Conjunctivitis
AKA Pink or Red Eye
Even if your symptoms are quite light, you will still experience a reddening of the conjunctiva – this is the skin that lines your eyeball and contains your inner eyelid. That’s why we have the two names: red eye and conjunctivitis.
There are two main reasons for arranging an appointment with us:
- Red eye can be contagious, so it’s important to establish whether or not your presence poses a risk to others. If you are contagious, we can advise you on how to manage your day-to-day life with minimal exposure to others – this is important to prevent an outbreak.
- Self-diagnosis is common among sufferers, but as there are three variations of the illness, your chosen treatment option could exacerbate symptoms. Only through testing can we give a conclusive diagnosis.
Signs and Symptoms
Reddening of Conjunctiva
Even if your symptoms are quite light, you will still experience a reddening of the conjunctiva – this is the skin that lines your eyeball and contains your inner eyelid.
Irritation
You experience watery eyes, a burning or itching sensation or any discharge from your eyes.
Other Issues
You also may notice blurry vision, some pain and puffy eyelids.
How We Help
Having an irritated conjunctiva could indicate another troublesome condition, but if you experience watery eyes, a burning or itching sensation or any discharge from your eyes, you should get it checked out.
Testing
Once we have an idea of your usual health, we can use advanced imaging equipment to assess your current eye health. We can see minute abnormalities in the eye by using high-resolution magnification, and with more than 20 years of diagnostic experience between them, you can be assured that our optometrists will spot any signs. If you are experiencing any fluid discharge from the eye (this is common, so don’t worry) we may take a sample and test it in our lab.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for conjunctivitis caused by most viruses. Your body fights the virus on its own. Placing a cool, wet washcloth on your eyes can help make them feel more comfortable.
If your pink eye is caused by a bacterial infection, we may prescribe antibiotic eye drops, depending on how severe your symptoms are. Antibiotics do not treat an infection caused by a virus or by allergy.
If your pink eye is caused by a bacterial infection, we may prescribe antibiotic eye drops, depending on how severe your symptoms are. Antibiotics do not treat an infection caused by a virus or by allergy.