wear contact lenses make sure you disinfect them with protein tablets and keep them in sterile containers at all times.
Cool cotton balls dampened with water will help the itching of the eye to be reduced and help clear the redness faster. Conjunctivitis usually clears away within a week and has no other symptoms like fever or nausea. So if your eye does not clear away within a week then make sure that you call the doctor for the problem maybe something other than the pink eye.
Disclaimer: The author is not a medical doctor, optician, ophthalmologist or any other medical professional, this article has been compiled using a variety of internet reference sources and while every effort has been made to ensure accuracy this cannot be guaranteed. No preference for product or brand is inferred or intended and the contents of this article are not to be used in whole or in part to inform a decision regarding any aspect of contact lens use.
