There are several types of conjunctivitis, so how can you tell what type you have? Generally speaking, the way your eyes feel and the pink eye symptoms you are showing will give some hints:
- Allergic conjunctivitis - occurs in both eyes and causes itching and redness in the eyes, occasionally in the nose, and excessive tearing.
- Viral conjunctivitis - usually occurs only in one eye and causes excessive eye watering and a light discharge.
- Giant papillary conjunctivitis - usually occurs in both eyes and causes contact lens intolerance, itching, a heavy discharge, tearing and red bumps on the underside of the eyelids.
- Bacterial conjunctivitis - occurs in both eyes and causes a heavy discharge, sometimes greenish.
Conjunctivitis can come about by a virus, bacteria, an allergic reaction (to dust, pollen, smoke, fumes or chemicals) or a foreign body on the eye.
The best pink eye treatment is to avoid the causes, which is easier said than done, as both bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are extremely contagious. You may be asking, how long is pink eye contagious? Generally, the length of the contagious period will depend on the type of conjunctitis you have and how long the symptoms persist. Some forms of pink eye can be contagious for up to several weeks while others may only be contagious for a few days. Also, warm compresses can help relieve some of the itchiness and discomfort.
Another common question is "how long does pink eye last?" and the answer depends on the type you have and if treatment is required. If you have a common viral form the infection can last from a couple days to two weeks. If your conjunctivitis is bacterial, you may require medication and the infection can last up to a month or longer.
For giant papillary conjunctivitis, your eye doctor might prescribe eye drops to reduce inflammation and itching, whereas antihistamine allergy pills or eye drops will help control allergic conjunctivitis symptoms.
Usually, conjunctivitis is a minor eye infection, but sometimes it can develop into a more serious condition. Visit your eye doctor for a diagnosis before using any eyedrops in your medicine cabinet from previous infections or eye problems.
Links:
- Visit www.allaboutvision.com for more information on pink eye and conjunctivitis.