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Pink Eye: Essential Things You Should Know About Conjunctivitis

by — 2015-07-29 in Eye Disorders and Diseases
Pink eye is a common enough condition for most people to have experienced it at one time or another. In this article we explain the common causes, symptoms and management to make sure the condition does not get out of hand.

Pink eye is the term commonly used to denote a bout of conjunctivitis. It basically means an inflammation of the clear layer covering the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. This inflammation can be caused by many different things, however the most recognizable symptom remain a reddish bloodshot eye.

Pink eye is an extremely common condition, and the one variant which most people suffer from is viral in origin. This is also the type of conjunctivitis that is self-limiting and relatively harmless although it is quite contagious. What most people do not know about is that there are some forms of pink eye which can be damaging and require a closer inspection.

Causes Of Pink Eye

Some of the common causes of Pink Eye are:

  1. Infection (Viral/Bacterial)
  2. Allergy
  3. Irritants and toxic elements in contact with the eye
  4. Dry eyes

Some people erroneously believe that all kinds of pink eye are contagious, however that is only true for infectious conjunctivitis. Infectious conjuctivities most conmmonly spreads from one person to another through the hands, which are not washed after rubbing the eyes. Sharing a towel or any other piece of cloth to wipe the eyes can also result in spreading the infection.

Children, who often lack an understanding of proper norms of hygiene and spend a lot of time in close proximity to one another, are especially vulnerable to infectious conjuctivitis.

Pink Eye Symptoms

The most common symptoms seen with Pink Eye are:

  1. Redness of the eyes as the name Pink Eye suggests
  2. Watering of the eyes
  3. Itchiness
  4. Irritation
  5. Swelling of the eyes due to constant rubbing and wiping
  6. Discharge from the eyes
  7. Pain

Pink Eye Differential Diagnosis

It is difficult to identify the exact nature of pink eye, however there are certain symptoms that give a clue to the doctor. An increased amount of discharge from the eye is often seen in bacterial conjunctivitis as compared to one of viral origin. This discharge may be whitish or greenish in color.

While swelling of the eyes can be seen in both kinds of pink eye, a drooping of the upper eyelid is seen more commonly in pink eye of bacterial origin.

The severity of pain too is increased in bacterial pink eye. This however is extremely subjective, so doctors can't rely on patients' descriptions of pain too much during the diagnostic process. The possible complications are much worse with a bacterial infection of the eye, and so many doctors will prescribe a full course of antibiotics if they have a slight doubt that the cause may be bacterial rather than viral.

It is always better to err on the side of caution.

Another thing that your doctor will do is do a visual examination of your eye and make sure that no foreign object has got lodged in it. While it is uncommon for a patient to be unaware of an uncomfortable sensation in the eye signaling the presence of a foreign object, it can happen.

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Very rarely, the pink eye may be a symptom of a deeper problem like glaucoma, diabetes or even an immune related disorder. All of these things are looked for only in cases where routine measures fail to take care of the symptoms of pink eye.

Treatment And Home Remedies For Pink Eye

Treatment Of Pink Eye

The current consensus of medical practitioners all over the world is that Viral Pink Eye is self limiting and does not require treatment or any other kind of medical intervention. Simple home remedies and precautions to help the patients manage the symptoms of the condition is all that is needed.

The condition usually takes four to seven days to clear up.

For a bacterial origin, doctors will prescribe a course of antibiotics which will render the infection relatively non contagious after the first 24 hours. The use of ointments to be applied on the eye and/or eye drops may also be advised by your doctor.

Allergic pink eye will require H1 blockers to help treat the condition. If a known allergy that erupts during certain seasons has been detected then this medication can be taken at the appropriate time to prevent an outbreak altogether.

The important thing to remember here is that it is impossible for a non medical professional to recognize what kind of Pink Eye he or she is experiencing. This is why it is always better to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor to rule out even the slightest chance of complications.

 These complications are much more likely to occur in a case of severe bacterial infection of the conjunctiva or those people who have a compromised immune system due to the presence of an underlying systemic disorder.

The occurrence of Corneal tears after a severe bacterial infection can lead to permanent damage to the eye. This is a rare complication however one that is serious enough to not warrant any laxity.

Home Remedies For Pink Eye

Some home remedies that can be followed by patients include:

  • Cold/Warm Compress- This is done by taking a clean, soft piece of cloth which is soaked in water. The temperature of the water may be cold or warm (whatever the patient prefers). This cloth should then be applied gently over the surface of the closed eyes to help provide some relief to the patient.
  • Over the counter eye drops- Eye drops sold without a prescription can be used to help provide some relief to the patients. These eye drops help lubricate the eyes and wash away some of the irritants from the surface of the eyes. The most effective over the counter medicines generally have anti histamine medication added to them.
  • Avoid contact with others- This is common sense precaution that should be taken to avoid spreading the infection to others around you. Just making sure that you wash your hands frequently and do not share potentially infected material is enough to stop the spread of infection.
  • Do not wear contact lenses as they will cause pain and discomfort and become infected as well.

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Pink eye is a relatively straightforward condition that does not require much medical treatment. Only a basic check up to ensure you are free from risk of any complications is all that is needed. There has been a recent rise in popularity of homeopathic medicines which claim to 'treat' Pink Eye. This is factually incorrect and it is important to use only those medications which have been tested and approved by the relevant regulatory authorities.

Sources & Links

  • 1. http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/conjunctivitis.htm
  • 2. http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/tc/pinkeye-topic-overview

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