Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is an inflammation of conjunctivitis which causes some uncomfortable symptoms like sensitivity to light, watery eyes, redness of the eyes, and more. Pink eye is a treatable eye condition, and it is rarely severe. Different things can cause pink eye, however; from bacterial infection to viral infection and even allergies. Although pink eye cases are rarely severe, it is still a good thing to know what type you have and what the cause is; viral pink eye, for example, is very contagious, and a person who has it should keep away from other people.[1]
Here are some of the causes of pink eye.
Bacteria
Bacterial conjunctivitis is contagious, but it isn’t as infectious as a viral pink eye. There are actually several bacteria that can cause pink eye; from Moraxella catarrhalis to Staphylococcus and more. It is common among children as they mostly get it by touching their eyes with contaminated hands. It occurs in adults also, but it is most prominent among children. When you touch something that an infected person had touched, you are likely to transfer the bacteria to your eyes, and sometimes the bacteria is spread through respiratory droplets. When you suspect that you have bacterial conjunctivitis, you should see your doctor as soon as you can, because you will need to take antibiotics to fight the infection and self-medication is not advisable.[2]
