It May Be . . . Or It Might Not
Be . . . It Depends Upon What the Cause Is . . .
But first what is
pinkeye? Technically
pinkeye is called conjunctivitis and it is an infection or
inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin transparent membrane
that covers the sclera - the white of the eye. When the
blood vessels become inflamed they give the eye its pink
appearance.
What causes
pinkeye?
-
The most common cause is a
viral
infection. Only one eye may be affected and it will
typically have a watery discharge. The eye may burn
and feel itchy, but there should not be any extreme
pain. Because it is a virus, antibiotics will
not help. It will typically heal up on its own in a
week or so. Using a eye wash (saline) or artificial
tears may relieve some of the symptoms. Because it is a
virus it is contagious and you must be careful not to spread
the infection - see tips below. You can usually
return to day care, school, or work when symptoms begin to
improve and you have no furthur discharge, typically in
3 or 4 days.
-
Another common cause of pinkeye is
a bacterial infection. Both
eyes can be affected and you will probably have a
yellow or greenish discharge. The eyelids may be stuck
together upon awakening in the morning. The eye doctor
will probably want to start you on an antibiotiic which will
speed up the healing. There will be some irritation, but
again there should be no extreme pain. Use a warm compress,
such as a washcloth soaked in warm water, on your eye for a
few minutes several times a day. This relieves discomfort
and helps to clean off the crust that may form on your
eyelashes. If you have been started on an antibiotic
you can usually return to work or school after 24 hours if
the synmptoms have improved and the discharge has been
markedly reduced.
-
Allergies can make your eyes
red and itchy and watery. The main symptom is itching.
Most people are aware if they have allergies such as hay
fever that will make their eyes water and itch and turn pink
or red. There are over the counter (non-prescription)
eyedrops such as Zaditor that will help.
Prescription medications such as Patanol or Elestat
definitely help relieve eye allergies. It is usually
best to stay away from Viscene or similar products because
they primarily shrink the blood vessels of the conjunctiva
but don't deal with the actually cause of the inflammation.
They can also have a rebound effect if overused- that
is, make the eye even more red. Pinkeye caused by allergies
is not contagious.
Since pinkeye can
be very contagious what should I do to prevent spreading the
infection to other people or to my other
eye?
- Carefully wash your
hands with soap and water for at least 15-20
seconds every time you touch around your eye.
- Wash your hands
carefully every time you touch around your eye. Yes, I
already said that. Its that important!
- Don't use the same
washcloths, towels or pillows that the rest of your family
or roommates are using. Or use paper towels.
- Change your pillowcase
every day until the infection is gone.
- Do not touch your eyes
with your fingers. (A good idea at all times)
Use paper tissues like Kleenex to wipe.
- Do not wear or share
eye makeup. You shouldn't be in public anyway.
- Avoid contact lenses
until the infection is gone.
- Do not use
over-the-counter eyedrops for more than a few days unless
instructed to do so by your eye doctor.
It might not be pinkeye if . .
.
Your eye hurts! Then you may have a foreign body in your
eye such as a piece of metal or something the wind blew in
your eye. You may have scratched your cornea.
Or you may have an infection in the deeper layers of the eye
which is much more serious (anterior uveitis). Acute
glaucoma can also cause redness and pain. These conditions
require immediate treatment.
You should take extra precaution if .
. .
- You wear contact
lenses. You should not attempt to wear contacts when your
eyes are irritated or infected.
- You have a medical
condition that decreases your body's ability to fight
infection
- You only see well
with one eye
Please Call us if you have
any questions.
Littlefield Optometry,
LLC 13014 State Line
Rd. Leawood, KS 66209
913-498-1363
www.drlittlefield.com |