If your eye gets pink, swollen, itchy, or crusty, you may have pink eye. At PrimeMD, with locations in North Columbus, Newark, Lancaster, Westerville, Kenton, Marion, Wilmington, Dublin, and New Albany, Ohio, the highly trained medical team diagnoses and treats pink eye to reduce unpleasant symptoms and prevent you from spreading it to other people. Call the nearest PrimeMD office to schedule an appointment or book one online today.
Pink eye is an infection that occurs in your eye, causing the white part of your eye to appear pink or reddish. Pink eye usually results from bacteria, a virus, eye irritation, chemicals in your eye, an allergic reaction, or, in babies, a blocked tear duct. Because pink eye can be contagious, treatment limits its spread and can ease unpleasant symptoms.
Common symptoms you may notice with pink eye include:
Treating pink eye can eliminate these symptoms and reduce the risk of spreading eye infections to other people.
If left untreated, pink eye can cause inflammation in your cornea and negatively affect your vision. That’s why getting treated for pink eye right away is important.
Pink eye can spread from person to person by touching your eye and sharing surfaces or shaking hands. To avoid contracting pink eye, wash your hands often and don’t touch your eyes or face. Avoid exposure to substances you’re allergic to, and don’t share makeup with other people. If you wear contact lenses, keep them clean and take them out at night when you sleep.
To find out if you have pink eye, your PrimeMD provider discusses your symptoms, reviews your medical history, and examines your eyes. If your symptoms are severe, they may take a sample of drainage from your eye and test it in a lab.
Depending on the cause of your pink eye and its severity, your provider could recommend one of the following treatments:
There are several things you can do at home to reduce unpleasant symptoms due to pink eye. Examples include applying a cool, wet compress to your eye, using over-the-counter eye drops, and not wearing contact lenses until your eye heals (wear glasses instead). Your doctor lets you know how long to avoid contact lenses.
Prescription eye drops can reduce symptoms associated with certain causes of pink eye. Your doctor lets you know if eye drops are right for you.
At the first sign of pink eye, schedule a visit with PrimeMD by phone or online.
