You wake up to find your child’s eye covered by a crusty layer of discharge. Their eye looks angry and red, and they complain about a constant scratchy feeling.
When pink eye strikes, many parents aren’t sure whether they should visit a general practitioner or whether an eye care professional like Total Vision Rancho Santa Margarita is the best choice.
An optometrist can treat pink eye and provide the right medication to help your family feel normal again. Your eye care team will check your overall eye health and create a care plan tailored to your situation.
Key Takeaways
- Optometrists can treat most forms of pink eye.
- Bacterial and viral infections require completely different care plans.
- Proper diagnosis speeds up your family’s recovery.
- Washing hands helps keep the infection from spreading.
What to Know About Conjunctivitis
You’ll often hear eye doctors refer to pink eye as conjunctivitis. This term describes what happens when the clear layer over the white part of your eye (the conjunctiva) becomes irritated. The conjunctiva membrane helps keep your eye moist and protected from dirt.
When something upsets this tissue, its blood vessels expand and make your eye look bright pink or red.
Sources Behind The Redness
Viral or bacterial infections often lead to redness. Allergies or common household chemicals also play a part in irritating the eyes.
Signs & Symptoms to Watch For
Spotting an eye infection early can help you or your child find relief faster. Pay attention to the following symptoms:
- Itchiness
- Crusty buildup or discharge from your eye, especially in the morning
- Double vision
- Light sensitivity
- Red or swollen eyelids
Viral & Bacterial Infections
Your eye doctor will look at your symptoms to figure out what kind of infection you’re dealing with.
Viral Infections
A viral infection spreads rapidly, much like the common cold. It often clears up on its own, though warm compresses can help soothe irritation during recovery.
Bacterial Infections
Bacterial conjunctivitis brings a much thicker discharge that can cause your eyelids to stick together overnight. This type often requires more direct intervention from an eye care professional. Proper care helps prevent complications like corneal ulcers.
Bacterial conjunctivitis remains contagious until your treatment takes full effect. Eye doctors often recommend prescription drops to deal with the infection.
How Your Eye Doctor Treats Your Infection
Visiting an eye care professional gets you the targeted care you need.
Diagnosis & Care
The right evaluation makes a huge difference in how quickly your eye heals. Your eye doctor in Rancho Santa Margarita will examine your eye health to pinpoint the type of infection you have.
Prescriptions & Antibiotic Drops
Once they determine the kind of infection, your eye doctor will create a care plan for you to follow at home. They’ll also instruct you on how often to take your medication..
Ways to Protect Your Family at Home
Pink eye spreads easily through shared spaces in your house. Taking action immediately helps keep the rest of your household safe from the infection. You should avoid touching your face and encourage your children to do the same.
Simple daily habits can stop the germs from moving to another person. Keeping your environment clean plays a huge part in stopping the spread.
Wash your hands with soap for twenty seconds and change your towels and bed sheets daily. You should also pause contact lens use until your eye fully heals.
Dealing with a sudden eye infection can throw off your entire week. Fortunately, our team at Total Vision Rancho Santa Margarita can help you find fast relief from itchy and painful symptoms. Book an appointment today to get your eyes checked and receive a targeted care plan for your recovery.
