Conjunctivitis, also called pink eye, commonly refers to infectious conjunctivitis and is a layman’s term that can also be used to describe any condition where one’s eye becomes red. When developing conjunctivitis, you might have a clear, white, green, or yellow eye discharge. The different color usually indicates different causes. For instance, yellow or green discharges are usually signs of bacterial infections. White discharge is often associated with eye irritation. Typically, pink eye caused by an infection is fairly unpleasant and incredibly contagious, however, you can rest assured that it’s easily treated.
Preventing Pink Eye
Practicing good hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of pink eye. Here are some tips to prevent contagious pink eye caused by viruses and bacteria:
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes.
- Wash and change your pillowcases frequently.
- Don’t share towels and use clean towels daily.
- Don’t share eye cosmetics, especially eyeliner or mascara
- Throw away any eye cosmetics you’ve used while treating pink eye.
The CDC Trusted Source says that students with conjunctivitis can go to school only if certain treatment has started. If close contact with other children is inevitable, the CDC advises parents against keeping kids at school.
If you wear contact lenses:
- Clean and replace your contact lenses often.
- Avoid poorly fitted contact lenses.
- Don’t share contact lenses.
- Wash your hands before inserting or removing contact lenses.
If you avoid things you’re allergic to, it’s likely to prevent allergic pink eye. If someone is allergic to cat dander, he can avoid touching anything that has made contact with a cat or petting a cat. If someone is allergic to pollen, he can use an indoor air purifier or close windows when the pollen count is high. Taking an allergy medicine every day at the beginning of allergy season can also help reduce or prevent your allergy symptoms, such as Claritin or Zyrtec.
