Conjunctivitis (pink eye) Infection or irritation of the conjunctiva is a common ailment. The common causes are infection by bacteria or a virus, allergies, or chemicals accidentally splashed in the eye. Treatment must deal with the cause, and infection requires a period away from community settings and extra cleanliness in the home to prevent spread.

When conjunctivitis is caused by one of several possible bacterial infections, the lining protecting the upper eyeball and the same conjunctiva membrane on the inner side of the lids will produce a purulent (pus-like) sticky yellowish discharge that can crust around the lids during sleep. In infections caused by a virus, this crusting is infrequent. In either case, you or your child has a highly contagious condition that is common, that rarely leads to worse complications, but that should be seen by your optometrist.

Although conjunctivitis gets its name from the protective conjunctiva tissue around the eye that becomes red and inflamed, treatment for this condition depends on what caused the inflammatory response in the first place.

Treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis in infants and children tries to prevent any potential complications that could spread the infection within the eye, or to the inner ear or pharynx (a cavity running from the auditory tube to the esophagus).

Allergic conjunctivitis may pose moderate to serious challenges to caregivers, depending on the severity of the symptoms and the duration. Allergy occupies an entire domain of pharmaceutics and medicine today. We can expect to see many new approaches and anti-allergy agents in the future.

In case of chemical conjunctivitis caused by physical contact with an irritant, immediately flush the eye with cold water for 15 minutes, and seek professional care as soon as possible to prevent eye injury.

By taking preventive measures, practicing basic hygiene, and reducing exposure to others in the community until treatment has taken effect, you will prevent conjunctivitis from becoming a more serious threat to healthy vision.