Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments

What Is Pink Eye?

Pinkeye or conjunctivitis is mucosal inflammation of the eye lining. The the muculent shell (conjunctiva) gets red and chemotic due to the irritation or infectious disease. The hospital care is needed on rare occasions to cure the pinkeye. The eye inflammation is rather frequent and widespread.

What Are The Causes of Pinkeye?

• Viruses. Sneezing and coughing make greatly virulent airflow viruses spread widely. Without medical care eye inflammation spontaneously heals within a week.
• Bacteria. As a rule, infection involves both eyes and produces solid yellow pus. It is better to turn to a doctor to be examined, as the illness can disturb for a month.
• Allergic. If any irritants (e.g. furfur, pollen, cosmetics or dirt) reach conjunctiva this type of illness occurs. It can last for a season or continue all year round.
• Neonatal. Found in infants, this dysfunction risks to end in blindness without care. The cause is the mother’s chlamydial disease.

In some cases wearing lenses or violation of care rules provoke pink eye, and even topical meds provoke an allergic reaction in the form of conjunctivitis.

Signs of pinkeye

The typical diagnostic symptoms include:

• Edema of the lids and mucosal membrane;
• Redness of the area;
• Photophobia;
• Endless lachrymation;
• Pain;
• The sense of foreign object in the eye;
• Mucous, purulent or mucopus exudating.

Home Remedies for Pink Eye

It is possible to use herbs to wash eyes. Chamomile, cornflower blue, leaves and buds of birch, string, will be effective to reduce the inflammations.

The compounds present in black or green tea ease irritation. Sink a tea bag in a glass of hot water and when it is cold enough put it on the exposed eye. Or wet a piece of cloth in the glass to make a compress.

Aloe vera has antiseptic qualities, decreases the severity of sore and accelerates recovery. Put aloe vera pasta on cornea, around eye and lids. Or use diluted aloe vera juice to drop it in the eye.

As turmeric has healing potential to lessen the heaviness of inflammatory process it can be used to relieve pink eye symptoms. Mix 2 spoons of turmeric flour and a glass of warm water; wet a sponge and put a compress to the outer, closed lids.

The next recipes are considered to be very effective:

• honey mixed with distilled water or in pure form should be applied to the eye;
• 1-2% solution of propolis is instilled in eyes;
• 2% liquor of royal jelly is used for lotions.

Cold sponges are more effective for healing allergy-associated conjunctivitis. Remember to use clean pledget for each eye and each application.

How to Treat Pink Eye?

It is better to stay at home for 3-7 days to heal the pinkeye. One ought to limit physical exercises, emotional upheavals and stick to a diet. In this period it is significant to have enough rest and let the immune system to direct all forces for a cure.

The primary causes of the eye dysfunction define the needed medical care:

• Viral. Viral eye inflammation is treated without drugs. Placing a cool or warm wet compress to the eyes a few times a day relieves signs of pink eye. Herpes infection requires special medications.
• Bacterial. As a rule microbial pinkeye is healed with topical eye drops and ointments containing antibiotics. Medications should be placed at least 3-4 times a day.
• Allergic.  Allergy-associated pinkeye improves after the allergy is cured and the allergen stops irritating. Antihistamines warn symptoms of pink eye. These drugs must be taken before the allergy season starts.

If pinkeye is a result of using contact lenses, take them off and try to wear only glasses. It is recommended for women not to put makeup.

How To Prevent Pinkeye?

Recommendations to prevent conjunctivitis:

• Do not give towels, contact lenses, glasses and toiletries to others.
• Covering nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing will reduce the risk of eye contamination by causative agents, and try not to touch eyes after it.
• Clean hands with disinfectant, especially after being in public places.
• Start to take antihistamines before the season of blossom begins.
• Steer to rules for lens care and replacement.
• Wear swim goggles while swimming.
• Take off contact lenses before showering.

Frequent wearing of glasses reduces the risks of the pink eye as it decreases the chances of pathogenic agents to touch the conjunctiva. High-index lens and anti-reflective covering will make glasses thinner, lighter and will exclude distracting reflections. Think about photochromic glasses to reduce light sensibility and shield eyes from UV and visible blue radiation.