How to Deal With Pink Eye
We often rub and touch our eyes without even thinking about it. Most of the time, this doesn’t cause any serious problems. However, if our hands are contaminated with a foreign organism and this gets into our eyes, an infection can result. Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva from a virus, bacteria or an allergic reaction. There are several ways to remedy this infection.
- Determine what type of pink eye you have. The cause of the infection can ultimately determine what treatment to pursue. A laboratory test may be needed to determine the source of the infection, but general guidelines can also be used. Viral infections are usually characterized by a pink color of the eye rather than red, whereas infections caused by bacteria usually produce a whitish-yellow discharge. Pink eye triggered by an allergic reaction is typically accompanied by itching.
- Apply cold or warm compresses (whichever provides the most relief) and artificial tears to your eyes if it is a viral infection. There is no treatment for viral conjunctivitis, so you just have to wait for it to go away on its own.
- Use antibiotics, eyedrops or ointment for pink eye caused by bacteria if no improvement is seen within three days. This type of pink eye usually clears up on its own and only requires medications if the infection does not clear up.
- Remove yourself from the source of the allergen if you have allergic conjunctivitis. A cold compress may help alleviate some of the itching.
- Prevent spreading the infection to your other eye by using different compresses on both eyes or touching and rubbing your eyes. Wash your hands frequently, as it can be very easy to transfer the infection from one eye to the other.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses when you are experiencing symptoms. If you have disposable lenses, throw them away so you do not infect yourself again.