What is pink eye and what are the symptoms?
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is an inflammation of the clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. Pink eye can be a bacterial or viral infection and may occur with colds or childhood diseases such as measles. Another type of conjunctivitis can be caused by environmental allergies. Conjunctivitis can be spread from one eye to the other and from one person to another. Conjunctivitis is a very common condition in children.
Frequent signs and symptoms of pink eye include: eye discomfort or pain, gritty feeling in the eye, redness of the eye, clear, green, or yellow discharge from the eye, swollen eyelids, sensitivity to bright light, intense itching (allergic conjunctivitis only) and crust that forms on the eyelashes after sleeping.
What are styes and what are the symptoms?
A stye is an infection or inflammation of the upper or lower eyelid. Styes are caused by bacterial infection (most often staphylococcal or staph) in a hair follicle or a gland in the corner of the eye. The infection may be limited to the eyelid or may have spread from somewhere else in the body. Styes are typically harmless.
Frequent signs and symptoms of styes include:
- A bump on the edge of the eyelid.
- The eyelid area is red, swollen, painful, or tender. The head of the stye is usually on the outside, but it may be on the underside of the lid.
- Eye may be sensitive to bright light.
- A gritty feeling in the eye.
- Eye may water.
What is the treatment?
Visit a Take Care ClinicSM if you think you may have pink eye or a stye. An exam of the affected eye will confirm the diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan can be put into place to help relieve symptoms.