Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Conjunctivitis (better known as “pink eye”) is a common type of eye infection that leads to redness and inflammation. Depending on the underlying cause, this condition doesn’t always cause discomfort but can still lead to complications if left untreated.

What is Conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva. It may be caused by a virus, bacteria, or allergies. While bacterial and viral pink eye can easily spread from one person to another, allergic pink eye is not contagious.

One of the tell-tale signs of conjunctivitis is the reddening of the conjunctiva, which is a clear membrane that covers the surface of your eyes. When the conjunctiva becomes inflamed and infected the blood vessels underneath your eye dilate, making your eye appear “pink.”

Other symptoms of conjunctivitis can include itchiness and clear to yellow discharge from the eye. You may feel the constant need to rub your eye, although the overall discomfort is usually mild.

Diagnosing Conjunctivitis

To diagnose conjunctivitis, your eye care professional will discuss your symptoms as well as examine your eyes. In some cases, a culture may be collected from the liquid that drains from your eye for laboratory testing.

Conjunctivitis Treatments

The exact treatment for conjunctivitis depends on the cause. Viral pink eye—the most common type of conjunctivitis—can’t be treated with medicine, so it will go away on its own. Bacterial pink eye, however, requires prescription eye drops.

Conjunctivitis usually clears up within a few days. However, the symptoms of pink eye are sometimes similar to other eye conditions, such as allergies and infections. It’s important to see us to rule out more serious eye conditions that might be mistaken for conjunctivitis.

In the meantime, you’ll want to prevent the spreading of this highly contagious eye infection. Avoid touching your eyes, and don’t share items like towels and bed linens. You may also consider staying home from school or work until the infection heals.

Schedule Your Appointment

If you feel you may be experiencing pink eye, contact us today to see our highly skilled team of experts and get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Campus Eye Group in Hamilton & Princeton, NJ, strives to help our patients feel comfortable and knowledgeable about eye care.

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