Pink Eye Treatment
Serving the Mentor, Ohio area, we at Erie Optical believe that vision health leads to a fulfilling life. If you suspect that you or a family member has pink eye, our staff is here to answer questions and tackle your concerns.
What is pink eye?
Pink eye is an infection or inflammation of the membrane that lines your eye. The reason it has a pink or reddish coloring is that the blood vessels become inflamed.
Causes of pink eye:
- • Bacterial infection
- • Viral infection
- • Allergic reactions
- • Chemical splash
- • Foreign objects
- • Opened tear duct (in babies)
Always be careful. Some instances of pink eye can be contagious. The earlier you get a diagnosis and treatment, the better for you and your family.
What are the symptoms?
It is the best policy to make an optometry appointment when symptoms arise.
The most common signs of pink eye:
- • Itchiness (in one eye or both eyes)
- • Redness (in one eye or both eyes)
- • Grittiness (in one eye or both eyes)
- • Excessive tearing
- • Discharge that causes a crusty, scab-like coating over the eyes that happens at night and makes it hard to open them
What are the risk factors?
The risk factors for pink eye:
- • Exposure to an allergen
- • Exposure to someone that has conjunctivitis (pink eye infection)
- • Overuse of contact lenses
The inflammation around the cornea causes vision issues. The sooner an optometrist diagnoses pink eye, the sooner they can treat the pain, discomfort, light sensitivity, and blurred vision to prevent complications.
Can I prevent pink eye?
Preventing the spread of pink eye means practicing good hygiene.
For example:
- • Wash hands regularly
- • Do not touch your eyes (including contacts)
- • Use clean towels and washcloths every day
- • Do not share towels and washcloths
- • Change and wash bedding regularly (pillowcases, sheets, comforters)
- • Throw away mascara
- • Do not share cosmetics
When it comes to newborn babies, the risk factors come from their birth. In the birth canal, a mother can pass bacteria through the birth canal. Rare cases lead to a serious form of conjunctivitis (pink eye) known as ophthalmia neonatorum. It is the reason doctors apply antibiotic cream on an infant's eyes after birth.
Call Erie Optical Today!
If you or a member of your family suspects pink eye, it is time to make an appointment at Erie Optical optometry clinic. Dr. Robert Waldman has over 40 years of experience. As a team, we strive to provide professional and knowledgeable service in a compassionate environment.