Health Watch By Candice Coleman

Special to The North Jefferson News



Vision and healthy eyesight are precious gifts that we use to interpret the world around us.

Any problem that develops in the eyes deserves immediate attention. One problem that patients may experience is a condition commonly known as “pink eye” or conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis simply means that there is inflammation and irritation of the membrane lining the eyes and eye surface. There are many different causes of pink eye which determine what the doctor chooses to prescribe and how the patient should be treated.

Contagious pink eye is the type of pink eye that patients worry most about spreading from person-to-person. The contagious forms of pink eye are caused by viruses and bacteria. Viral pink eye is most often due to the adenovirus, a virus that also causes other types of upper respiratory infections. Bacterial pink eye may be due to Haemophilus influenza Type-B (Hib), a frequent source of infection in children, or Staphylococcus, a bacteria present everywhere around us.

Allergic pink eye occurs when the eye comes in contact with allergens, and unlike the previous types, is not contagious. People who have other allergy-related problems, such as hay fever, asthma, and skin allergies, are more prone to developing allergic pink eye.

Spring and fall are the most common times for this type of pink eye to occur. This pink eye seems to come and go with the seasons.

People who wear contact lenses have a greater risk of developing the various types of pink eye. Improper care of contact lenses can lead to bacterial and viral pink eye.

For example, it is important to wash your hands, avoid contact with the tips of your solution bottles, and store your lenses in clean cases.

People who experience seasonal allergies are also more vulnerable to the allergens in the environment because they can become trapped around the contact lenses.

Finally, it is always important to keep your contacts moist by using rewetting drops. When contacts dry out, the eye is more vulnerable to irritants and substances that may scratch the eye. Rewetting drops are especially important to use when you spend more time in the sun or wind.

Now, suppose you wake up one morning and your eye is red and irritated. You may wonder: should I call the doctor or is there something I can do for the symptoms myself?

First, carefully consider all the symptoms you are experiencing. These may include redness, swelling, itching, sensitivity to light, increased tears, mucus production or eye pain.

Production of mucus is one symptom that helps to distinguish between allergic pink eye and bacterial or viral pink eye. This symptom means that you are experiencing an infection. It is important to contact your doctor.

Patients who experience eye pain and sensitivity to light should always contact their doctor immediately. This can indicate not only infection, but also more serious conditions.

If you are experiencing pink eye, there are good habits you can practice to minimize the duration and intensity of the symptoms.

Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, especially before touching the eyes or handling contact lenses. If possible, it is better to wear your glasses than contacts during this time, especially if you are using medicated eye drops.

Warm or cool compresses, whichever feels better, can reduce the redness and swelling. Changing or washing towels and linens reduce the chance of spreading irritants or bacteria and viruses.

Eye makeup should be replaced to prevent recurrence of the infection. Always remember, it is best not to share your eye products with anyone else.

Candice Coleman is a PharmD candidate at The Pharmacy in Mt. Olive. The Pharmacy can be reached at 631-1201.