Pink eye is a term
used to describe an irritated pink or red eye. The medical term is
conjunctivitis which is an inflammation of the thin tissue overlying the whites
of the eyes. However, there are a variety of eye conditions that can
cause an eye to become pink or irritated, although conjunctivitis is the most
common cause. Conjunctivitis can often be categorized into 3 different
categories:
Bacterial conjunctivitis – This form is caused
by bacteria and can be transferred in a variety of ways ranging from airborne
to direct contact on one’s fingertips. Bacterial conjunctivitis can cause
sticky, yellowish green discharge, occasionally resulting in the lids sticking
shut in the mornings. The eye may be pink, painful, and sensitive to
light. Usually only one eye is affected although the other eye can become
infected by indirect contact. It is contagious and is often treated with
antibiotic eye drops. Once you have been treated for 24 hours with
antibiotics, you are no longer contagious.
If
you are a contact lens wearer, an irritated, painful and pink eye is usually
the result of a bacterial infection. This needs to be treated right away
because you may develop a corneal ulcer and risk permanent vision loss.
Viral conjunctivitis – Most instances of
viral conjunctivitis will cause the eyes to appear red and glassy, and there
may be a watery discharge. It usually affects both eyes and may be
accompanied by an upper respiratory infection. The lymph nodes in front
of the ears and along the neck may be tender and swollen. These cases are
highly contagious and cannot be treated with medication. They will
resolve on their own within 7 to 10 days. Some may take as long as 3
weeks. Until then, patients should avoid spreading it to others.
Some may find relief with cool compresses or artificial tears throughout the
day.
Occasionally,
an eye can become infected by the herpes simplex or herpes zoster virus.
Symptoms may include a pink eye, pain, decrease in vision, or blisters on one
side of the face. These patients need to be seen and treated immediately
in order to prevent vision loss.
Allergic conjunctivitis – This form of pink
eye is prevalent throughout the year, depending on a person’s allergies and the
plants that are in bloom during that season. Allergic conjunctivitis will
typically cause itching, tearing, and sticky, thick and white discharge that
affects both eyes. Some may notice their symptoms are worse after being
outdoors. Many often complain of an itchy throat or runny nose.
Usually, oral allergy medications will alleviate the symptoms related to the
eyes, but many require the additional use of topical allergy eye drops to
relieve symptoms.
I
have seen a number of patients on a Friday afternoon with complaints of a pink
eye. Many times, the symptoms are not severe enough to determine what
form of conjunctivitis the patient has, which can make treatment a little
trickier. In those cases, we advise the patient to return for a follow-up
visit to determine if the treatment was effective.
A
good rule of thumb for whether or not you need to see an optometrist when you
have a pink eye is that if you are experiencing pain, light sensitivity, are
noticing reduced vision or wear contact lenses, then visit an eye doctor
today. Make sure you do not put on your contact lenses. I often
advise my patients to try seeing an eye doctor first, rather than visiting
urgent care as they may not have all the tools required to adequately diagnose
your eye condition.
So,
keep your hands clean, don’t share towels and avoid touching your face and
eyes!
prepare by:
Cindy
P. Wang, OD, FAAO
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