A closer look at pink eye: Self-care tips for conjunctivitis

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You may be familiar with the commonly used term "pink eye" used to describe conjunctivitis. The condition is an inflammation or infection of the membrane that lines your eyelid and the white part of your eyeball. The whites of your eyes become inflamed and a more visible shade of pink or red. Your eyes also may be watery or have a discharge, and your eyelids may be red or puffy.

What causes pink eye?

Pink eye is common, especially in children. It can result from various causes, including:

Allergies
Bacteria
Injury to the eye
Irritants like dirt, smoke or pool chlorine
Reaction to eyedrops or contact lenses
Viruses, including the common cold

How is pink eye treated?

Based on recent evidence and research, your best option to treat pink eye may be to care for it at home. You should avoid going to work or school if the eye has drainage. A virus causes most cases of pink eye. You may only experience eye symptoms, but with viral conjunctivitis, you also may have a runny nose, sore throat, cough or fever.

Viral conjunctivitis often begins in one eye and spreads to the other eye within a few days. It's contagious and can easily be passed to another person through coughing, sneezing or any contact with the liquid that drains from an infected eye.

You usually don't need antibiotic drops or ointments to treat pink eye. They don't help alleviate the symptoms or make you less contagious. It's difficult to distinguish between viral and bacterial conjunctivitis, but both typically are self-limiting, meaning the illness will go away on its own.

How can I manage and relieve pink eye symptoms?

Keep your eyes clean.
Clear any discharge from your eyes with water and a clean, lint-free cloth. Wipe from the inner corner of your eye to the outer corner. Avoid touching your eyes with anything other than a clean cloth, and wash your hands often with soap and warm water.
Apply a compress to your eyes.
A warm, moist compress applied to the infected eye can ease discomfort. Soak a clean cloth in warm or cool water, depending on your preference. To decrease the risk of spreading pink eye from one eye to the other, only use the cloth to cover one infected eye.
Consider eye drops.
Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops, such as artificial tears, may help with symptoms. Don't use eye drops that are advertised to treat redness since they may worsen your symptoms.

See a healthcare professional if you have any of these symptoms:

Any eye pain that is more than mild
Blurry vision that doesn't clear with blinking
Sensitivity to light
Warm, red swelling around the eye
Worsening symptoms after three days with no associated cold symptoms
Vision loss

Certain people also should seek guidance from a healthcare professional regarding pink eye symptoms, including:

Anyone with recent trauma or surgery to or around the eye
Contact lens wearers experiencing any eye pain
Infants less than 6 months
Those who are immunocompromised

Symptoms of viral conjunctivitis can last up to two weeks, but typically are most severe earlier in the illness. You or your child can return to work or school if the drainage is controllable and you follow good hand hygiene.