By Dr. Jin Kim
If you’re like most people, you’re ready for spring and warmer temperatures. Thankfully, the season is just around the corner, and with it comes brightly colored flowers, green leaves, soft green grass that’s perfect for running barefoot, and cleansing spring rains. It’s a cheerful and colorful time of year, but the one place where you probably don’t want any color or “showers” is in your eyes. Unfortunately, as the plants end their hibernation, many people will experience eye irritation. It’s no fun to have red, itchy and watery eyes, but is it from the Atlanta pollen season or from bacterial or viral pink eye?
As we get closer to March, pollen counts get higher. As the temperature begins to warm in February, the trees start to bud and sprout their leaves. The grass begins to grow, and the plant life starts to come alive. Of course, the children are also deep in their spring semesters, and everyone is back to work from the holidays, which means germs are getting spread around, and some of those germs may cause pink eye. The bad news is that pink eye and allergies can present with similar symptoms, so it can be difficult to know which condition you have. Let’s take a look at the differences and similarities between pink eye and allergies.
Pink eye is medically known as conjunctivitis. It’s most commonly caused by a virus but can also be bacterial and/or from an allergic reaction. Allergies are caused by pollen. When the pollen gets into someone’s eyes, it causes irritation. The bad news is that pink eye and allergies can cause similar symptoms, including eye redness, itchiness and watery eyes.
The white parts of your eyes and the insides of your eyelids are lined with a membrane, and that membrane is called the conjunctiva. Pink eye is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, and it’s from that word that pink eye gets its official name – conjunctivitis. Other “itis” illnesses include iritis, which is an inflammation of the colored part of the eye, and uveitis, which is an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye. In other words, if the name has an “itis” at the end of it, it’s a disease that’s characterized by inflammation, and conjunctivitis is no different.
Conjunctivitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses and allergens. Most people develop conjunctivitis due to adenovirus, and viral pink eye can also come with other symptoms, including sore throats and congestion.
Bacterial conjunctivitis can be caused by several different strains of bacteria. One common strain that causes pink eye is called Streptococcus pneumoniae. Its common name is pneumococcus, and it’s responsible for causing pneumonia, ear infections and even meningitis. However, you may be most familiar with the term as it applies to Pneumococcal pneumonia and the vaccine to prevent Pneumococcal pneumonia, which is typically recommended to individuals who are older than 65.
Another common bacteria that can cause pink eye is Staphylococcus aureus. These are commonly known as staph infections, and about 30 percent of the human population has staph on their skin and nose.
The last type of bacteria that can cause pink eye is Haemophilus influenzae. This bacteria is present in the human nose and throat, and most of the time, it does not cause any problems. However, it’s been known to cause bronchitis, ear infections and cellulitis, as well as pink eye. Despite the name, it does not cause the flu.
When conjunctivitis is caused by viruses or bacteria, it is considered contagious. The germs that cause viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can be spread via contact with eye discharge and contaminated surfaces. This includes when someone touches their eye and then shakes someone’s hand or touches a desk or counter without first washing their hands.
When conjunctivitis is caused by allergens, it’s usually due to exposure to mold, pollen, dust mites and dander. The good news is that allergenic pink eye is not contagious.
Individuals with pink eye often have red or pink eyes, which is how the condition gets its common name. The individual’s eyes may even look bloodshot. Other symptoms of conjunctivitis include feeling like there’s grit or sand in the eye, itching and/or burning sensations, swelling of the eyelids and discharge. The discharge can be thin or thick and usually appears white or green.
In severe cases, conjunctivitis may cause eye pain, sensitivity to light and blurry vision. If these symptoms are noticed, it’s time to schedule an appointment with an eye care professional.
According to the CDC, nearly 33 percent of adults and 25 percent of children have seasonal allergies, and since 1970, the allergy season in Atlanta has increased by 34 days. In fact, during some years, Atlanta has seen the development of tree pollen as early as January. Grass pollen starts to become an issue in May, and ragweed is present in the area, starting in January, and can last as long as the second freeze. It’s important to note that Atlanta allergies occur because the individual’s immune system overreacted to the allergen.
Allergy symptoms are characterized by itchy, red and watery eyes. Those symptoms are often accompanied by nasal congestion, coughing, sneezing and wheezing. It’s important to understand that allergy symptoms can also cause asthma symptoms to worsen. Allergy symptoms can also affect the skin. Some individuals may develop redness, rashes and hives. If the allergy symptoms start interfering with daily life, become severe or result in worsening asthma symptoms, the individual should seek treatment from their family doctor.
Allergies and conjunctivitis have several overlapping symptoms, including:
Pink eye can infect one or both eyes. When the pink eye is caused by a virus or bacteria, it can start in one eye and spread to the other. It’s also usually accompanied by other symptoms, like a sore throat. The individual may have even recently recovered from a cold or the flu. The discharge from pink eye is often thicker than the watering or tearing that occurs from an allergic reaction. Pink eye drainage may be white or green. Green-colored discharge may indicate a bacterial infection.
Sometimes, having red, itchy, watery eyes simply means that you’re suffering from allergies. Atlanta’s average yearly pollen count is 806.42 ppm. The average pollen count for the US is 664.86 ppm. In the spring of 2023, Atlanta experienced an average pollen count of 3,928.47 ppm. Of course, the higher the pollen count, the worse someone’s allergies may be. This means that you may simply want to check the pollen counts for your local area. If they’re high, your symptoms may be from the pollen and other allergens in the air.
Allergy symptoms include:
If you have seasonal allergies that are affecting your day-to-day activities, causing headaches or sinus infections, or exasperating any preexisting conditions, like asthma or COPD, it’s probably time to see a doctor. Your family physician can take a medical history and perform an exam in order to determine if you have allergies or another condition. Your family doctor can also refer you to specialists who can help determine the allergens that are most affecting you and recommend a course of treatment to help alleviate your symptoms. Common medications include OTC and prescription medicines and allergy injections.
All three types of pink eye, including viral, bacterial and allergy, may resolve on their own. Viral pink eye typically takes one to two weeks to resolve. Bacterial pink eye can take anywhere from two to five days to resolve, and allergic pink eye usually resolves with allergy medication.
However, you should see an eye doctor if you experience eye pain, sensitivity to light, blurry vision that does not resolve when the discharge is removed, symptoms that get worse, or a condition that makes it difficult for your body to clear infections.
An eye doctor, like Jin Kim, O.D., can diagnose the type of pink eye that you have and recommend a course of treatment. For example, if you have viral pink eye, our eye doctor may recommend a course of antiviral medications to help manage your symptoms and clear the virus. If you have bacterial pink eye, an antibiotic can help clear the infection, and if you have allergic pink eye, allergy pills or injections may help improve your symptoms.
Pink eye is incredibly common. According to a study on PMC PubMed Central, about 6 million people get pink eye each year. In most of those cases, the pink eye resolves on its own within two weeks. However, if your symptoms don’t improve or get worse, it’s important to seek the help of an ophthalmologist, like those at Thomas Eye Group in the Atlanta area. We have both pediatric and adult-focused ophthalmologists who can diagnose pink eye as well as other conditions, like iritis and tear duct obstruction.
If you have symptoms of pink eye or have noticed changes in your vision, give us a call at 678-892-2020 or book an appointment online.
Jin Kim, O.D. is a board-licensed comprehensive optometrist. Dr. Kim offers comprehensive eye exams that cover various ocular conditions such as dry eyes, macular-degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic eye disease among others. He also provides post-operative care after refractive, cataract, and retina surgery.
