Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is one of the most common eye conditions, affecting millions of Americans annually. While it typically isn’t serious, pink eye can worsen and affect your vision without proper care.
At Wide Eye Optometry in Encino, Santa Clarita, and Palmdale, California, Mary Demirjian, OD, and our experienced team specialize in diagnosing and treating pink eye in people of all ages. Here, we explain what pink eye is and debunk some of the most common myths surrounding it.
Pink eye is a common condition that causes inflammation of your conjunctiva, a clear lining that covers your eyelids and eyeballs. When small blood vessels in the conjunctiva become irritated — due to allergies, infection, or irritants — they can swell, making your eyes appear pink or red.
Pink eye is annoying, but it rarely causes lasting problems. Even so, myths about the condition abound, so it’s important to be able to separate fact from fiction.
Here’s a closer look at three persistent misconceptions about pink eye:
Fact: Many people assume that pink eye is contagious, so they do everything they can to prevent its spread, like avoiding rubbing their eyes and wearing sunglasses around others. However, pink eye is only contagious if it’s bacterial or viral.
Other forms of pink eye, like allergy- and irritant-related pink eye, aren’t caused by microorganisms. While they can be just as irritating, they don’t require antibiotics.
If you’re concerned that you have contagious pink eye, practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands regularly, avoid touching and rubbing your eyes, and stay home from work or school to prevent exposing others to the germs.
Fact: Conjunctivitis is often spread by microorganisms, like viruses and bacteria. While these types of pink eye are contagious, other types are not. For example, allergic conjunctivitis is triggered by exposure to certain allergens, like pet hair, pollen, and dirt.
Such substances can make your eyes itchy, pink, and irritated, but you don’t have to worry about spreading these symptoms to others. Over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops containing antihistamines can provide rapid relief.
Fact: About 80% of acute pink eye cases are viral and cause mild symptoms. Often, at-home treatments, like cold compresses and drinking plenty of fluids, can help flush the virus from your system and prevent lasting complications.
However, certain types of pink eye, like acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), are more serious. Without treatment, these types can affect your vision and cause long-term issues.
Contact us immediately if your symptoms last more than a few days or cause severe pain or blurred vision. This is especially important if you wear contact lenses or have a weakened immune system. Even if the infection turns out to be mild, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Pink eye is a common but potentially serious eye condition. Since it’s often hard to determine the problem’s underlying cause and severity on your own, we always recommend meeting with a qualified professional. Call or visit us online to schedule an appointment at your nearest Wide Eye Optometry office in Encino, Santa Clarita, or Palmdale, California, today.