7 Things You Should Know About Pink Eye
iStock 1311084898
School is starting up again for the kids – and that means the inevitable colds, stomach aches, and a general increase in germs. Your kids may come home with pink eye, which is very common and spreads very easily. If you think you may have caught a pink eye, here are some things you should know!
The symptoms of pink eye include redness, itchiness, and a discharge from the eye. Although it is irritating, it hardly ever affects a person’s vision.
You can catch pink eye from someone who has it, but it can also be caused by a respiratory infection (such as a cold), a foreign object in the eye, or when you come into contact with something you are allergic to, such as pollen or pet fur.
If you have pink eye, make sure you don’t share pillows, makeup, or even glasses with anyone else to prevent its spread. Also, make sure you wash your hands often and don’t touch your eyes.
Once you have recovered from pink eye, you should throw away makeup, contact lenses, and even contact lens accessories (such as the solution and the case) that you were using when you caught pink eye.
Pink eye usually gets better on its own, but there are some signs that you should go see a doctor. Make an appointment if you are in a lot of pain, if your symptoms don’t get better after a few days, you have a lot of mucus in your eye, or if you have a condition that weakens your immune system (such as HIV or cancer).
You should stop wearing your contact lenses as soon as any pink eye symptoms appear.
To ease the discomfort of pink eye, you can try eyedrops or using a compress with cool or warm water on it (whichever feels better to you). If you have pink eye in one eye, make sure you don’t touch the compress to the other eye.
If you have a pink eye and it doesn’t seem to be going away on its own, don’t wait! Make an appointment at The Eye Care Institute in Louisville, KY. The number is (502) 589-1500. Call today!
