What beautiful pink eyes you have!!!
Now we all realize that no one really has pink eyes – but this time of year you might hear parents and adults talking about “Pink Eye”.
The official name for pink eye is conjunctivitis – but pink eye sounds more fun don’t you think?
Conjunctivitis is very common among adults and children and is simply an infection that irritates a person’s eye and the lining of the eyelid. The irritation and infection result in a pink or reddish coloring of the eye.
Pink eye can be caused by bacteria or allergy-related issues like pet dander or dust mites, or can occur from irritants like a heavily chlorinated swimming pool or exposure to heavy smog.
Symptoms to look for:
While these may vary, watch for the following
- Redness or swelling of the white of the eye or inside the eyelid
- Increased amount of tears
- White, yellow or green eye discharge
- Itchy eyes
- Burning eyes
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Gritty feeling in the eye
- Crusting of eyelids or lashes
The good news for many people is that pink eye will resolve itself. There are times when the infection can become serious and medical treatment with an antibiotic is necessary.
Medical treatment
If you begin to experience any of the following, I recommend you see your physician for proper treatment.
- Moderate to severe pain in your eye(s)
- Blurred vision or increased sensitivity to light
- Intense redness in the eye(s)
- Bacterial conjunctivitis that does not improve after 24 hours of antibiotic use
- Symptoms persist or get worse
Some types of pink eye can be very contagious. Children in school or day care settings are often sent home from school because of pink eye and the potential to pass it on to others.
The potential for spreading pink eye is diminished by:
- Washing your hands
- Not touching or rubbing your eyes
- If you experience discharge, wash around your eyes frequently
- Wash bedding, washcloths and towels in hot water
- Don’t share makeup
- Refrain from swimming until the infection has passed
