What is Pink Eye?
Conjunctivitis or pink eye as it is commonly called is a very common affliction in both children and adults, although children acquire pink eye in greater numbers due to the fact that it is highly contagious and children often share many items that are easily contaminated with germs. In most instances pink eye is caused by a virus, but it can occur due to allergies, injury or a bacterium and be present in one or both eyes. Pink eye causes the whites of the eyes to become red and inflamed with swelling of the inner lining of the eye lids known as the conjunctiva. Pink eye is a relatively harmless affliction and typically resolves itself in about one week without the need for medical attention.
What are the Symptoms of Pink Eye?
The majority of cases of pink eye are caused by a virus or a bacterium, but regardless of the origin the symptoms are the same and may include the following:
• Itchy watering eyes
• Gritty, sandy feeling in eyes
• Redness in the whites on the eyes
• Swollen irritated eye lids
• Sticky discharge from the eye(s)
• Blurred vision in affected eye(s)
• Tenderness in front of the ears
What are the Causes and Treatment for Pink Eye?
The first step of a treatment plan for pink eye will depend largely on the cause of the infection. Your health care provider will examine you, noting your symptoms and health history and may use a cotton swab to take a sample of the discharge from your eye for laboratory testing. Typically your doctor will prescribe a treatment plan for you to begin immediately, but may alter your treatment plan after receiving your laboratory results from the swab culture.
Pink eye may originate from particular causes which are:
• Viral infections
• Bacterial infections
• Allergies
• Chemicals
• Smoke
• Fumes
• Dry eyes (due to cold, wind or sun overexposure)
Viral Conjunctivitis
After your examination if your health care provider has determined that you have viral conjunctivitis (pink eye) it is likely the doctor will inform you of home health remedies to ease some of the discomforting symptoms and stress the importance of preventing the spread of the virus to others. There are no medications for a virus and viral infections do not respond to antibiotics, so treatment is limited to home care remedies. But in rare cases pink eye may be caused by the herpes virus, in which case the doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication to treat the infection.
Some home remedies for viral pink eye are as follows:
• Placing warm or cold compresses (which ever is most soothing) over the eyes for about 15 minutes several times a day. Do not reuse compresses.
• Properly wash your hands frequently using warm water and soap.
• Keep the eye areas clean and remove any discharge that may be accumulating.
• When cleaning the eyes always use a clean wash cloth or wipe for each eye, and always wipe the eye from the inside by your nose going outward to the other corner. Do not reuse a wipe or wash cloth, one swipe (cleansing) and dispose of it properly so as not to contaminate other surfaces. Wash cloths should be put in laundry at once to avoid spreading pink eye to others.
• If you wear contacts remove them. Clean your contact lenses properly and the storage case for them to eliminate the possibility of re-infection from contaminated lenses or storage case.
• Do not wear contacts until your pink eye has been completely resolved.
Most cases of viral pink eye will resolve within ten days, typically people can return to work or school when the infection begins to subside usually after three to five days.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by a specific bacterium entering the eye or the surrounding area of the eye and may be tested for by means of your health care provider using a cotton tipped swab to take a sample of the pus like sticky discharge coming from the eye and sending it to the laboratory for specific testing to determine the origin of the bacteria.
If your doctor suspects, based on your examination and health history that your pink eye is bacterial in origin the usual treatment protocol would be a prescription for antibiotics in conjunction with home health care remedies. Typically the culture testing takes about 48 hours to receive the results, which when received may change the course of treatment your health care provider has prescribed. Upon positive identification of which bacteria is causing the pink eye infection your doctor may change the type of antibiotics you will be taking. Bacterial infections will usually begin to clear up with in a few days of the start of antibiotic medication. It is very important to finish the antibiotics prescribed to ensure the bacterium is completely destroyed and prevent a recurrence of the infection. Do not share your prescription medication with family members or others and follow all directions for your treatment plan completely.
Environmental Pink Eye
Pink eye may be caused by something as simple as smoke in your environment, allergies, dust or fumes from chemicals, these causes typically do not require seeking medical treatment, using home health remedies and over the counter relievers should suffice. Pink eye caused by environmental origins should begin to resolve themselves after three to five days.
Sexually Transmitted Infections that may Cause Pink Eye
The herpes virus can cause pink eye, which left untreated by your health care provider may cause serious permanent damage to your vision. If you have the herpes virus and notice symptoms of pink eye you should seek medical attention immediately. Your physician may prescribe antiviral medications to speed your recovery.
