Rid yourself of pink eye and prevent it from coming back

Technically called conjunctivitis, pink eye is a scary-looking condition that causes the eye to ooze and itch in a very distinctive way. Just what is it and how can you get rid of it?

The eye is a complex structure that includes a delicate, thin covering known as the conjunctiva. The job of the conjunctiva is to protect everything inside the globe of the eye.

• When this transparent layer becomes inflamed, the blood vessels that feed it oxygen dilate, flooding the area with blood.
• This is what gives the eye that pink appearance.

Pink eye isn't a disease, but a symptom of some other underlying condition. How you get pink eye depends on what caused it.

• There are three main reasons you might wake up with pink in one or both eyes: viral infections, bacterial infections and allergies.

Viral conjunctivitis is one of two infectious types of pink eye, meaning it can pass from person to person.

• A viral infection usually spreads as an airborne mist when someone sneezes or coughs.
• The result is very similar to having a cold, except it is in your eye. With viral pink eye, your eyes will itch, drain and be sensitive to light.

Like a viral infection, bacterial conjunctivitis is contagious and has many of the same symptoms, but usually spreads via surface contact.

• An infected individual rubs an eye and transfers the discharge to a surface like a table. You touch that surface, then your eye.

Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious, so you don’t pass it around.

• This is an immune system response to a trigger such as pollen.
• Symptoms include a stuffy nose, sensitivity to light and a headache.

Prevention is the best approach when it comes to highly contagious conditions like pink eye.

• Parents should reinforce good hand hygiene standards.
• When kids wash their hands it can help keep them from introducing bacteria they picked up at school or home into their eyes.
• Once a member of the family gets pink eye, it’s important to keep him isolated, so it doesn't spread to other people.

The doctor will base the treatment plan on the cause of the inflammation.

• Bacterial pink eye requires an antibiotic eye drop.
• Viral conjunctivitis usually clears on its own in about two weeks.
• If the problem is an allergic reaction, avoiding triggers will reduce the irritation and prevent recurrences.

Pink eye is uncomfortable, but fully treatable. See the doctor to find out why you are suffering with this messy problem. Until you do, assume it is contagious just to be safe.