Pink Eye
(Conjunctivitis)
Medical Revising Author: Melissa Conrad Stoppler, MD
Medical Revising Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
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Facts About "Pink Eye"
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor:
Barbara
K. Hecht, PhD
 Conjunctivitis, known as "pink eye," is an inflammation
of the thin,
transparent membrane covering the inner eyelid and the white part of the
eye
known as the conjunctiva. Symptoms of this condition can include:
- redness of the eyes,
- eye pain,
- blurred vision,
- sensitivity to light,
- burning or itching of
the eye,
- a scratchy feeling in the eye and,
- a discharge that may be watery or may
contain pus.
Conjunctivitis may begin in one eye but often spreads to involve
both eyes.
The term pink eye is most commonly used to refer to the infectious (viral or
bacterial) type of conjunctivitis,
but conjunctivitis may also result from allergic reactions or from chemical
irritants such as air pollution, smoke, or noxious fumes. Rarely, underlying
chronic medical conditions including systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis can cause a persistent
conjunctivitis. The infectious form of conjunctivitis is very common in children
and is highly contagious.
Children and adults who develop infectious pink eye
should see a doctor to determine whether antibiotic treatment is necessary. Most
cases of infectious pink eye are caused by viruses and will not respond to
antibiotic treatment. In these instances, the discharge from the eye is clear
and watery and symptoms of a cold may be present. Viral pink eye infections usually last
from about seven to 10 days.
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What is "pink eye"?
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is redness and inflammation of the membranes (conjuctiva) covering the whites of the eyes and the membranes on the inner part of the eyelids. These membranes react to a wide range of bacteria, viruses, allergy-provoking agents, irritants, and toxic agents, as well as to underlying diseases within the body. Viral and bacterial forms of conjunctivitis are common in childhood, but they can occur in people of any age. Overall however, there are many causes of pink eye. These can be classified as either infectious or noninfectious.
What infections cause pink eye, what are infectious pink eye symptoms, and how are they treated?
Viral pink eye
The leading cause of a red, inflamed eye is virus infection. A number of different viruses can be responsible for the infection. Viral pink eye symptoms are usually associated with more of a watery discharge that is not green or yellow in color. Often, viral "cold-like" symptoms, such as sinus congestion and runny nose, are also present. The eyelids may be swollen. Sometimes looking at bright lights is painful. While viral pink eye may
not require an antibiotic, those affected should see a doctor, as
occasionally this form of pink eye can be associated with infection
of the cornea (the clear portion of the front of the eyeball).
This infection must be correctly detected and treated. Viral pink eye is highly contagious.
Viral pink eye usually resolves in seven to 10 days after symptoms appear.
Bacterial pink eye
The bacteria that most commonly cause infectious pink eye are
staphylococci, pneumococci, and streptococci. Bacterial
pink eye symptoms include
- eye pain,
- swelling,
- redness, and
- a moderate to large amount of discharge, usually yellow or greenish in color.
The discharge commonly accumulates after sleeping. Affected children may awaken most unhappy that their "eyes are stuck shut," requiring a warm washcloth applied to the eyes to remove the discharge. Bacterial pink eye is treated by repeated warm washcloths applied to the eyes (try applying these to your child's eye one eye at a time during a favorite video) and requires antibiotic eyedrops or ointment prescribed by the doctor.
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| What does pink eye look like? |
Be careful not to use medication prescribed for someone else, or from an old infection, as these may be inappropriate for your current infection or may have been contaminated from other infections by accidentally touching the medicine bottle to infected areas. A safe, effective, and "less scary for your child" method of putting drops into the eyes involves asking your child to lie down flat, with instructions to merely "close your eyes," and placing the recommended number of drops in the inner corner of the eye, next to the bridge of the nose, and letting them make a little "lake" there. When your child relaxes and opens the eyes, the medicine will flow gently into the infected mucous membranes without the need to "force open" the eyes.
When you feel that you or your child might have bacterial pink eye, it is very important to see your doctor immediately for several reasons. First, if the cause is a bacterial infection, an antibiotic will be needed to help the infection-fighting immune system to kill this infection. Secondly, if you are experiencing other symptoms such as a runny nose, cough, earache, etc., there is a good chance that these symptoms are caused by the same bacteria, and an oral antibiotic may very well be needed to treat this infection along with the antibiotic drops or ointment for the eyes. Finally, your doctor will want to exclude the possibility that the infection has spread to areas where the symptoms may not yet be recognizable.
Chlamydia pink eye
Pink eye due to infection with chlamydia is an uncommon form of bacterial pink eye in the U.S., but it
is very common in Africa and Middle Eastern countries. It can cause pink eye in adults and neonates. It is a cause of pink eye in adolescents and adults that can be sexually transmitted. Chlamydia pink eye is typically treated with tetracycline (except in children less than
8 years old, because of possible discoloration of the teeth) or erythromycin.
Next: What noninfectious conditions cause pink eye, what are noninfectious pink eye symptoms, and how are they treated? »
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