Pink eye is a contagious inflammation of the eye caused by bacterial or viral infection, allergies, or exposure to chemicals. Wearing contact lenses with pink eyes should be avoided, and all eye cosmetics should be discarded. Treatment includes antibiotic eye drops, antihistamines, or anti-inflammatory eye drops. If symptoms persist, see a doctor.
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is a contagious inflammation of the eye, especially the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is a thin membrane or lining of the inner eyelids and sclera, or whites of the eyes. Wearing pink eye contact lenses can increase the risk of getting this condition in the other eye and slow down the treatment process. Most medical experts suggest that contact lens wearers should not use their pink eye contacts.
Pink eye can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection such as the common cold or respiratory infection. It can also be caused by allergies, exposure to chemicals, foreign objects in the eyes, dirty contacts, or poor removal of germs from hands before handling contacts. Symptoms include redness of the whites of the eye, an itchy or burning sensation, eye pain, and a thick yellowish discharge from the eye. Complications that can result from pink eye can include inflammation of the cornea, the membrane that covers the iris and pupil, which can cause vision problems.
Wearing contact lenses with pink eyes should be avoided, and it is a good idea for contact lens wearers to remove them immediately when symptoms are detected. Doctors recommend that contact lenses not be used by people with pink eyes until at least 24 hours after treatment, such as antibiotic eye drops, has been stopped and symptoms have gone away. Disposable contact lenses should not be reused after infection. Non-disposable contact lenses should be disinfected for at least 24 hours to thoroughly clean the lenses. When the person starts wearing contact lenses again, they should ensure that their hands are thoroughly cleaned before handling them to avoid recontamination.
Due to the contagious nature of pink eye, all eye cosmetics should be avoided until symptoms are gone, and any makeup used on the eye during the infection should be discarded. Anything that comes into contact with the eyes, such as pillowcases, washcloths, and towels, should be cleaned after each use to avoid spreading infection. Frequent hand washing, especially after eye contact, should be used to avoid contamination of the other eye and to avoid spreading this inflammatory condition to others.
Bacterial conjunctivitis usually responds to antibiotic eye drops within a few days. There is no treatment for viral pink eye; however, symptoms usually go away within a few weeks. Allergic pink eye can be treated with antihistamines or anti-inflammatory eye drops. Conjunctivitis caused by chemical exposure or foreign bodies in the eye requires eyewashing. Wearing pink eye contact lenses can exacerbate and prolong symptoms, increasing the risk of complications.
If symptoms don’t go away within a few days, it’s best to see your primary care physician to rule out other causes and avoid complications. If symptoms return after you start wearing contact lenses again, the problem may be with the lenses themselves. Such contacts should be eliminated and new lenses should be avoided until the eye has fully healed.
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