Pink Eye Essay

310 Words2 Pages
A pink eye is the most obvious symptom of conjunctivitis, so the term "pink eye" often is used for this common eye problem that can have many different causes. A pink eye, along with itching, burning, stinging, irritation, pain, grittiness, crusting or light sensitivity, are all symptoms that provide clues about the type of conjunctivitis you could have. Contagious forms of pink eye are usually linked to bacterial or viral infections. Non-contagious pink eye can occur when eye irritants such as allergens, dust and smoke are in the environment. Coughing and sneezing can spread contagious pink eye by spraying tiny droplets from infected mucus into the air. Shared towels also can be infected, as well as table tops, counter spaces and bathrooms. Pink eye can occur in adults, but most often affects young children through epidemics that spread rapidly in classrooms and day care centers. Particularly in these communal settings, you need to take extra precautions to prevent pink eye, such as frequent hand washing by adults and children. In fact, when pink eye symptoms are present, it's a good idea to keep a can of disinfectant spray handy and use it often. Because a reddish or pink eye can be a symptom of many different types of eye problems — some that can be quite serious — make sure you consult with your eye doctor. Why Is the Eye Pink in Pink Eye? Pink eye results from inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white part of the eye (sclera) and interior lining of the eyelids. Although the conjunctiva is transparent, it contains most of the blood vessels on the eye's surface. So anything that triggers eye inflammation will cause these conjunctival blood vessels to dilate. This contributes to the eye's pink or reddish appearance, particularly evident against the backdrop of the white

More about Pink Eye Essay

Open Document