How do you Get Pink Eye

Itchy, watery eyes, that are all red and puffy, as if you cried your eyes out! Well, this is an obvious sign of conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. Pink eye? How do you get pink eye? Is this a question running through your mind? If yes, then the following paragraphs will discuss some information related to what causes pink eye and how do you get rid of pink eye.

The acute inflammation of the outer most layer of the eye and the inner surface of eyelids (conjunctiva) due to an infection or allergic reaction is called conjunctivitis or pink eye. So, what leads to conjunctivitis? One can get infected with conjunctivitis by direct contact and indirect contact. When one comes in contact with the discharge from their eyes and touches another person without washing their hands, it leads to direct spread of pink eye. If a person touches a contaminated surface with microscopic agents of pink eye, it leads to indirect spread of the infection. If one develops it due to cold infection, one can get pink eye by coming in contact with the droplets from a sneeze or cough of infected person.

What Causes Pink Eye
There are many causes of conjunctivitis and some of the reasons given below will explain what causes pink eye in short.

Bacterial Infection
Bacterial infection can spread to both eyes and lead to excess watering. It also causes a heavy green or yellow discharge and crusting on eyelids sometimes. There is a lot of itching experienced with bacterial conjunctivitis. This kind of conjunctivitis with green, white or yellow discharge, red and sticky eyelids with eye pain is called purulent pink eye.

Viral Infection
Viral infection affects one eye usually and leads to excess watering. There is light clear discharge experienced and crusting sometimes. This kind of conjunctivitis with clear watery discharge, with mild or no eye pain, is called non-purulent pink eye.

Allergic Reaction
Allergic conjunctivitis can affect both eyes and is due to a substance induce allergic reaction. One can develop allergic conjunctivitis due to grass, pollen, ragweed, animal dander and even dust mite allergy. It causes intense itching, excessive watering, eye inflammation, sneezing with watery nasal discharge.

Irritant Reaction
Pink eye causes includes the presence of a substance in the environment, like chlorine, soaps, and other chemicals or smoke, fumes and other air pollutants can lead to conjunctivitis. It causes redness, irritation, watery eyes, mucous discharge, etc. This conjunctivitis due to irritation generally clears up in a day.

Blocked Tear Duct
A blocked tear duct in newborn babies, may lead to pink eye in neonates. Also, inclusion conjunctivitis of the newborn (ICN) is observed. This conjunctivitis is caused due to Chlamydia trachomatis, bacteria that causes acute, purulent conjunctivitis.

Pink Eye Symptoms
The pink eye symptoms observed in an infected person are as follows:

• Redness in both or one eye is the first symptom of infection
• Itchiness in one or both eyes
• Discharge from one or both eyes
• Crusting of the discharge in one or both eyes
• Teary or excessively watery eyes
• Mild or a bit severe eye pain
• Inflammation of the conjunctiva that causes blood vessels underneath to rise and dilate. This causes redness as a symptom of pink eye

How Long is Pink Eye Contagious

Wondering how long is pink eye contagious? Bacterial conjunctivitis remains contagious for about 14 days. It will remain contagious for 24 hours after pink eye treatment. In case of viral conjunctivitis, it remains contagious for about 3 to 7 days after infection. Allergic and chemical irritation conjunctivitis are not a contagious condition.

How do You Get Rid of Pink Eye
The next obvious question is 'how to get rid of pink eye'. The conjunctivitis remedies vary according to the cause of conjunctivitis. Viral conjunctivitis cannot be treated with antibiotics. Thus, one needs to allow the infection to run its course, that generally lasts for about 2 to 3 weeks. If the cause of viral conjunctivitis is herpes simplex virus, the doctor may advise antiviral medications for treatment.

Bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with antibiotic eye drops and antibiotic eye ointment. The infection will get treated within several days. You need to follow your doctor's instructions and make sure you complete the antibiotic course to prevent a relapse.

Antihistamines, decongestants, steroids, mast cell stabilizers, anti-inflammatory eye drops, etc. are used for treating conjunctivitis due to allergy. One needs to stay away from the allergens as much as possible to prevent pink eye.

Other remedies include warm compress that helps reduce the itching, irritation and inflammation. One needs to avoid wearing contact lens or switch to a new brand, it is causing irritation conjunctivitis. One should avoid touching hands to their eyes or discharge and wash hands frequently with a disinfectant soap. One should also avoid eye makeup as the organisms can spread to the cosmetics and reuse may lead to a recurrent infection.

This was all about how do you get pink eye and its causes. If you observe any of the symptoms, make sure you visit a doctor. Follow the remedies advised and get rid of pink eye as soon as possible.