Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is when theconjunctiva(the membrane covering the eyeball) becomes inflamed or infected.
Your eyes will likely be red, itchy, watery, and crusty if you have pink eye.
This article explains pink eye types, diagnosis, and treatment.
ProfessionalStudioImages / Getty Images
ProfessionalStudioImages / Getty Images
Types of Pink Eye
Pink eye happens when somethingirritates the eye.
Causes include a virus, bacteria, allergen, or some other irritant.
Viral Pink Eye
A virus causes viral pink eye.
Viral pink eye can also spread within your body.
However, it can take up to two weeks to completely clear and may requireantibiotics.
How Long Does Pink Eye Last?
Pink eye generally lasts between one to three weeks.
Both viral and bacterial infections can be mild and go away independently.
However, bacterial infections may require antibiotics to clear fully.
In addition, allergies and chemical irritants can cause pink eye.
Usually, removing the allergen or irritant resolves the problem.
Acultureisn’t always necessary, though, sincecertain clinical signsindicate an infection is viral, bacterial, or allergenic.
Treatment
Often, pink eye will resolve in a couple of weeks.
However, other times it requires treatment.
Overall, pink eye treatment aims to reduce discomfort, handle the infection, and prevent it from spreading.
How you fix the infection depends on what is causing your pink eye.
Prevention
Pink eye is very contagious.
Still, it’s good to make an appointment with anophthalmologist, optometrist, or healthcare provider.
They will be able to diagnose what is causing your infection and provide a treatment plan to offer relief.
Summary
Viruses, bacteria, allergens, and irritants cause pink eye.
This infection leads to inflammation, redness, itching, and eye discharge.
Usually, pink eye resolves on its own in one to three weeks.
However, bacterial infections may require antibiotic eye drops.
In addition, comfort measures like cool compresses and artificial tears may provide relief.
In this case, discharge or crusting may tell you something else is happening.
You may require antibiotic eye drops in some cases of bacterial pink eye.
Clean the discharge around your eye with a cotton ball and apply cool compresses to combat pain and swelling.
Pink eye is highly contagious and spreads quickly.
If you have pink eye, you are contagious for as long as you have symptoms.
Pink eye often goes away on its own, usually in one to three weeks.
However, sometimes bacterial pink eye requires antibiotic eye drops.
you might also use at-home measures like a warm compress and artificial tears to alleviate discomfort while you heal.
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American Optometric Association.Conjunctivitis (pink eye).
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivitis: what is pink eye?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis (pink eye): diagnosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conjunctivitis (pink eye): prevention.
Nemours Teen Health.Pink eye (conjunctivitis).
