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Conjunctivitis

OVERVIEW

Inflammation or infection of the outer membrane of the eyeball and the inner eyelid.

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is an irritation or inflammation of the conjunctiva, which covers the white part of the eyeball. It can be caused by allergies or a bacterial or viral infection. Conjunctivitis can be extremely contagious and is spread by contact with eye secretions from someone who is infected.

Symptoms include redness, itching and tearing of the eyes. It can also lead to discharge or crusting around the eyes.

It's important to stop wearing contact lenses whilst affected by conjunctivitis. It often resolves on its own, but treatment can speed the recovery process. Allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with antihistamines. Bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with antibiotic eye drops.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms include redness, itching and tearing of the eyes. It can also lead to discharge or crusting around the eyes.

  • Pink or red color in the white of the eye(s)
  • Swelling of the conjunctiva (the thin layer that lines the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelid) and/or eyelids.
  • Increased tear production.
  • Feeling like a foreign body is in the eye(s) or an urge to rub the eye(s)
  • Itching, irritation, and/or burning.

TREATMENTS

Treatment consists of self care

It's important to stop wearing contact lenses whilst affected by conjunctivitis. It often resolves on its own, but treatment can speed the recovery process. Allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with antihistamines. Bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with antibiotic eye drops.

Natural treatments

Natural treatments can potentially help prevent viral conjunctivitis. Eating probiotics and a diet rich in vitamins A, K, C, and B can help to improve eye health and ward off infection.

If conjunctivitis already has its pink grip on your peepers and it isn’t a bacterial infection, try these remedies to ease your symptoms.

  • Wash all of your sheets.
  • Take zinc supplements.
  • Apply cold compresses to your eyes.
  • Flush your eyes out regularly with clean water.
  • Get lots of sleep.
  • Hydrate well to help speed your recovery.

When to see a doctor

There are serious eye conditions that can cause eye redness. These conditions may cause eye pain, a feeling that something is stuck in your eye (foreign body sensation), blurred vision and light sensitivity. If you experience these symptoms, seek urgent care.

People who wear contact lenses need to stop wearing their contacts as soon as pink eye symptoms begin. If your symptoms don't start to get better within 12 to 24 hours, make an appointment with your eye doctor to make sure you don't have a more serious eye infection related to contact lens use.

Causes

Causes of pink eye include:

  • Viruses
  • Bacteria
  • Allergies
  • A chemical splash in the eye
  • A foreign object in the eye
  • In newborns, a blocked tear duct


Types and causes

In general, there are three main categories of pink eye:

  • Infectious
  • Allergic
  • Chemical

Infectious conjunctivitis

Infectious pink eye comes in a few different types, including:

  • Bacterial
  • Viral

Bacterial pink eye is caused by staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria. It typically occurs due to things like touching your eyes with unclean hands, sharing makeup, or having physical contact with someone who may also have conjunctivitis.

Viral pink eye is usually caused by common cold viruses. It can occur if someone with an upper respiratory infection coughs or sneezes close to you. It can also occur when you have a cold virus yourself and blow your nose too hard. This can push the infection from your respiratory system to your eyes.

Allergic conjunctivitis

Most people with allergic pink eye have seasonal allergies. They can get pink eye if they come in contact with a substance they’re allergic to, like pollen.

Chemical conjunctivitis

You can get pink eye from irritants such as:

  • chlorine in pools
  • air pollution
  • exposure to other chemicals

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis

Most cases of pink eye are typically caused by adenovirus but can also be caused by herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, and various other viruses, including the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can occur along with colds or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as a sore throat. Wearing contact lenses that aren't cleaned properly or aren't your own can cause bacterial conjunctivitis.

Both types are very contagious. They are spread through direct or indirect contact with the liquid that drains from the eye of someone who's infected. One or both eyes may be affected.

Risk factors

Risk factors for pink eye include:

  • Exposure to something for which you have an allergy (allergic conjunctivitis)
  • Exposure to someone infected with the viral or bacterial form of conjunctivitis
  • Using contact lenses, especially extended-wear lenses

Prevention

Preventing the spread of pink eye

Practice good hygiene to control the spread of pink eye. For instance:

  • Don't touch your eyes with your hands.
  • Wash your hands often.
  • Use a clean towel and washcloth daily.
  • Don't share towels or washcloths.
  • Change your pillowcases often.
  • Throw away your eye cosmetics, such as mascara.
  • Don't share eye cosmetics or personal eye care items.

Keep in mind that pink eye is no more contagious than the common cold. It's okay to return to work, school or child care if you're not able to take time off — just stay consistent in practicing good hygiene.

Preventing pink eye in newborns

Newborns' eyes are susceptible to bacteria normally present in the mother's birth canal. These bacteria cause no symptoms in the mother. In rare cases, these bacteria can cause infants to develop a serious form of conjunctivitis known as ophthalmia neonatorum, which needs treatment without delay to preserve sight. That's why shortly after birth, an antibiotic ointment is applied to every newborn's eyes. The ointment helps prevent eye infection.

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