Conjunctivitis is, known as “pink eye,” is an infection or swelling of the conjunctiva, a thin and transparent membrane that covers the white area of the eye and sits over the inner surface of the eyelid.

Causes of Pink Eye

• Viruses, such as those that cause the common cold
• Bacteria
• Shampoos, grime, smoking, and pool chlorine are all irritants.
• An allergic reaction to eye drops
• Pollen, dust, or smoke might cause an allergic reaction. It could also be attributed to a specific form of allergy that affects some contact lens wearers.
• Parasites, fungi, and amoebas

Pink Eye Symptoms

The following are the most prevalent pink eye symptoms:

• Redness in one or both eyes.
• One or both eyes are itchy.
• An abrasive sensation in one or both eyes
• A discharge in one or both eyes creates a crust overnight and prevents your eye(s) from opening in the morning.
• Tearing

How Pink eye diagnosed?

Pink eye is often easy to diagnose for a healthcare practitioner. Simply by asking you a few questions and looking at your eyes, they should be able to tell if you have pink eye.

A healthcare expert might, for example, inquire if your eyes are itchy and if you have runny or heavy discharge.

They may also inquire as to whether you have symptoms of a common cold, hay fever, or asthma.
They may also do a few tests, such as:

• A vision examination to see whether your vision has been harmed
• Using bright light and magnification, examine the external eye tissue, particularly the conjunctiva.
• An inspection of the inner eye is performed to ensure that no other tissues have been harmed.
• When a person has persistent pink eye, and the condition is not improving with treatment, a conjunctival tissue smear is performed.

Prevention

Keeping pink eye from spreading

To prevent the spread of pink eye, practice proper hygiene. Consider the following example:

• Don’t put your hands in your eyes.
• Hands should be washed simultaneously.
• Clean towel and wash clothes.
• Towels and washcloths should not be shared.
• Change your pillowcases on a regular basis.
• Eye makeup, such as mascara, should be discarded.
• Eye makeup and personal eye care goods should not be shared.

Remember that pink eye is not communicable in the same way that a regular cold is. If you are unable to take time off, it is acceptable to return to work, school, or child care; nevertheless, you must maintain a constant level of hygiene.