Eye Care

Conjunctivitis, more commonly referred to as "pink eye" is a highly contagious infection of the transparent membrane that is part of the lining of the eyelid and part of the eyeball. This infection can be very irritating and does require some eye care in order for it to be resolved. The type of eye care depends on the type of conjunctivitis that has been contracted. There are several pathways to get conjunctivitis; there are bacterial, viral and allergic conjunctivitis as well as conjunctivitis caused by eye irritants such as chemical splashes or foreign objects in the eye. The symptoms usually are the same for all types of conjunctivitis, which is severe inflammation of the tissues, and the small blood vessels becoming more prominent which give the eyes a pinkish hue to it, hence the name pink eye.

Eye care for bacterial conjunctivitis includes antibiotic eye drops, which should clear up the infection in several days. For children with bacterial conjunctivitis, antibiotic cream or ointment may be the prescribed eye care as it is easier to use with children. Bacterial conjunctivitis can be very uncomfortable, and in addition to using antibiotic eye drops or cream, many physicians suggest soothing the discomfort with warm compresses. These should be made with clean, lint free cloths and applied gently to the eye to relieve the inflammation and any crusting that may have occurred overnight.

Viral conjunctivitis will not respond to antibiotic medications. In this case, like the common cold and other viral infections, the condition just needs to run its course. Several over-the-counter medications can be used for eye care to relieve the symptoms. Warm compresses also work well to alleviate the symptoms and bring down the swelling. As viral conjunctivitis is just as contagious as bacterial conjunctivitis, it's important to avoid contact with other people and remain at home until the infection has cleared. It's also an important part of eye care to have your eyes checked out by an eye doctor if the infection persists for longer than a week.

Allergic conjunctivitis is triggered by allergens, most commonly histamines, which lead to eye irritation and swelling. High pollen counts can contribute to the onset of allergic conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis usually affects both eyes and occurs in response to histamines and other inflammatory substances released in the airways and the lining of the eyes. When your body releases histamine, the result can be itching, inflammation and tearing of the eyes, and can create a crust that hardens over the eyes during the nighttime. The swelling of the membranes called the conjunctiva results in the reddish or pinkish hue that accompanies conjunctivitis. Eye care for allergic conjunctivitis includes prescriptions for eye drops, which may contain antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, steroids and anti-inflammatory agents. Doctors may also advise patients to use an eye care regimen that includes using cool compresses to soothe the eyes from irritation.