Pink Eye Treatment From Your Ashburn Optometrist
Pink Eye is an eye disease that is also known as conjunctivitis and may be caused by several different things. Some are prone to pink eye because of their allergies, others find themselves with a bacterial infection, and still others develop pink eye due to a virus. At first glance, all of these types of conjunctivitis look similar and feel similar, so if you think you might have pink eye, it is important to see an Ashburn optometrist in order to get the treatment you need.
At Optics&EYECARE Doctors of Optometry, we take a close look at every potential case of pink eye we see in order to determine if it is pink eye or possibly another type of infection and present the patient with the tools and resources they need to recover from the condition.
Symptoms of Pink Eye
Whether your case of pink-eye is caused by a virus, a bacterial infection, or allergies, a person with conjunctivitis often has one or more of the following sensations in one or both eyes
- A "gritty" feeling
- Itching or burning sensations
- Swelling of the eyelids
- Discharge
- Higher sensitivity to light
- Excess tearing
- A pink to red color on the eyes
Diagnosing and Treating Pink Eye
When you come into Optics&EYECARE Doctors of Optometry with symptoms of pink eye, it is the goal of our optometrist to figure out what type of conjunctivitis you have in order to treat it. The three main types include
Allergic Conjunctivitis -- This is brought on by allergies and treatment methods are similar to other things you most likely try to do for your allergies such as avoiding the allergen as much as possible and taking allergy medications and drops which may include mild steroids.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis - If your pink-eye is caused by bacteria, you may be treated with antibiotic eye drops, which often clears up within a few days. If this happens, it is important to take the full prescription anyway, to help keep the infection from returning
Viral Conjunctivitis - Is caused by a virus, such as the common cold. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for this type of pink eye and it is highly contagious. Treatment focuses on educating the patient on how to care for their eyes and may include options such as artificial tears eye drops or warm compresses as methods for temporarily relieving discomfort. Patients should keep the area clean and be careful not to spread the infection from one eye to the other. Sometimes, a case of viral pink eye can take weeks to recover from. If you have this type of conjunctivitis, you should monitor symptoms closely to make sure the healing process is progressing as it should.
Schedule an Appointment with Your Ashburn Chiropractor
While pink eye is common, it is a condition that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible. At Optics&EYECARE Doctors of Optometry, we are determined to help you get to the other side of your pink-eye as soon as possible and can check to make sure no further damage has been done to your eyes. If you are experiencing these types of symptoms, contact our Ashburn, Virginia clinic at (703) 687-4719 to schedule an appointment.