Pink Eye Treatment from our Columbia Optometrist

Pink Eye, also known as red eye or conjunctivitis, is an inflammation or redness of a thin layer of tissue that covers the inside of the eyelid and the white part of the eyeball. Conjunctivitis can be caused by infection, by allergies, or by chemical irritants.  Some forms of pink eye are dangerous to a patient's vision.  Newborns and people who wear contact lenses get special types of conjunctivitis.  

Infectious conjunctivitis can be viral or bacterial. Viral conjunctivitis is often highly contagious and spreads like wildfire through schools, daycare, and at home. Bacterial conjunctivitis has the potential to be very serious.   Pink eye should be carefully watched, and frequent hand washing should be instituted. Children with pink eye should not be sent to school.  

Allergic and chemical conjunctivitis happen because of allergens like pollen, or chemical irritants like smoke in the air, or chlorine in swimming pool water.  Allergic conjunctivitis can be seasonally based on pollen count, or year-round.  Contact lens wearers can suffer from both chemical conjunctivitis due to their cleaning solutions or from not changing their contacts often enough or other factors.  Contact lens wearers who are having symptoms of pink eye should remove their contacts until diagnosis and treatment has been sought and completed to prevent further damage or reinfection.

Symptoms of Pink Eye

People with pink eye appear with one or more bloodshot eyes. They may have a gritty feeling, itching or burning sensation, tearing, discharge, or swelling of the eyelids, and increased sensitivity to light.  

Diagnosis of Pink Eye

Patient history, careful eye examination including a visual acuity test and magnified exam of the eye and all of the surrounding tissues, and cultures or smears, if necessary, can help an optometrist differentiate between different types of pink eye, and to determine the best treatment.   

Treatment of Pink Eye

For allergic conjunctivitis, the conditions causing the allergy should be removed or reduced.  Antihistamine drops and allergy medication regimes also help.   Viral conjunctivitis, in most cases, does not require treatment and should clear up in a few days.  Bacterial conjunctivitis requires antibiotic eye drops or ointments until the infection is gone.  Chemical pink eye is treated on a case-by-case basis depending on the chemical.

Schedule an Appointment with our Columbia Optometrist

Dr. Dorothy Park & Associates, Columbia optometrist, has been in business for 25 years.  Dr. Park is pleased to offer all the good things about optometry, the easy scheduling, the convenient visits, the fashionable eyeglasses and care with contact lenses, without the high prices and long doctor waits.  For comprehensive eye exams, eye care questions, vision correction or contact lens fittings, or eye emergencies, please call our office at (803) 254-6306.