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Pink eye and 3 main causes

Acute conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is one of the most common eye disorders and diseases. Although it is not dangerous, it causes discomfort and interferes with daily living. So what are the symptoms and treatments? What does pink eye look like beginning?

Definition of pink eye

Pink eye is actually the folk name for conjunctivitis. When the transparent membrane that is on the surface of the eyeball and the conjunctiva get inflamed.

Everyone probably experiences this disease, from children to adults. In particular, in a short time, pink eye is likely to break out into an epidemic because it is able to spread easily from one person to another through contact.

Pink eye is usually not serious, does not leave sequelae, and can get better on its own within a week. However, the disease can recur in a person many times because the human body cannot produce lifelong immunity to this disease.

Causes 

There are many causes that can lead to pink eye, and some common causes and accompanying symptoms include:

  • Virus: This is the most common cause of the disease, with symptoms such as watery eyes, itchy eyes, discharge, swollen eyelids, lumps on the eyelid, and reduced vision. Virus conjunctivitis can be easily spread through direct contact with an infected patient’s tears.
Lump on eyelid
Lump on eyelid – What does pink eye look like beginning?
  • Bacteria: Usually caused by Haemophilus Influenzae, Staphylococcus,… Some typical symptoms such as watery eyes, itching, sticky eyelids due to yellow or yellow-green discharge in the morning when waking up. The disease, if leaving it without treatment, can lead to serious damage such as irreversible vision loss, corneal ulcers. Everyone can get pink eyes if they come into contact with an infected person’s tear secretions or utensils.
  • Allergy: Usually it is difficult to determine the cause of an allergy, which can be due to pets, drugs, pollen, dust, …. Symptoms include usually itchy and watery eyes in both eyes,  and may be accompanied by allergic rhinitis. However, pink eye caused by allergies is not contagious.
3 main causes
3 main causes

Treatments

  • Comprehensive treatments

To improve your immune system, include all of the necessary nutrients in your daily diet: protein, fiber, fat, and starch. Patients should avoid removing too many nutrients from their diet, which can result in an asthenic physique. 

Eat fruits to supplement vitamins, such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons,…

The disease can be spread through contact, so patients should be isolated and use a medical mask before going out.

Get proper rest and get enough sleep.

Limit your use of electronic devices as much as possible during treatment.

Wear glasses to shield your eyes from dust, wind,… to minimize exposure to dust that can cause eye irritation.

Don’t let dirty water get into your eyes, avoid swimming when you get pink eye.

To not make the disease worse, the patient must not rub the eyes to avoid damaging the cornea.

  • Spot treatments

Use exactly the medication as prescribed by your doctor. Depending on the health condition, the doctor may prescribe different drugs such as anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, artificial tears, eye drops,…

Use eye drops properly
Use eye drops properly

Use eye drops properly: be careful not to let the tip touch your eyes. For ointment or gel, apply 1-2 drops of liquid medicine to about 1 cm of the lower eyelid. 

To monitor the progress of the disease, it is advisable to have regular check-ups. If the eye becomes more swollen, painful, or bleeds when using the drug, you should immediately contact your doctor for timely measures.

In cases of abnormal symptoms, the patient should see an eye specialist for examination and treatment to avoid serious complications.

Patients, in particular, are not permitted to be treated arbitrarily using oral and folk methods such as instilling breast milk, applying onions, steaming betel leaves, and so on. Furthermore, patients should not purchase over-the-counter drugs without a doctor’s prescription because they can have unanticipated consequences. 

Preventions

To be able to effectively prevent pink eye, people should follow a few tips, including:

  • Maintain good eye hygiene and personal hygiene daily.
  • Cleanse your eyes daily with physiological saline (0.9%).
  • Do not share towels, everyone should have their own face towel.
  • Avoid letting chemicals such as shower gel, shampoo, etc. get into your eyes.
  • When going outside, wear sunglasses to protect yourself from dust and wind.
  • Have a diet that provides adequate nutrients, especially vitamins and minerals from fruit.
  • During the epidemic, you should limit contact in crowded places and wear a mask when going out.
  • Should choose clean, standard swimming pools when swimming, use swimming goggles, and wash eyes with 0.9% physiological saline immediately after swimming.
  • Regularly open the ventilation door and always keep the house clean.
  • If someone in the house has pink eye, they need to be isolated appropriately, for example, by wearing a mask even when not going out and absolutely not hugging others, especially children.

Q&A

Does pink eye go away by itself?

“Does pink eye go away by itself?” – The most frequently asked question. The infection will often disappear on its own in 7 to 14 days without any medication or long-term complications. Viral conjunctivitis, however, can occasionally last up to three weeks. To treat more severe conjunctivitis cases, a doctor may prescribe antiviral medicine.

What does pink eye look like beginning?

Redness in one or both eyes. Itchiness in one or both eyes. An uncomfortable feeling in one or both eyes. a discharge in one or both of your eyes that hardens overnight and may make it difficult for your eye(s) to open in the morning.

Pink eye
Pink eye. Does pink eye go away by itself? Can pink eye heal in 3 days?

How can you tell if pink eye is bacterial or viral?

The watery discharge of viral pink eye frequently starts in one eye after a cold or respiratory infection. Bacterial pink eye, which often starts with an ear or respiratory infection, may affect one or both eyes. Due to the discharge’s volume, the eyes frequently stick together.

Can pink eye heal in 3 days?

After taking antibiotic medication for 2 to 3 days, symptoms frequently fade away. However, medications only address bacterial pink eye; they do not address viral pink eye, which is more common. Viral pink eye often recovers on its own in 7 to 10 days.

When should I be worried about pink eye?

Even though pink eye caused by some bacteria and viruses can easily spread from person to person, it poses no major health risks if caught early enough. However, if it occurs in a newborn, call your doctor immediately since it might be an infection that endangers the infant’s vision.

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