Pink Eye
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is an infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin, transparent membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the white area of the eye. Inflamed blood vessels in the conjunctiva are the cause of pink eyes. This causes your eye to appear red or pink, a characteristic of conjunctivitis.
Causes and Types of Pink Eye
In general, there are three main categories of pink eye:
- Allergic
- Chemical
- Infectious
Allergic conjunctivitis
Most individuals with pink eyes due to allergies have seasonal allergies. They can develop pink eyes if they come into contact with an allergen, such as pollen. It is also possible to develop large papillary conjunctivitis, an allergic form of pink eye, if you wear hard contact lenses or soft contact lenses that are not updated frequently.
Chemical conjunctivitis
Pink eye can be caused by irritants such as:
- chlorine in swimming pools
- air pollution
- exposure to other substances
Infectious conjunctivitis
There are several varieties of infectious pink eye, including:
- Bacterial
- Viral
The bacteria staphylococcal or streptococcal cause bacterial pink eye. Typical causes include touching the eyes with unclean hands, exchanging cosmetics, or physical contact with a person who may also have conjunctivitis. Typical causes of viral pink eye are common cold viruses. It can occur if a person with an upper respiratory infection coughs or sneezes in close proximity to you. It can also occur when someone with a cold virus blows their nose too hard. This might cause the infection to spread from the respiratory system to the eyes.
Symptoms of Pink Eye
Different varieties of pink eye can cause slightly different symptoms, but it’s crucial to see a doctor if you develop any of the following:
- A grainy sensation in the eyes
- An excessive number of tears
- Itching in the eyes
- Nighttime accumulation of fluid or viscous discharge in the eyes
- Pink or crimson-hued eyes
Diagnosis of Pink Eye
Pink eye is often easy for a healthcare practitioner to diagnose. They can typically determine if you have pink eyes by asking you a few questions and observing your eyes. For instance, a healthcare practitioner may ask if your eyes are itchy and if your discharge is runny or thick. They may also inquire if you have symptoms of the common cold, hay fever, or asthma.
They may also do the following tests:
- A vision examination to determine whether your vision has been impaired.
- Examination of exterior eye tissue, particularly the conjunctiva, using intense light and magnification
- Internal examination of the eye to ensure that no other tissues have been impacted.
- A conjunctival tissue smear is often performed when a person has chronic pink eye or when the ailment does not respond to treatment.
Treatments for pink eye
The treatment for conjunctivitis relies on the underlying cause.
Allergic conjunctivitis
In order to cure pink eye caused by an allergen, your doctor will likely prescribe an antihistamine to reduce irritation. Both loratadine and diphenhydramine are antihistamines that are available without a prescription. They may alleviate your allergy symptoms, including pink eye. Antihistamine and anti-inflammatory eye drops are further therapy.
Bacterial conjunctivitis
Antibiotics are the most prevalent treatment option for bacterial infections. Typically, adults prefer eye drops. Because it is simpler to administer, ointment may be the best option for children. With the use of antibiotic medication, your symptoms should begin to subside after a few days; however, it is essential to finish your entire prescription to reduce the danger of pink eye returning.
Chemical conjunctivitis
If you have chemical pink eyes, one technique to alleviate symptoms is to rinse your eyes with saline. If the illness is serious enough, topical steroids may also be administered.
Viral conjunctivitis
Viral conjunctivitis is typically caused by the same viruses that cause the common cold. There are presently no therapies for these cold viruses, although symptoms are often minor and resolve on their own within 7 to 10 days. In rare instances, other viruses such as herpes simplex or varicella-zoster virus may be involved, resulting in more severe illnesses. There are antiviral medicines for these viruses, but they are only effective against these particular sorts of viral infections. A warm compress or a towel saturated with warm water will temporarily alleviate your symptoms.
Visit our health centre home page for additional information or to consult a physician regarding the possibility of pink eye. Its advisable to take vaccination.
