Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
Causes
Pink eye is an inflammation or infection of the membrane lining your eye. It can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, or by allergies.
Symptoms
- Gritty or itchy sensation in the eye
- Watery or yellow/white discharge
- Crusted, matted eyelids on awakening
- Redness of the eye
- Swollen eyelid
Self-Care
If viral or bacterial, it is contagious. To avoid spreading pink eye you must use good hand-washing and avoid touching your eye
If the discharge is yellow and causes crusting and matting of the eyelids, it could be bacterial. See a healthcare provider for treatment
If you have cold symptoms, it is likely a viral infection and will resolve on its own
If you have other allergy symptoms, it could be caused by allergies. Try over the counter eye drops, if symptoms don’t resolve see a healthcare provider
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pink-eye/DS00258
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001010.htm
