Pinkeye
What is pinkeye?
Also known as conjunctivitis, pinkeye is a catchall term for anything that makes the white parts of the eye pink. It can be anything from a little redness in one of the eyes to both eyes glued shut with green mucus. Pinkeye is a common reason for young children to be sent home from school.
What actually causes pinkeye?
There are several causes of pinkeye.
*Bacterial- Usually have some amount of yellow/green pus or discharge. Can have eyes crusted shut in the morning. May involve one or both eyes.
*Viral- No pus. White part of the eyes is red. Can have watery discharge. Often part of a cold, so there may be other symptoms like cough or runny nose. May involve one or both eyes.
*Allergic- White part of the eyes is red and often itchy. Can have a lot of tearing. Often also occurs with other allergies, so may also have sneezing, itchy nose, or other allergy symptoms. Mostly involves both eyes if caused by pollen. May also be one eye if direct contact with allergic trigger.
*Chemical- White part of the eyes is red and may be painful. Caused by exposing eyes to smoke, chlorine in pools, touching eyes with hands that are covered in an irritant, among others. May be one or both eyes depending on what the contact was.
*Immune- There are a few different immune mediated causes for pinkeye. Usually effects both eyes. Often other symptoms also present.
How is pinkeye treated?
For all of the causes of pinkeye, we recommend changing out contacts for glasses, wiping the eyelids with warm water and a cotton ball three times a day, and artificial tears (that can be found over the counter) one drop to each eye three times a day after cleaning the eyelids.
Bacterial pinkeye is the only kind that may need antibiotic eye drops. To give antibiotic eye drops, pull down your child’s lower eyelid and put a drop in, then have them close their eyes for two minutes. This allows the medicine to get into the tissues. If your child is not cooperative, then put the drop on the inner corner of the eye, even if they keep the eye tightly closed, it will be able to seep into the eye from there.
If you’re not sure what kind of pinkeye your child has, if there is a foreign body that can’t be removed, or significant pain or vision problems, then seek help from your pediatrician, eye doctor, or emergency department.
Can I prevent pinkeye?
Reminding children to not touch their eyes with their hands at all, and to wash their hands if they do can help prevent it as well as reduce spread if they have viral or bacterial pinkeye. Also keeping high touch areas (door knobs, phones, faucet handles) clean especially when someone in the house has a cold can reduce the chances of spread.
Those with environmental allergies may benefit from daily treatment with antihistamine eye drops, nose spray, or tablets.
Wearing eye goggles to prevent contact with various chemicals and other irritants, as well as not touching eyes while using these things can keep eyes safe.
Bottom line.
Pinkeye has multiple causes, only one of which is bacterial. If you’re not sure, check with your pediatrician.
Links.
Eye infections at HealthyChildren.org.
