What is Pink Eye?
Pink Eye is the inflammation of the conjunctiva membrane. The conjunctiva membrane is the thin, clear membrane over the white part of the eye and lining of the eyelids.
Pink eye is also called conjunctivitis.
Treatment for infective Conjunctivitis that is caused by bacteria includes the antibiotic ointment or antibiotic drops will help a lot. For viral infections the condition is normally allowed to go its course and heal itself, in the same way you would allow a cold to go away on its own. Generally however, it is difficult to determine whether infective Conjunctivitis has resulted from bacteria or a virus so oftentimes, no treatment is prescribed.
Before wearing a new pair of contacts, you should wait until your eyes are totally healed. Since your corneas, the clear dome-shaped covering over your eye, may be infected with the same virus that causes pink eye, it may be wise to have an examination by your eye care
provider before starting contact lens wear with fresh lenses.
If the pink eye is caused by a virus, the person can usually return to day care, school, or work when symptoms begin to improve, typically in 3 to 5 days. Medicines are not usually used to treat viral pink eye, so preventing its spread is important. Home treatment of the symptoms will help you feel more comfortable while the infection goes away.
If the pink eye is caused by bacteria, the person can usually return to day care, school, or work after the infection has been treated for 24 hours with an antibiotic and symptoms are improving. Prescription antibiotic treatment usually kills the bacteria that cause pink eye.
Conjunctivitis is highly contagious and you can get reinfected and keep passing it back and forth, so always see an eye doctor if it is suspected. If you get something in your eye, don't rub it! Cover the eye with a bandage and see the eye doctor as soon as possible. Don't put your fingers in your eyes. Don't use a towel or tissue in one eye and then the other, use two different things for either eye. Dispose of immediately thereafter. Treatment is usually antibiotic drops and salves. Treatment is usually effective within days to a few weeks. A child cannot go to school until it is clear because it is so contagious. The cause of conjunctivitis must be determined before treatment is given.
- If eye drops or an ointment is prescribed, the applicator tip and infected eye must never come in contact with one another. Antibiotics for the eye are available only by prescription.
- Allergens and other irritants such as smoke, which may cause allergic and mechanical conjunctivitis, should be avoided.
- If an irritant or foreign object is causing the pink eye / conjunctivitis, flushing of the eye with an eye-wash solution may be recommended. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)
- Certain over-the-counter eye drops or oral antihistamine medications may help reduce symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis or conjunctivitis caused by certain irritants. These are not effective for infectious conjunctivitis and should only be used to reduce symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)