Roughly three million cases of conjunctivitis or “pink eye” are reported every year in the U.S. While it’s a treatable disease, some forms are highly communicable, especially among children. Today, Vienna Eyecare Center, your provider of quality eyeglasses and other optometry services, discusses this condition in detail.
What Causes Pink Eye?
The conjunctiva is the thin, clear tissue lining that covers the inside of your eyelids and the white part of your eyes. It contains many blood vessels, which dilate when the conjunctiva becomes irritated, resulting in pink eye.
Your optometrist shares there are three types of conjunctivitis: viral, bacterial and allergic. Viral conjunctivitis is often caused by the same virus that carries common colds, making it very contagious. Bacterial conjunctivitis develops when a bacteria or microorganisms infects your conjunctiva. Lastly, allergic pink eye occurs when an allergen, such as pollen, dust or animal dander, comes in contact with your conjunctiva and irritates it.
What Are the Symptoms?
Viral conjunctivitis causes itchy, watery eyes. You may also notice an increased sensitivity to light. The bacterial form usually presents with a sticky, yellow or green eye discharge, while allergic pink eye may be accompanied by stuffiness and runny nose.
How Is It Managed?
Viral conjunctivitis is usually self-limiting, which means it usually goes away on its own without medical treatment. However, your eye doctor may still recommend symptomatic management, such as applying a wet, cold washcloth on your eyes to relieve your discomfort. It’s also important to wash your hands frequently since this is a highly transmissible disease.
For bacterial conjunctivitis, we may prescribe antibiotic ointments or eye drops to stop the course of the disease. This type of pink eye is also communicable, so be sure to wash your hands frequently. If you have allergic pink eye, we may suggest taking antihistamine medications to control your symptoms.
To learn more about pink eye, you can reach us at (703) 938-7633 or complete our contact form. We serve different VA areas, including Vienna, Reston and McLean.
