It’s an Inflammation or infection of the outer membrane of the eyeball and the inner eyelid.
Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is an irritation or inflammation of the conjunctiva, which covers the white part of the eyeball.
It can be caused by allergies or a bacterial or viral infection.
Conjunctivitis can be extremely contagious and is spread by contact with eye secretions from someone who is infected.
CAUSES
Causes of pink eye include:
?️Viruses
?️Bacteria
?️Allergies
?️A chemical splash in the eye
?️A foreign object in the eye
?️In newborns, a blocked tear duct
SYMPTOMS
The most common pink eye symptoms include:
? Redness in one or both eyes
? Itchiness in one or both eyes
? A gritty feeling in one or both eyes
? A discharge in one or both eyes that forms a crust during the night that may prevent your eye or eyes from opening in the morning
? Tearing
RISK FACTORS
Risk factors for pink eye include:
– Exposure to something for which you have an allergy (allergic conjunctivitis).
– Exposure to someone infected with the viral or bacterial form of conjunctivitis.
– Using contact lenses, especially extended-wear lenses.
TREATMENT
Treatment consists of self care.
It’s important to stop wearing contact lenses whilst affected by conjunctivitis.
It often resolves on its own, but treatment can speed the recovery process.
Allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with antihistamines.
Bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with antibiotic eye drops.
NATURAL REMEDIES
Lifestyle and home remedies
To help you cope with the signs and symptoms of pink eye until it goes away, try to:
* Apply a compress to your eyes. To make a compress, soak a clean, lint-free cloth in water and wring it out before applying it gently to your closed eyelids.
Generally, a cool water compress will feel the most soothing, but you can also use a warm compress if that feels better to you.
* If pink eye affects only one eye, don’t touch both eyes with the same cloth.
This reduces the risk of spreading pink eye from one eye to the other.
* Try eyedrops. Over-the-counter eyedrops called artificial tears may relieve symptoms.
Some eyedrops contain antihistamines or other medications that can be helpful for people with allergic conjunctivitis.
Stop wearing contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, you may need to stop wearing them until your eyes feel better. How long you’ll need to go without contact lenses depends on what’s causing your conjunctivitis.
Written by: Ruth Olusegun
