Conjunctivitis, ("pink eye"), is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, (the
thin tissue lining the eyelids and covering the white part of the eyeball).
Symptoms associated with conjunctivitis include: redness, tearing, itching,
mild discomfort, burning sensation, pus-like drainage and/or crusting of the
eyelids, particularly upon awakening.
There are many different causes of conjunctivitis: bacterial or viral
infections, allergies such as pollen or animal dander, chemical irritants
such as smoke, preservatives in contact lens solutions and some eye drops,
or chlorine from swimming pools. Symptoms may last a few hours to several
weeks. Some resolve without treatment, others require prescription
medication.
Your physician may have specific instructions, however, the basic care of
conjunctivitis includes the following:
Avoid rubbing your eyes.
Wash your hands frequently to
prevent an infection from occurring or to prevent spreading an existing
infection to your other eye.
Use a warm wet washcloth to
gently soak off any crusting.
Discard any eye make-up you may
be using because it may be a source of future reinfection. It is not
recommended that you wear eye make-up until your conjunctivitis is
resolved.
Consult a physician if you
have any of the following:
You wear contact lenses
Moderate to severe eye pain
Photophobia (when bright lights
bother your eyes more than usual)
Visual disturbance beyond the
occasional blurring caused by the discharge or tearing associated with
some types of conjunctivitis.
Symptoms of your conjunctivitis
are not improving within 48 hours.
Use of the medication
prescribed makes the symptoms of your conjunctivitis worse.
This
information was taken form the University of Wisconsin Self Care website