Bacterial and viral pinkeye are exceedingly transmittable and could be easily transmitted via inadequate sanitary habits or when items from an infected person are shared or when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Allergic pinkeye develops due to seasonally present pollens, animal shedding, and certain cosmetic products.

Chemical pinkeye is caused due to toxic chemical substances or solutions, inclusive of bleaches and polishes used on furnishings.

Allergic and chemical pink eye are non-contagious.

Symptoms of Pinkeye

• Reddishness on eyes

  Hyperemia (eye redness) is among the classic, tell-tale symptoms of pinkeye. Pinkeye is a prevalent condition which is atypically grave and would not lead to long-standing eyesight failure in case early detection and treatment is done.

• Inflamed Eyelids

  Generally both the eyes are affected due to pinkeye. Symptoms of viral pinkeye classically start in a single eye and eventually spread to the other eye as well in a couple of days. Allergic pinkeye symptoms generally affect both eyes. Swollen eyelids symptom is prevalent in allergic as well as bacterial pinkeye.

• Excessive Tear Production

  A lot of tearing occurs in case of allergic or viral pinkeye.

• Itchiness or Burning Sensation in Eyes

  A niggling sense of constant scratchiness, burning sensation in the eyes that are characteristic to pinkeye.

• Eye Discharge

  A clear water-like discharge is commonly observed in case of allergic and viral pinkeye. In case of bacterial pinkeye, a green-yellowish type of discharge occurs.

• Crusts or stuck eyelids

  In case one wakes up with the eyes stuck together, it could occur due to discharge being emitted due to bacterial pinkeye which accrues while one is asleep. Crustiness in eyelids are lesser prevalent in case of viral pinkeye.

• Sensitiveness to Light

  Pinkeye could make a person mildly sensitive to light,  a condition known as photophobia. An infant having acute symptoms like variations in vision, become photosensitive or acute pains could have developed an infection which has multiplied and extended past the conjunctiva and must be re-assessed by an eye doctor.

• Persistent sense of something lodged in eyes

  One could observe a niggling sensation of something persistently lodged in the eyes or as if sand in the eyes. Grittiness or irritation felt in the eyes may be indicative of bacterial pinkeye.

Conjunctivitis Causes

Conjunctivitis occurs due to varying causes comprising of:

• Virus
• Bacterial forms (for instance Chlamydia, gonorrhea)
• Irritant like shampoo, dust, smoke and chlorinated water.
• Dust, pollen or other kinds of allergy forms or a particular kind of allergy which is known to affect a number of contact lens users.

Conjunctivitis occurring due to various bacterial and viral forms could be quite transmittable, however not posing a grave risk to health in case prompt diagnosis is done. Conjunctivitis among newly born babies must be instantaneously brought to the doctor’s notice.

Conjunctivitis Symptoms

Conjunctivitis Symptoms include:

• Burning and itchiness sensed in the eyes with thick, gooey mucus-like discharge being emitted are indications of bacterial conjunctivitis.
• Profuse tears, lymph node swelling and light-consistency mucus release from an eye are symptoms of viral conjunctivitis. Individuals having viral bacterial conjunctivitis mostly exhibit signs of a cold or upper respiratory tract infection.
• Reddishness, severe scratchiness and teary in both eyes alike could be indicators of allergic conjunctivitis.
• Inflammation, reddish bumpy appearances are generally apparent underneath the upper eyelids among individuals having GPC (giant papillary conjunctivitis). This chiefly is observed to affect users of contact lenses, especially those who wear soft lenses.

Seek Medical Advice about Conjunctivitis in case of:

• One has met with an ocular injury. Infections could develop in eye-related injury and could cause ulcer formations on the cornea leading to irreparable eyesight loss.
• The eyes turn reddish on wearing contact lenses. In such situation, the lenses must be quickly removed and an ophthalmologist’s opinion be sought as there is a likelihood of one having developed an infection in the cornea.
• Reddishness in eyes is hampering vision alongside acute pains or undue yellowish or greenish discharge also occurring. This could be indicating the presence of a bacterial infection.
• Conjunctivitis symptoms are recurring at a frequent basis or appearing to deteriorate subsequent to 3 days of home remedies; then one could be having a virus or bacteria-related infection.
• The newly born child’s eyes are appearing reddish or discharge being produced – condition known as Ophthalmia neonatorum that must be promptly treated for preventing long-term harm to the eyes.