Conjunctivitis

What is Conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis is an infection of the membrane that lines the inside of your eyelid and the surface of your eye. Conjunctivitis may be caused by allergies, bacteria, viruses, pollution, or chemicals.

Prevention:

• Try not to touch your eyes before washing your hands. Always wash your hands after treating your eye infection.
• Do not share towels or washcloths with anyone who has conjunctivitis (pink-eye). If you get anything in your eye(s) like dirt, dust or chemicals, flush your eye out right away with water.

Treatment at Home:

• If your doctor tells you to use eye drops, follow directions on how to put eye drops in. Make sure any medication you put in your eyes is especially for eyes. It should have the word ophthalmic (meaning eyes) written on the label. Check with a pharmacist if you're not sure.

Call your Doctor or go to the Emergency Department IF:

• You have pain in your eye, blurred vision, or you cannot see.
• Your eyes hurt when you are in a lighted room or daylight.
• You think that there is something in your eye.
• Your eye is red and there is a thick green-yellow drainage from it.
• Your pupils (black areas in the middle of each eye) are not the same size.
• You have all or some of these problems for more than 48 hours and you are not getting any better.