How to take care of pink eye? The pink eye treatment aim is to provide symptomatic relief. Your doctor may recommend eye care products such as artificial tears, cleansing your eyelid with a wet cloth, and using cold or warm compresses several times a day.
About Pink Eye
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is an eye disorder that causes the eye to become pink and causes irritation. It is the term used for the inflammation of the conjunctiva, and conjunctiva is the membrane that covers the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids. Bacteria, viruses, and allergens can cause it. The symptoms are not severe and can easily resolve after some time, but some home remedies can help ease them. Most of the time, pink eye symptoms get resolved without doing anything, but there are eyedrops and over-the-counter medications that help reduce discomfort associated with the condition. If the following symptoms exist for longer, then consult your physician. The severe symptoms are as follows:
- Pain in the eye(s)
- Intense redness in the eye
- Blurred vision
- Symptoms get worse after the use of antibiotics
Diagnosis
A doctor often diagnoses pink eye by asking questions about your symptoms and recent health history. A liquid sample drains from the eye for your laboratory analysis is rarely required if you develop serious symptoms or if your doctor suspects a high-risk cause, such as a serious bacterial infection, foreign body in your eye, or sexually transmitted infection.
Treatment
An eye medication is available. Doctors may recommend a medicine depending on the cause of the infection. Keeping the eyelid clean and lubricating the eye with ophthalmic solutions may decrease discomfort until the eye infection resolves. Several other steps you can take to treat conjunctivitis. How to take care of pink eye naturally? Well, it is believed that some pink eye home remedies work, and these are given below:
- Use a compress – take a soft cotton cloth and soak it in cool water. Take the cloth and wring it out and press it gently on your closed eyelids. Press the cloth on your eyelids gently without hurting your eyes, and don’t touch that cloth on your healthy eyes. If your eyes are infected, take a separate cloth to soothe their eyes.
- Avoid touching your eyes – bacteria and viruses cause pink eye, which is very contagious. Touching the eyes may spread the infection to your healthy eye or another person. So maintain distance from others, keep your eyes clean, and follow hygiene guidelines. Don’t wear contact lenses during the disease. Don’t use mascara; clean eye makeup brushes with soap and water. Change your pillowcase and bed sheets every day.
- Use of eye drops – the pink eye can use dryness and irritation; this can soothe by using artificial tears. Over-the-counter medications help remove traces of the allergen, which are the reason behind pink eye.
- Preventing the spread of infection – Avoid touching your eyes repeatedly if someone is suffering from pink eye. Keep your distance from other people so you don’t infect others. Try to cover your eyes with glasses to avoid touching and spreading to other people.
- Stop wearing contact lenses – If you wear contact lenses, you may need to stop wearing them until your condition improves. Ask your doctor how long you need to go without contact lenses.
- Use pain relieving medication – if there is a pain in the eyes, then some drugs can reduce the symptoms of pink eye. NSAIDs are there, which help in reducing inflammation and also relieve the symptoms of allergic pink eye. The drugs are as follows:
- Allergy eye drops
- Oral antihistamines
- Mast cell inhibitors
You can use eye medications under the supervision of a doctor.
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Prevention
Although conjunctivitis may be difficult to prevent, good hygiene always helps.
- Please wash your hands frequently and keep them away from the eyes, especially after handling chemicals and cleaning formulations.
- Throw away your old cosmetics (eyeliners and mascaras). Replace them with new ones.
- Do not share your cosmetics with anyone.
- Avoid sharing towels or washcloths.
- Do not use medicated ophthalmic solutions prescribed for anyone else.
- If you hold contact lenses, follow the instructions carefully instructed by your doctor. Do not swim in lakes, ponds, or non-chlorinated pools.
Pink eye usually reduces within one or two weeks. Till the time, avoid going to public places and avoid infecting others. Consult your doctor if symptoms worsen with the passing days. Return to your doctor if you develop severe eye pain, pain when moving the eyes, fever, visual blurring, continued discharge after use of the medicine, or no improvement with the medication.
