Global Courant
Did you know that children miss more than 3 million school days a year due to pink eye? Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane that lines your eyelid and covers the white part of your eyes. When the small blood vessels become inflamed, they are more visible, resulting in the reddish or pinkish tint you see in the eyes.
Pink eye is highly contagious and can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, an allergic reaction, or coming into contact with an irritant such as smoke or dust. Because it can be contagious, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to limiting its spread.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms are:
â— Redness or swelling
â— Itching, irritation or burning sensation
â— Crabbiness or excessive tearing
â— Crusting of the eyelids or eyelashes
â— Intense redness of the eyes
â— Sensitivity to light or blurred vision
When to see a doctor
Pink eye is no joke and can spread quickly if not properly cared for. If you or your children experience any of the above symptoms, see a doctor immediately. If you have a weak immune system or a pre-existing eye condition, this can cause these to worsen.
Prevention and protection
Take the following steps to help prevent and protect against conjunctivitis:
â— Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. If you come into contact with pink eye, wash your hands exceptionally well and help your children do the same.
â— Infection can enter the body through the nose and mouth. Avoid sharing personal items such as makeup, towels, eye drops, contact lenses, and so on.
â— Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes. This can make the condition worse and, in some cases, help spread it to the other eye.
â— Always clean, store and replace your contact lenses according to your ophthalmologist’s instructions.
â— If your child has pink eye, keep him/her out of school and extracurricular activities until the redness is completely gone. This can help prevent your child from spreading it to the whole class.
Contact lenses and pink eye
If you wear contact lenses and are diagnosed with conjunctivitis, you should take the following steps:
â— Remove contact lenses and wear your glasses until the condition clears.
– Throw away the disposable contact lenses you wore when you were diagnosed with pink eye.
â— If you don’t have disposable lenses, disinfect them before wearing them again.
Thoroughly clean your lens case and consider replacing it.
How to protect yourself from pink eye
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