Conjunctivitis, commonly known as “Pink Eye,” is an infection or swelling in the outer membrane of your eyeball. Blood vessels in your conjunctiva, a thin membrane that lines part of your eye, become inflamed. This gives your eye the red or pink colour that’s commonly associated with conjunctivitis.
The most common causes of pink eye are: Viruses or Bacteria Bacterial conjunctivitis is most often caused by the same type of bacteria that cause strep throat and staph infections. Conjunctivitis from a virus, on the other hand, is usually the result of one of the viruses that cause the common cold. Whatever the cause, viral and bacterial pink eye is considered highly contagious. It can spread from one person to another quite easily by hand contact. Allergies Allergens, such as pollen, can cause pink eye in one or both of your eyes. They stimulate your body to create more histamine, which cause inflammation as a part of your body’s response to what it thinks is an infection. In turn, this causes allergic conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis is usually itchy. Chemicals You also need to be careful if a foreign substance or chemical splashes into your eyes. Chemicals such as chlorine, found in backyard swimming pools, can cause conjunctivitis. Rinsing your eyes with water is a simple and effective way to keep a chemical irritant from causing pink eye.
Since bacterial or viral conjunctivitis is very contagious, it’s important to pay attention to your symptoms. The condition can be passed along to others up to two weeks after it develops. Talk to your doctor about treatment if you experience: • Pink or red-toned eyes • Gritty feeling in your eyes • Watery or thick discharge that builds up on your eyes at night • Itchiness in your eyes • Abnormal amount of tears. So, the next time when you find any of these or all of these a symptom for constantly, it’s better to get up and consult your doctor without any delay.
