Conjunctivitis or more known as pink eye is inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the eye surface and eyelid – conjunctiva.
Before explaining you how to treat pink eye naturally and quickly, here are several things you should know about this eye condition.
How Do You Get Pink Eye
Most cases of pink eye are contagious, and they are caused by the following factors:
- Direct contact with the secretion of an infected person (often through hand to eye contact)
- Spreading of an infection from bacteria that resides in one’s own sinuses/nose
- Improper cleaning of contact lenses and using decorative or contact lenses that don’t fit your eyes properly
- Bacteria or viruses due to lack of hygiene
- Allergens like dust mites and pet dander
- Irritants such as swimming pool chlorine or smog
How Do You Know If You Have Pink Eye
Although the symptoms of pink eye can vary depending on the cause, they often include:
- Swelling or redness inside the eyelid or sclera (the white part of the eye)
- Yellow, white, or green eye discharge
- Increased amount of tears
- Increased light sensitivity
- Irritated, itchy, or burning eyes
- Crusty eyelids or eyelashes
- Gritty feeling in the eye
Types of Pink Eye
It’s important to know the type of conjunctivitis you have in order to know how to treat it properly. There are three types of this common eye condition:
- Viral Conjunctivitis
This type of conjunctivitis is caused by the same virus as the common cold. It’s characterized with a watery mucus.
- Bacterial Conjunctivitis
This type of conjunctivitis is caused by bacterial infection. It’s highly contagious, and causes redness and a lot of pus – a thick greenish or yelowish opaque liquid.
- Allergic Conjunctivitis
This type of pink eye is not contagious. It occurs as a body’s reaction to an irritant or allergen. It’s characterized with itching.
How Do You Get Rid of Pink Eye
As we said, the treatment of conjunctivitis depends on the type of pink eye you have.
For viral conjunctivitis – There’s no need for any medical treatment in case of viral conjunctivitis. Usually, the symptoms of this type of pink eye last up to 2 weeks. You can relieve the symptoms by applying a cold, wet washcloth to the affected eye few times a day. Do not share the washcloth with anyone else since this type of conjunctivitis is highly contagious.
For bacterial conjunctivitis – Since this type of pink eye is caused by a bacterial infection, you have to take antibiotic. In most cases, 24 hours with prescription antibiotic treatment is enough to improve your condition and get back to work or school.
For allergic conjunctivitis – You can treat this type of pink eye by applying cool compresses to the affected eye, as well as using anti-allergic eye drops.
How to Stop Pink Eye from Spreading?
There are some things you can do to lower the risk and prevent pink eye from spreading:
- Wash your hands regularly
- Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes
- Don’t share eye and face makeup, contact lenses and containers, makeup brushes, and eyeglasses