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Pinkeye

Also called: Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is the medical name for pink eye. It involves inflammation of the outer layer of the eye and inside of the eyelid. It can cause swelling, itching, burning, discharge, and redness. Causes include

  • Bacterial or viral infection
  • Allergies
  • Substances that cause irritation
  • Contact lens products, eye drops, or eye ointments

Pinkeye usually does not affect vision. Infectious pink eye can easily spread from one person to another. The infection will clear in most cases without medical care, but bacterial pinkeye needs treatment with antibiotic eye drops or ointment.

NIH: National Eye Institute

Symptoms of Pinkeye

The following features are indicative of Pinkeye:
  • redness
  • itchiness
  • gritty feeling
  • discharge that forms a crust during the night
  • tearing

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Common Causes of Pinkeye

The following are the most common causes of Pinkeye:
  • viral infections
  • bacterial infections
  • allergies
  • chemical splash in the eye
  • foreign object in the eye

Risk Factors for Pinkeye

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Pinkeye:
  • exposure to something for which patient have an allergy
  • exposure to someone infected with the viral or bacterial form of conjunctivitis
  • use of contact lenses

Prevention of Pinkeye

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Pinkeye. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • regularly wash your hands
  • do not rub the eyes with infected hands
  • apply a warm washcloth to the eyelids for 1 to 2 minutes after awakening
  • keep your eye tools clean
  • wear protective eyewear

Occurrence of Pinkeye

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Pinkeye cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Pinkeye can occur at any age.

Common Gender

Pinkeye can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Pinkeye

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Pinkeye:
  • Eye examination: To diagnose eye infections and their causes
  • Patch test: To detect the causative allergen

Doctor for Diagnosis of Pinkeye

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Pinkeye:
  • Ophthalmologist

Complications of Pinkeye if untreated

Yes, Pinkeye causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Pinkeye is left untreated:
  • corneal ulcers
  • blindness

Self-care for Pinkeye

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Pinkeye:
  • Apply a compress to your eyes: Give soothing effects
  • Use eye drops: Relieves the symptoms
  • Avoid eye drops for red eye
  • Stop wearing contact lenses: Stop wearing them until the eyes get better

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Pinkeye

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Pinkeye:
  • Practicing acupuncture techniques: Gives relief from disease symptoms
  • Using herbal remedies: Produces healing effect

Time for Treatment of Pinkeye

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Pinkeye to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • In 1 - 4 weeks

Is Pinkeye Infectious?

Yes, Pinkeye is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
  • contact with infected person
  • contaminated objects or water

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Pinkeye.
Pinkeye
Ophthalmia Neonatorum

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