Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is one of
the most common irritations of the eye. Pink eye is characterized by
inflammation of the membrane inside the eyelid and over the whites of
the eye.
Whether you have school-age children,
who are at a higher risk of pink eye, or are dealing with the
condition yourself, a little knowledge can make dealing with pink eye
a lot easier. Here are four tips for preventing and managing pink
eye.
1. Know the Types of Pink Eye
While you should always assume that any
exposure to pink eye is contagious, pink eye can be caused by a
variety of factors that may or may not be contagious. The four main
causes of pink eye are bacteria, viruses, allergies, and irritants.
Bacterial and viral pink eye can spread easily from person to person,
while allergy- and irritant-related pink eye is limited to the person
exposed to the allergen or irritant.
Pink eye caused by bacteria and viruses
is typically accompanied by a greater amount of mucus and discharge
than non-contagious types. Visiting a doctor for antibiotic treatment
is necessary to resolve the condition and prevent it from getting
worse. Pink eye caused by allergies or irritants can often be
remedied simply by removing the source of irritation.
2. Reduce Your Risk With Good
Hygiene
Practicing good hygiene to limit your
exposure to bacteria is the best thing you can do to prevent pink
eye. Wash your hands often, and make sure all towels, washcloths,
pillow cases, and other fabrics that contact your face are clean as
well.
Bacteria and viruses that cause pink
eye can also reach your eyes through your sinuses and mouth, so you
need to be careful of all possible bacterial contact with your face,
not just your eyes.
Even if no one you know exhibits
symptoms of pink eye, you should avoid sharing objects that can
transfer bacteria. Mascara and other makeup, eye drops, lipstick and
chapstick, and even glasses can all transmit pink eye when they are
shared.
Viruses and bacteria can also be
transferred through water, so there is a possibility that swimming in
public pools can cause you to catch pink eye or spread it to others.
3. Understand Pain and Inflammation
Management at Home
You have a number of at-home options to
manage pain and inflammation from pink eye. Over-the-counter pain
relievers like ibuprofen can help with both pain and swelling. If
your eyes are dry and itchy, lubricating eye drops can provide
relief. However, you should avoid redness-relieving eye drops, as
these can irritate your eyes further.
One of the best home remedies for pink
eye is simply to place a warm, damp cloth over your eyes to reduce
swelling and itching. Leave the cloth there until it cools, and then
replace it. If mucus is causing your eyelids to stick together, a
moist cloth can help break up dried mucus and bring you relief.
4. Avoid Recontamination and
Transfer Between Eyes
Bacteria, viruses, and even allergens
that cause pink eye can remain on the same surfaces for days or
weeks, so it is possible to expose your eyes to pink eye again and
recontaminate them after they have healed.
It is also possible to have pink eye in
only one eye, so you should avoid touching the healthy eye with
anything that comes in contact with the infected eye. Never reuse
cloths, contacts, or makeup that you used previously when you had
pink eye.
When you know how to care for your eyes
when you have pink eye, you can make the condition much less
uncomfortable, and it will typically clear up in two
weeks
or less. Contact us at Fraser
Optical
if you suspect you have pink eye or another eye infection
so we can provide a professional diagnosis and treatment!
