Conjunctivitis is commonly known as pink eye. Its common name comes from the fact that the ailment tends to turn the white part of the eye pink. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is a clear membrane that lines the eyelids along with the front part of the eye. It’s commonly caused by allergies, viruses or bacteria, and while it’s primarily recognized as a childhood eye ailment, adults can also get it. If you notice your eyes or your children’s eyes turning red, running and/or itching, it may be time to make an appointment with our Atlanta eye doctors.
Individuals should consider seeing an eye doctor if their symptoms increase in severity. This includes experiencing severe eye pain, changes in vision, light sensitivity and discharge that appears yellow or green. If a newborn is suspected of having pink eye, they should be seen immediately by a pediatric ophthalmologist in order to prevent damage to their rapidly developing eyes. Additionally, if the individual has an autoimmune disorder or an illness that could impact their ability to recover, they should schedule an appointment with our eye doctor.
There are several different types of conjunctivitis, including allergic, viral, bacterial, and chemical pink eye, as well as ophthalmia neonatorum. Ophthalmia neonatorum occurs in newborns due to exposure to certain STDs in the birth canal.
You may be surprised to learn that the common cold (adenovirus) is responsible for viral pink eye in most cases. Individuals develop pink eye after being exposed to droplets from coughing or sneezing. This type of pink eye is extremely contagious. Children and adults should stay home in order to prevent eye infection from spreading to other children and adults. Viral pink eye often resolves on its own after several days. However, if it persists or symptoms get worse, the individual should seek medical attention from an Atlanta eye doctor.
Bacterial conjunctivitis most often occurs due to exposure to staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria. It’s important to understand that staphylococcal and streptococcal bacteria are extremely common. They can be found on human skin and in the respiratory system. It spreads via contact with contaminated surfaces and objects, or other people who have these bacteria on their skin.
In order to prevent spreading these bacteria, individuals should wash their hands frequently and never share makeup or contact lenses. Bacterial conjunctivitis can cause thick discharge, that’s usually yellow or green. The individual may also notice excessive tearing and have a gritty feeling in their eyes. This type of pink eye often needs antibiotic drops, and bacterial pink eye can be serious in children.
Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by an allergic reaction to something in the air or something you’ve come into contact with. This type of pink eye can be caused by pollen, dust, animal dander, mold and dust mites. Allergic conjunctivitis symptoms include excessive watering of the eyes, redness and itchy eyes. People with allergies tend to get this type of pink eye seasonally, but if they have indoor allergies, they could get it year-round. This type of pink eye is not contagious. Individuals with this type of pink eye should visit the eye doctor to find out what’s triggering the allergies and to get medication to help with the symptoms.
Chemical Conjunctivitis is caused by exposure to chemicals, including smoke, fumes, liquids and powders. Chemicals can include solvents, acids and cleaning chemicals, like bleach, strong floor cleaners, pipe cleaners, chlorine and ammonia. Individuals may also develop chemical conjunctivitis if they’re exposed to smoke and fumes.
Individuals who develop eye irritation due to chemical exposure should immediately flush their eyes with water for several minutes. They’ll also want to seek immediate medical attention to mitigate any damage to the eye and loss of vision.
Fungal conjunctivitis is rare but can be very serious. The fungi can be external or internal. An example of an internal fungi is Candida, which is a yeast that lives on the skin and mucous membranes. An example of an external fungi would be Aspergillus, which lives in the environment. Individuals who have weakened immune systems and/or diabetes are at a greater risk of developing fungal conjunctivitis than other individuals. If you’re having discharge from your eye, eye pain and/or blurry vision and you are at an increased risk for fungal infections, you should schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors.
Trachoma and inclusion conjunctivitis are caused by chlamydia, which is a sexually transmitted bacterial disease. It’s estimated that there are nearly 4 million cases of the infection each year in the USA. Trachoma and inclusion conjunctivitis typically occur when infected genital secretions enter the eyes. Symptoms include drainage from the eyes, redness, irritation and swelling of the eyelids. Trachoma and inclusion conjunctivitis should be treated by an experienced ophthalmologist. Leaving it untreated could lead to scarring on the cornea.
Conjunctivitis is diagnosed via a physical examination and patient history of symptoms. During these exams, the eye doctor will examine the eye and ask the patient about their symptoms. The ophthalmologist may also perform an eye test to check for any vision issues. If the diagnosis is inconclusive, the eye doctor may perform a swab or culture in order to find any bacteria, and an adenoviral test may be performed to check for viruses. Getting an accurate diagnosis helps ensure that the right treatments are provided.
Individuals should practice good personal hygiene and wear the appropriate PPE when working with or around chemicals. This includes frequently washing hands and drying them with disposable paper towels. It’s important not to share towels, eye makeup and contact lenses. If you suspect that you have pink eye, do your best not to touch your eyes, and if you do touch your eyes, immediately wash your hands. This can help prevent spreading the infection to other people. Individuals with allergies should consult with their eye care professional about the best ways to prevent allergic pink eye.
Toddlers and children may not know how to express themselves well enough to tell you that their eyes are bothering them. If you have an infant or toddler, they may be extremely fussy. They may rub their eyes a lot, and they may have red or swollen eyes. Older, school-aged children may also have red or itchy eyes, if they have pink eye.
If you’re looking to prevent the spread of pink eye as well as future occurrences of the illness, there are things you can do. Start by teaching your children how and when to wash their hands. If one or more of your children have pink eye, remind them not to touch their eyes, and if they accidentally touch or rub their eyes, remind them to wash their hands.
Children, toddlers and babies with pink eye should be kept home from school or daycare in order to prevent the spread to the other children that are in attendance. Additionally, if your child was at school or daycare with pink eye, you should tell the staff so that they can take the appropriate precautions, like cleaning toys and wiping down surfaces that may be contaminated.
Not all types of pink eye require a visit to an eye care professional. However, Thomas Eye Group recommends that you schedule an appointment if your newborn baby or children are exhibiting signs of pink eye. Additionally, if anyone in your family is experiencing blurry vision, sensitivity to light or intense pain, it’s best to schedule an appointment with one of our ophthalmologists for an accurate diagnosis and treatment regimen.
If someone in your family has symptoms of pink eye, contact Thomas Eye Group in Georgia at 678-892-2020.
Content last reviewed on 5/13/2025 by Dr. Sandy Carman
