With allergies acting up, you may find that your eyes are abnormally sensitive and often turning red or watery. Here’s a reminder from your Cincinnati eye doctor: If it’s swollen and pink, it could be much worse than an allergy reaction. Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pinkeye, causes inflammation and redness over the clear membranes of the white part of your eye. It is typically caused by a virus or bacterial infection, but chemicals, allergies, and other diseases can also cause it to present.
Be careful! If you or someone you love has pinkeye, remember that it is highly contagious! It spreads easily without proper hand washing or through coughing and sneezing, like the average virus. Children diagnosed with pinkeye need to stay out of school or daycare for a short time until a doctor has advised them they are no longer contagious.
The main symptom is an obvious redness of one or both eyes. This may also spread to a red, swollen eyelid as well. Lots of tearing, itchiness, or burning symptoms are also associated with conjunctivitis. Some people experience crustiness buildup or a heightened sensitivity to light. If symptoms are severe enough to cause pain to light, a doctor needs to be visited immediately to test whether the infection has spread beyond the conjunctiva.
If promptly detected and properly treated, pink eye is unlikely to cause long-term eye or vision damage. Persistent pinkeye can be a sign of an underlying illness in the body, such as lupus or Crohn’s disease. Be sure to see a doctor immediately upon first signs of any symptoms. Bacterial pinkeye has treatment options like antibiotic eye drops, ointment, or pills to clear the infection. Viral pinkeye may not have treatment, and may have to be waited out for up to a week to clear up on its own.
If your vision has been affected or if you require eye care visit Cincinnati eye doctor, Charles Breen, ophthalmologist, at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, KY 41042.
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