Conjuctivitis

Pink eye is one of the most common infections, affecting up to 6 million Americans each year. At Refresh Wellness in Garland, Texas, board-certified nurse practitioner and house call specialist Bincy Varughese, APRN, FNP-C, offers complete care for pink eye (conjunctivitis), including same-day screenings and prescription eye drops. Call the office to receive treatment for pink eye today, or book online.

What is pink eye?

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is an infection of the conjunctiva –– the clear membrane that covers the whites of your eyes. When the blood vessels in your conjunctiva become inflamed, they turn red, making your eyes appear irritated.

Pink eye tends to affect infants and children, but anyone can have it. Fortunately, there are treatments that can relieve irritation and stop the infection from spreading.

What are the symptoms of pink eye?

Symptoms of pink eye include:

• Redness in one or both eyes
• Itchiness in one or both eyes
• A gritty feeling in your eyes
• Discharge from your eyes
• Tearing

If you have any of these symptoms and they affect your vision or daily routine, don’t wait to seek treatment.

What causes conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis occurs for various reasons, including:

• Viruses
• Bacteria
• Allergies
• A foreign object in the eye
• Splashing something, like chemicals or medicine, into your eye

Sometimes, infants develop pink eye because of a blocked or clogged tear duct.

How is conjunctivitis diagnosed?

Your Refresh Wellness provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including when your eye first changed color, if it hurts to blink, and if the irritation worsens after looking at electronic screens like computers or tablets.

Next, they complete an exam, checking both eyes for inflammation, redness, and swelling. Most cases of pink eye are easy to diagnose, but your provider might collect an eye culture if they suspect a more serious issue, like a bacterial infection.

During an eye culture, your provider gently swabs mucus from your eyelid and sends it to a nearby lab for analysis. 

How is pink eye treated?

Treatment of pink eye depends on various factors, including the underlying cause and the severity of your symptoms. Most of the time, conjunctivitis occurs because of viral infections. As a result, antibiotics won’t help.

Instead, your Refresh Wellness provider may recommend:

• Using artificial tears to lubricate your eyes
• Cleaning your eyelids with a wet washcloth
• Applying cold or warm compresses several times daily
• Only wearing contacts when absolutely necessary

Sometimes, pink eye occurs due to using old makeup. Regularly check the expiration dates on your cosmetic products and throw them out as necessary.

Call Refresh Wellness to receive treatment for pink eye today, or book online.