Got Pink Eye? Go to the Doctor!

Pink eye is an infection of the protective membranes around the eye and is also known as conjunctivitis. This infection is fairly common, especially among children, and is legendary for spreading through classrooms and daycare centers like wildfire. The main symptoms of pink eye are red, irritated eyes that may be itchy, swollen or draining fluid. Sometimes people with pink eye become sensitive to light or feel like theyâï¿½ï¿½ve got something in their eye. If you or your child has pink eye, go to a doctor or to a clinic. Pink eye is not usually harmful, but it does need to be diagnosed properly.

Types of pink eye

Pink eye is most often caused by a virus or bacteria, but it can also be the result of by chemical exposure, smoke or allergies.

Viral pink eye is highly contagious. Patients with viral pink eye need to stay home from school or work until their symptoms begin to clear up - usually within three to five days after the initial outbreak. Viral pink eye doesn't respond to antibiotics, but over the counter antihistamine medicines like Benadryl can help with inflammation. Warm compresses and gently rinsing the (closed) eye with baby shampoo or a mild cleanser can also speed healing.

Bacterial pink eye is less contagious and can be treated with antibiotic drops. People with bacterial pink eye can go back to work or school within 24 hours of beginning antibiotics and can expect the symptoms to clear up in a few days.

The treatment for pink eye caused by smoke, allergies or chemicals depends on the agent causing the inflammation.

What to do if you have pink eye

After going to the doctor, you should get plenty of rest and wash your hands frequently to avoid spreading the problem to others.

If you just have pink eye in one eye, be careful not to spread it to the healthy eye with your fingers. Give your contacts a rest until the redness is gone. Don't share towels with anyone and toss out any eye makeup you were using when the infection started.

Warm compresses or teabags (black or chamomile) are the most common home treatment for pink eye because they are soothing and can loosen the gunk draining from the afflicted eye. Pink eye isn't usually painful but it can be itchy. Itching eyes with pink eye just makes the problem worse, so try not to itch and try to keep kids with pink eye from itching.

Pink eye is not usually harmful, but it does need to be diagnosed properly