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are also two other sexually transmitted diseases that may cause pink eye, treatment typically include home health remedies and a schedule of prescription oral antibiotics. Again it is extremely important to seek proper medical intervention and treatment at once if you suspect that you may have sexually transmitted pink eye and to inform all of your sexual partners as to your health disposition.
What are the Symptoms of Pink Eye?
The majority of cases of pink eye are caused by a virus or a bacterium, but regardless of the origin the symptoms are the same and may include the following:
• Itchy watering eyes
• Gritty, sandy feeling in eyes
• Redness in the whites on the eyes
• Swollen irritated eye lids
• Sticky discharge from the eye(s)
• Blurred vision in affected eye(s)
• Tenderness in front of the ears
What are the Causes and Treatment for Pink Eye?
The first step of a treatment plan for pink eye will depend largely on the cause of the infection. Your health care provider will examine you, noting your symptoms and health history and may use a cotton swab to take a sample of the discharge from your eye for laboratory testing. Typically your doctor will prescribe a treatment plan for you to begin immediately, but may alter your treatment plan after receiving your laboratory results from the swab culture.
Pink eye may originate from particular causes which are:
• Viral infections
• Bacterial infections
• Allergies
• Chemicals
• Smoke
• Fumes
• Dry eyes (due to cold, wind or sun overexposure)
Viral Conjunctivitis
After your examination if your health care provider has determined that you have viral conjunctivitis (pink eye) it is likely the doctor will inform you of home health remedies to ease some of the discomforting symptoms and stress the importance of preventing the spread of the virus to others. There are no medications for a virus and viral infections do not respond to antibiotics, so treatment is limited to home care remedies. But in rare cases pink eye may be caused by the herpes virus, in which case the doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication to treat the infection.
Some home remedies for viral pink eye are as follows:
• Placing warm or cold compresses (which ever is most soothing) over the eyes for about 15 minutes several times a day. Do not reuse compresses.
• Properly wash your hands frequently using warm water and soap.
• Keep the eye areas clean and remove any discharge that may be accumulating.
• When cleaning the eyes always use a clean wash cloth or wipe for each eye, and always wipe the eye from the inside by your nose going outward to the other corner. Do not reuse a wipe or wash cloth, one swipe (cleansing) and dispose of it properly so as not to contaminate other surfaces. Wash cloths should be put in laundry at once to avoid spreading pink eye to others.
• If you wear contacts remove them. Clean your contact lenses properly and the storage case for them to eliminate the possibility of re-infection from contaminated lenses or storage case.
• Do not wear contacts until your pink eye has been completely resolved.
Most cases of viral pink eye will resolve within ten days, typically people can return to work or school when the infection begins to subside usually after three to five days.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by a specific bacterium entering the eye or the surrounding area of the eye and may be tested for by means of your health care provider using a cotton tipped swab to take a sample of the pus like sticky discharge coming from the eye and sending it to the laboratory for specific testing to determine the origin of the bacteria.
If your doctor suspects, based on your examination and health history that your pink eye is bacterial in origin the usual treatment protocol would be a prescription for antibiotics in conjunction with home health care remedies. Typically the culture testing takes about 48 hours to receive the results, which when received may change the course of treatment your health care provider has prescribed. Upon positive identification of which bacteria is causing the pink eye infection your doctor may change the type of antibiotics you will be taking. Bacterial infections will usually begin to clear up with in a few days of the start of antibiotic medication. It is very important to finish the antibiotics prescribed to ensure the bacterium is completely destroyed and prevent a recurrence of the infection. Do not share your prescription medication with family members or others and follow all directions for your treatment plan completely.
Environmental Pink Eye
Pink eye may be caused by something as simple as smoke in your environment, allergies, dust or fumes from chemicals, these causes typically do not require seeking medical treatment, using home health remedies and over the counter relievers should suffice. Pink eye caused by environmental origins should begin to resolve themselves after three to five days.
Sexually Transmitted Infections that may Cause Pink Eye
The herpes virus can cause pink eye, which left untreated by your health care provider may cause serious permanent damage to your vision. If you have the herpes virus and notice symptoms of pink eye you should seek medical attention immediately. Your physician may prescribe antiviral medications to speed your recovery.
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are also two other sexually transmitted diseases that may cause pink eye, treatment typically include home health remedies and a schedule of prescription oral antibiotics. Again it is extremely important to seek proper medical intervention and treatment at once if you suspect that you may have sexually transmitted pink eye and to inform all of your sexual partners as to your health disposition. 
