"Pinkeye" redirects here. For other uses, see Pinkeye (disambiguation).
Medical condition
Conjunctivitis
Other names
Pink eye
An eye with viral conjunctivitis
Specialty
Ophthalmology, optometry
Symptoms
Reddish eye, scratchiness[1]
Duration
Viral conjunctivitis: up to two weeks[2]
Causes
Viral, bacterial, allergies[3]
Diagnostic method
Based on symptoms, microbial culture[1]
Prevention
Handwashing[1]
Treatment
Based on underlying cause[3]
Frequency
3–6 million per year (US)[1][3]
Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye,[4] is inflammation of the outermost layer of the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid.[5] It makes the eye appear pink or reddish.[1] Pain, burning, scratchiness, or itchiness may occur.[1] The affected eye may have increased tears or be "stuck shut" in the morning.[1] Swelling of the white part of the eye may also occur.[1] Itching is more common in cases due to allergies.[3] Conjunctivitis can affect one or both eyes.[1]
The most common infectious causes in adults are viral, whereas in children bacterial causes predominate.[6][3] The viral infection may occur along with other symptoms of a common cold.[1] Both viral and bacterial cases are easily spread between people.[1] Allergies to pollen or animal hair are also a common cause.[3] Diagnosis is often based on signs and symptoms.[1] Occasionally, a sample of the discharge is sent for culture.[1]
Prevention is partly by handwashing.[1] Treatment depends on the underlying cause.[1] In the majority of viral cases, there is no specific treatment.[3] Most cases due to a bacterial infection also resolve without treatment; however, antibiotics can shorten the illness.[1][3] People who wear contact lenses and those whose infection is caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia should be treated.[3] Allergic cases can be treated with antihistamines or mast cell inhibitor drops.[3]
About 3 to 6 million people get acute conjunctivitis each year in the United States.[1][3] Typically, people get better in one or two weeks.[1][3] If visual loss, significant pain, sensitivity to light or signs of herpes occur, or if symptoms do not improve after a week, further diagnosis and treatment may be required.[3] Conjunctivitis in a newborn, known as neonatal conjunctivitis, may also require specific treatment.[1]
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrs"Facts About Pink Eye". National Eye Institute. November 2015. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
^Long SS, Prober CG, Fischer M (2017). Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 502. ISBN 978-0-323-46132-0.
^ abcdefghijklmAzari AA, Barney NP (October 2013). "Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment". JAMA. 310 (16): 1721–9. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.280318. PMC 4049531. PMID 24150468.
^"What is Viral Conjunctivitis a.k.a. Sore Eyes? | National Institutes of Health".
^Richards A, Guzman-Cottrill JA (May 2010). "Conjunctivitis". Pediatrics in Review. 31 (5): 196–208. doi:10.1542/pir.31-5-196. PMID 20435711. S2CID 245084568.
^Durand ML, Barshak MB, Sobrin L (21 December 2023). "Eye Infections". New England Journal of Medicine. 389 (25): 2363–2375. doi:10.1056/NEJMra2216081. PMID 38118024. S2CID 266433325.
Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is inflammation of the outermost layer of the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid. It makes...
Neonatal conjunctivitis is a form of conjunctivitis (inflammation of the outer eye) which affects newborn babies following birth. It is typically due to...
Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is inflammation of the conjunctiva (the membrane covering the white part of the eye) due to allergy. Although allergens differ...
Actinic conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the eye contracted from prolonged exposure to actinic (ultraviolet) rays. Symptoms are redness and swelling...
Ligneous conjunctivitis is a rare form of chronic conjunctivitis characterized by recurrent, fibrin-rich pseudomembranous lesions of wood-like consistency...
hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) (also spelled acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis) is a derivative of the highly contagious conjunctivitis virus, otherwise...
Vernal catarrh or Warm weather conjunctivitis) is a recurrent, bilateral, and self-limiting type of conjunctivitis (pink eye) having a periodic seasonal...
arthritis of large joints, inflammation of the eyes in the form of conjunctivitis or uveitis, and urethritis in men or cervicitis in women. Arthritis...
antihistamine medication used to decrease the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis (hay fever). It is used as eye drops or as a nasal...
hives (urticaria), allergic rhinitis and itchy inflamed eyes (allergic conjunctivitis) caused by an allergy. It is a second-generation antihistamine and takes...
increase the production of rheum in the eye. In the case of allergic conjunctivitis, the buildup of rheum can be considerable, preventing the patient from...
to fluid build-up, itching and pain), conjunctivitis (redness and discomfort in the eye) including conjunctivitis due to allergy, joint pain, cold sores...
eyes, and caught in the eyelashes, is a hallmark sign of bacterial conjunctivitis. The normal buildup of tears, mucus, and dirt (compare rheum) that appears...
Recurrence can be accompanied by chronic dry eye, low grade intermittent conjunctivitis, or chronic unexplained sinusitis. Following persistent infection the...
spontaneous abortion; premature birth; conjunctivitis, which may lead to blindness; and pneumonia. Conjunctivitis due to chlamydia typically occurs one...
lower eyelid. Often the condition has no symptoms, but tearing and conjunctivitis may be seen. Breeds associated with ectropion include the Saint Bernard...
infection, the primary manifestation is infection of the eye (neonatal conjunctivitis or ophthalmia neonatorum) when the newborn is exposed to N. gonorrhoeae...
to treat hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and as eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis. Finally, in oral form, they are used to treat the rare condition of...
infections and inflammations chlamydia infection, gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, gonorrhea, lymphogranuloma venereum and other sexually transmitted...
the eyes in the form of inclusion conjunctivitis and is responsible for about 19% of adult cases of conjunctivitis. C. trachomatis in the lungs presents...
synonym for conjunctivitis and accordingly rarely used. Inclusion blennorrhoea aka chlamydial conjunctivitis or swimming pool conjunctivitis, is a condition...
Mucous membrane pemphigoid is a rare chronic autoimmune subepithelial blistering disease characterized by erosive lesions of the mucous membranes and skin...
injection site reactions, dry eye and conjunctivitis (redness and discomfort in the eye) including allergic conjunctivitis. It was approved for medical use...
different conditions: respiratory disease (mainly species HAdV-B and C) conjunctivitis (HAdV-B and D) gastroenteritis (HAdV-F types 40, 41, HAdV-G type 52)...
Acute Haemmorrhagic Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva of sudden onset. It presents as a reddening of the eye due to the infection of...
ointment is recommended as a preventative measure for gonococcal infant conjunctivitis. Infections of the throat can be especially problematic, as antibiotics...
bacterial infections. This includes use as an eye ointment to treat conjunctivitis. By mouth or by injection into a vein, it is used to treat meningitis...
biogroup aegyptius (Hae) is a causative agent of acute and often purulent conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye. It was discovered independently by...
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