At The Urgent Care at Vermont, we see patients for pink eye symptoms. Have your eyes been incredibly itchy, watery, and red lately? These are the main symptoms of conjunctivitis, or pink eye, which is the inflammation of the conjunctiva — the clear, thin outer layer of the whites of our eyes and the insides of our eyelids. Fortunately, conjunctivitis is both preventable and treatable. Treatment and prevention vary depending on the cause, as pink eye can happen for many different reasons.
Viral Versus Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Pink eye can be viral or bacterial, both of which are contagious. Bacterial conjunctivitis comes with thick, yellow or greenish secretions. If it starts in one eye, it will often spread to the other within a few days, and it can spread to other people through direct contact. The treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis is prescribed antibiotics, and it usually clears up quickly. Make sure to take the full course of antibiotics, even if the symptoms are gone.
Viral conjunctivitis tends to involve a lot of watery discharge and last for one to two weeks. Antibiotics won’t help against a viral infection, but a warm compress can relieve some of the swelling and irritation until it goes away on its own. In the meantime, it is even more contagious than bacterial conjunctivitis as it can spread in the air through coughing and sneezing.
Allergies Can Cause Pink Eye Symptoms
Allergies are another way our eyes can become inflamed. We can manage red, itchy eyes from allergies by taking allergy medications or simply avoiding the allergens responsible. People who wear contacts may develop a form of pink eye called Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis, either because they’re allergic to the cleaning solution or they aren’t taking out their contacts and cleaning them often enough!
Chemical Eye Irritation
We may also develop pink eye symptoms if our eyes are exposed to harsh chemicals, chlorine in swimming pools, or pollution. People with seasonal allergies are most vulnerable. The best way to deal with inflammation due to chemical contamination is to flush your eyes with cool, clean water for several minutes. If the symptoms persist, however, make sure to seek medical attention.
Other Types of Pink Eye
A sight-threatening version of conjunctivitis, called ophthalmia neonatorum, can affect a newborn if the mother has chlamydia or gonorrhea. It causes scarring on the eye’s surface and eyelid that lead to blindness if not treated.
What You Can Do to Avoid Pink Eye
Preventing a health problem is always easier than treating it. By following these tips, you can reduce your risk of getting pink eye, and if you’re a parent of young children, you can help reduce the chance that they will catch it:
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.
- Remove your contacts before swimming.
- Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes.
- Don’t share your contacts, makeup, hand towels, or washcloths.
- Follow the optometrist’s instructions on taking care of your contact lenses.
Have You Noticed Any Pink Eye Symptoms?
If your or your child’s eyes have been red, itchy, and runny with some kind of discharge, come see us. We can determine the cause and whether medication is necessary so that those eyes can get back to normal as soon as possible.