The medical term for pink eye is conjunctivitis and this ophthalmic condition besieges hundreds of thousands of Britons each and every year.
Due to its prevalence and regularity in the United Kingdom, it seems as though everyone knows a few facts about pink eye but there are still a lot of delusions and canards that have to be refuted:
- Children are not the only ones who can become infected with conjunctivitis; pink eye can affect anyone irrespective of age.
- Many people suppose that pink eye comes from touching your eyes with unwashed hands but you can obtain viral conjunctivitis by coming into contact with allergens, contaminants, an individual with a lung contagion, and even some chemical substances, among other things.
- If you’ve already had pink eye, you will not become resistant to it. There are many unique strains and the human body is not able to develop immunity to the bacterial and viral variants of conjunctivitis.
There are several other pervasive myths concerning pink eye but reading through a rundown of the actual facts will help you differentiate between falsehoods from actualities.
What Is Pink Eye?
The term conjunctivitis is derived from the word conjunctiva, which is the designated name for the infinitesimal, translucent tissue that blankets the whites of your eyes (the sclera).
When the conjunctiva gets disturbed and aggravated by an allergic reaction, external irritation, viral transmission, or bacterial infection, this tissue exhibits an inflammatory response and the blood vessels that are usually undetectable become engorged and fully visible.
What Are the Other Symptoms?
There are countless causes for flushed, puffy, and swollen eyes, which is why you have to probe a bit more to ascertain whether you actually have pink eye. Highlighted below are the typical signs of pink eye:
- A very uncomfortable feeling beneath your eyelids, almost as if there is something extraneous stuck inside
- Abnormal sensitivity to vivid illumination and bright lights
- Expansion of the preauricular lymph node that’s located between your eye and ear, which occurs because lymph nodes react to localised infections
- Gummy or sticky fluid running from your eyes, which might dry up and create complications with opening your eyes after sleeping
Ergo, you have to watch out for symptomatic developments beyond just having a reddish sclera but, at any rate, it is recommended to visit a clinician’s office so that you can have a professional swab diagnosis performed. In some cases, your practitioner might send you over to an eye care specialist for a more meticulous examination.
How Is Conjunctivitis Treated and Cured?
Ensuring that your hands are always washed with antibacterial hand soap and being very careful when sharing towels, makeup, eyewear, pillowcases, and contact lenses will go a long way to help you prevent pink eye but here is what you should do if you suspect an infection:
- Cautiously cleanse your face and eyes with a mild lather
- Apply a sanitised cold pack to your eyelids to mitigate swelling and discomfort
- Use a gentle chemical-free wipe to eradicate discharge and crusts
- Do not apply any eye makeup or contact lenses until the conjunctivitis disappears
- If you use artificial tears, toss out your old bottle and purchase a fresh one
If the problem endures for more than a week or so, you ought to swing by your doctor’s office to regain control and eradicate your specific type of pink eye.