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Pink eye is generally a harmless inflammation of the eye, however it can be very irritating and it’s important to understand the condition and to know what steps to take.
Pink eye, known medically as conjunctivitis, is inflammation of the conjunctiva which is the transparent layer that covers the inner eyelid and the outer part of the eyeball. This is a common condition which causes a red irritated eye with discharge. It usually passes on its own, or with medication when necessary, within a week or so. There are three main types of conjunctivitis - viral, bacterial or allergic,and depending on the type of pink eye there are good treatment methods.
Both viral conjunctivitis and bacterial conjunctivitis are very contagious in nature. It is typically spread through indirect or direct contact with a person who has pink eye which could lead to the spread of infection in one or both eyes. However, it does not cause any serious consequences to the health of the individual if it is treated and diagnosed immediately. Pink eye is extremely common in children because it can spread in class due to close contact and also children tend to be less hygienic than adults are.
If pink eye is identified in a newborn, immediate care from an eye doctor should be given to avoid any long term damage to the baby’s vision.
If you have pink eye along with any of the following conditions, please schedule an eye exam right away with our eye doctor in Olympia, as it is important to receive the proper diagnosis and treatment:
The most common type of pink eye is viral conjunctivitis and it is also usually the most contagious. It often starts in one eye and causes tears and watery discharge. After a few days, it starts infecting the other eye as well.
The second major type of pink eye is bacterial. Like the viral strains, this also starts in one eye and gradually shows up in the other one as well, but this strain causes the release of a lot of pus and mucus from the eye. It is important to note that there are types of bacteria which cause pink eye and yet do not lead to pus from the eyes.
Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious and is caused by an allergic reaction so it’s essential to determine the trigger to avoid future allergic reactions.
The most common symptoms of pink eye experienced by patients are as follows:
For all types of conjunctivitis it’s important to stop wearing contact lenses and makeup until the conjunctivitis goes away. If you were wearing disposable contact lenses when the infection started, it is advised to throw them away and open a new pack when it’s safe to start wearing contact lenses again. If you are using reusable lenses, please sterilize them very carefully before using again. Be careful to wash your hands and anything else that comes into contact with your eyes such as washcloths, pillow cases, and makeup brushes in order to maintain healthy eyes and prevent future irritations. Do not touch or rub the infected eye with your hands. Tissues can be used for wiping away discharge, in case the need arises. For all types of conjunctivitis, some people find over-the-counter artificial tears helpful to reduce symptoms.
Viral conjunctivitis is not treated medicinally, but will heal on its own within a week or two. If it's a bacterial pink eye, which usually has more pus than the other types, antibacterial eye drops will be prescribed. For both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis, warm compress can provide relief and help reduce inflammation. You can use a warm washcloth to gently clean away the mucus from your eye. To treat pink eye caused by allergies, use allergy medicine and you can reduce irritation by using a cool, damp washcloth.
Cleanliness is extremely important to keep your eyes clean and to avoid future infection. Frequent hand washing with soap and water is recommended, especially before touching your eyes. Eye makeup, lenses or eye drops should not be shared with others.
Pink eye is an extremely common inflammation of the front layer of the eye which causes red irritated eyes. There are different causes for pink eye and identifying the cause allows for the proper treatment. Pink eye usually goes away within a few weeks. If you have pink eye and the symptoms are not improving or are getting worse after 24 hours, please schedule an appointment with our eye doctor by calling (360) 491-2121 who can properly diagnose the cause and provide the appropriate treatment. Patients searching for advanced medical eye care visit our clinic from all over Washington, and we are proud to be a leading provider of medical eye care services for patients from Olympia, Lakewood, Tacoma, and Lacey.
Such a nice optician. My grandson is only 4 and needs glasses. We were so sad, but he explained the issues, and we will follow up as he suggested.
I had such a good experience with the clinic. Very friendly staff and doctor, did not have to wait for long to be called, and was treated respectfully. Thanks, American Family.
Dr. Zurcher has gone above and beyond what any other eye doctor has ever done to figure out what is going on with my eyes. Very happy with American Family Vision.
Family Vision Clinic changed our lives! My daughter was frequently car sick, and she was getting headaches every day, often painful enough that they brought her to tears. We saw a string of doctors and therapists, but we made no progress. Finally, we found Dr. Levi Zurcher and his eye therapist Rain. After ten weeks of eye therapy my daughter no longer gets headaches, and she no longer gets car sick. Daily tears are a thing of the past. I really can’t say enough about this clinic. It was fascinating to watch Dr. Zurcher work. For the first time, someone who knew what they were doing was intently studying my daughter, really trying to figure out all of her eye issues, and his therapist Rain is one of the most patient and lovely people that I’ve ever had the good fortune to meet. We’re finished with eye therapy—yay!—and I have switched to American Family Vision Clinic for all of my family’s other eye health needs.
Very professional, yet kind and helpful. They do what they can to make the appointment comfortable. I was running a bit late, I made sure ti call. They were able to switch me with a patient who was already there, they treated me with respect, and helped my son have confidence by getting him the eye care he needed that day. Thank you so much! Would recommend to anyone. It's a blessing that they care enough to work with people who have all different types of insurance from work to state coverage.
The staff is friendly. The Doc is very knowledgeable. The office is family friendly and everyone is so patient with the little ones.
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