Beware, Conjunctivitis Is Here

Conjunctivitis is commonly known as pink eye. Its definition states, "Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. Conjunctiva is the thin clear tissue covering the white part of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelid."

Conjunctivitis may affect one or both eyes. It can be caused either by some allergic reaction or by a bacterial or viral infection.

It is contagious, highly irritating and discomforts the eyes to the limits (people who have been through this will definitely agree); however, it does not affect your vision.

People like me who have suffered with conjunctivitis at least once as a kid, might remember how despite of all the sufferings, we enjoyed and loved wearing sunglasses everywhere, even to schools.

Not our fault, it was highly recommended by the ENT specialists along with the medicines to protect our eyes from any direct contact with the infected eye, as it was rumored that even looking into someone's eyes with conjunctivitis could infect yours.

However, these rumors have got nothing to do with conjunctivitis.

In this article, we're listing down the various causes and symptoms, 'do's' and 'don'ts ', and cure to the 'pink eye.'

Causes To Avoid

Conjunctivitis is mainly caused by bacteria named gonorrhoea or chlamydia. It can also result from any kinds of irritants such as shampoos, dirt or pool chlorine. Allergies like dust or pollen can also cause conjunctivitis.
Make sure that you do not come in any kind of a physical contact with people suffering from conjunctivitis.

Symptoms To Check For

Early symptoms of conjunctivitis are major eye itching and discomfort, followed by redness and an increased amount of tears. You might also feel a burning sensation in the eye. Any direct contact of light will hurt and your vision will be blurred. There might be yellow or white discharge from the eye, especially after sleep.

Do's

Protect your eyes from dirt and other irritating substances, use sunglasses when you step out. Every time you touch your eye, wash your hands with soap and warm water or use a sanitizer. Either use water or a fresh cotton ball to clean any discharge from your eyes, several times in a day. Use hot water, detergent and disinfectant to wash your bed linens, pillowcases and towels.

Don'ts

Avoid wearing contact lenses at the time of infection, instead wear eyeglasses. Do not touch or rub the infected eye. Avoid any kind of a physical contact with others and wash your hands frequently, do not touch their things too. Avoid applying makeup during an infection and do not use the makeup again that was used during the infection. Do not share eye drops from a person who was earlier infected.

Cure And Treatments

Conjunctivitis is a self-limited disease. Regular use of eye drops or ointments, as prescribed by the doctor, may show a good result in a week or so completely relieving you.