Pink Eye Symptoms & Remedies

Pink eye or conjunctivitis is a bacterial or viral infection of the membrane that lines the eyelid and eyeball. It can also be caused by an allergic reaction to a substance that enters the eye. Newborns born with tear ducts that are partially closed can also develop pink eye. The condition is highly contagious, but it usually responds well to treatment.

Symptoms

• The most common symptom of pink eye is a red or pink color in one or both eyes. The infection that causes pink eye causes the small blood vessels in the protective membrane covering the eyelid to swell, making them more prominent. This causes the red tinge to the whites of your eyes. Your eyes may itch or feel gritty if you have pink eye. A discharge may leak from your eyes, causing tearing. At night, this discharge may crust up along the edges of your eyelids, making them difficult to open first thing in the morning. You may feel like there is a foreign object in your eye that you cannot remove. You may also develop sensitivity to light. If you believe you have pink eye, see a doctor as soon as possible for treatment. Though pink eye does not usually cause major complications, quick treatment helps limit the spread of the condition.

Home Remedies

• Though medical treatment is advisable, viral pink eye infections do not respond to antibiotics and can clear on their own. You can use home remedies to ease the pain and discomfort while you heal. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after touching your eyes and do not share linens, makeup, face cloths or anything else that may come into contact with your eyes to prevent the infection from spreading. Soothe pain and discomfort from pink eye infections by applying a clean washcloth soaked in warm water to your closed eyelids. Pink eye caused by allergic reactions responds well to cool compresses applied to closed eyes. Avoid rubbing your eyes and releasing more irritants into them.

Medical Treatment

• If your pink eye does not clear up within a couple of days, see a doctor to analyze your condition. If you have bacterial pink eye your doctor will prescribe antibiotic eye drops or an antibiotic ointment to clear up the infection. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should see improvement in your symptoms within one to two days, but should continue using the eye drops or ointment for as long as your doctor advises. If your case of pink eye is due to an allergic reaction, your doctor may prescribe eye drops that include antihistamines to constrict the inflamed blood vessels, steroids, decongestants or anti-inflammatory drugs. Over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops can also help heal pink eye from an allergic reaction.