Is Conjunctivitis Pink Eye?

No matter what you do, the odds are you rely on your eyesight a great deal. From typing and correcting your work, measuring things, to catching a show at The Pines Theatre where Dolly got her start, our eyes are indispensable both for work and pleasure.

When our eyes hurt or otherwise irritate us it is helpful to know how to best cope with or treat the issue. If your eyes are swollen and red with discharge, you might be dealing with what doctors call conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye.

The eyeball and inner lids of the eye are covered in a thin clear tissue called conjunctiva and it is from that we get the term conjunctivitis. When the blood vessels in the eye become infected, they swell and cause the eye to become red.

Pink Eye Symptoms

• Watery eyes
• Burning eyes
• Blurred vision
• Green or white stringy discharge
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Crusting of the eyelids or lashes, especially while sleeping
• Redness and swelling in the white of your eye or inner eyelid
• Thick yellow discharge that crusts over your eyelashes, especially after sleep
• Gritty feeling in one or both eyes

Though the symptoms are similar no matter the cause, pink eye can result from exposure to bacteria, viruses, allergies, or environmental factors. The cause of your pink eye will determine the appropriate course of treatment and management.

Illnesses with Similar Symptoms

Conjunctivitis is not the only condition where the whites of the eyes become pink. Pink swollen eyes can be a sign of styes (blocked glands in the eyelid), keratitis (an inflamed cornea), or even measles in children. Styes are bumps on the eyelid that resemble small boils or pimples. Keratitis also called a corneal ulcer, is characterized by a decrease in vision that is not associated with pink eye infection. Where styes and pink eye will often clear up with time, a doctor should treat keratitis immediately to prevent corneal scarring and temporary or permanent vision loss. Measles is on the rise due to decreasing child vaccination rates and is often recognized by its splotchy rash, however, symptoms like pink eye often precede the rash or accompany it.

What Causes Pink Eye?

Viral conjunctivitis is an eye infection caused by different viruses and is very contagious. Sometimes large outbreaks occur. It passes on its own given several days.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is a contagious infection due to bacteria. Some bacteria are common, but others that can lead to pink eye include those related to sexually transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. This type can also spread easily in certain settings and children who are not exhibiting fever or behavioral symptoms can usually continue attending school. This type of infection is more common in children than adults and is more prevalent from December through April.

Allergic conjunctivitis is often itchy and results from a person’s reaction to a specific allergen such as pollens, dust, mites, mold, pet dander, or cosmetics. It is most common among those who have other allergic conditions, such as asthma and isn’t contagious. High pollen counts can contribute, but it can occur at any time of the year depending on environmental factors. Allergy medication and allergy eye drops help.

Conjunctivitis caused by irritants has some overlap with allergic conjunctivitis as environmental chemicals or other airborne irritants may precipitate a non-contagious reaction. This type of conjunctivitis may also be caused by a foreign object in the eye, or in cases where contact lenses are not thoroughly cleaned. Burning eyes can also occur with this form.

Pink eye will resolve within two days to two weeks depending on the cause and treatment.

Home remedies and self-care

For bacterial or viral pink eye you can: 

• Take ibuprofen or another pain killer.
• Use over-the-counter lubricating eye drops (artificial tears). Do not use red-reducing drops as they can cause more pain or make infections worse.
• Put a warm, damp washcloth over your eyes for a few minutes.

To make a warm compress: 

• Soak a clean washcloth in warm water then wring it out so it’s not dripping.
• Lay the damp cloth over your eyes
• Repeat this as often as is comfortable.
• Use a different washcloth for each eye if you have infectious pink eye in both eyes.

If your eyelids are sticking together, a warm washcloth can loosen the dried mucus so you can open them.

The most common forms of conjunctivitis are very contagious, so be sure to wash your hands often especially if you are in an environment with shared items such as office supplies or equipment, keep switching towels and bedding for clean ones, and never share makeup or eye products.

If you have an eye condition or are immunocompromised, contact AFC Urgent Care Sevierville today should you or your child develop any eye issues.