What Is Pink Eye?

Pink eye is also known as “conjunctivitis.” The eye may look pink or red, and they may feel itchy and irritated. There may be drainage from the eye, which may be clear and thin, or it can be thick, with a greenish or whitish color. It can be caused by bacteria, a virus, a reaction to toxic chemicals, or allergies. Here are some other things you should know:

It is very contagious. It can spread easily, so make sure items such as pillows, makeup, towels and even eyeglasses aren’t shared between family members. And it doesn’t just affect kids – adults can get it too.

It rarely affects vision. It can be quite irritating, but it shouldn’t cause any permanent damage to your eyes.

It is a bad idea to wear your contacts. As soon as you notice symptoms of pink eye (or if your eyes ever feel irritated) you should remove your contacts and throw them out. You should also get rid of any lens accessories (such as your contact lens case and even the bottle of solution).

There are at-home remedies you can try. A cool or a warm compress (whichever one feels better to you) can help to make your eyes feel better. If you only have pink eye in one eye, though, make sure that you don’t press the compress to the other, healthy eye.

Another thing you should know about pink eye is that it will usually get better on its own – but if you’ve had it for a few days and it doesn’t seem to be improving, or if you are in pain, you should see your eye doctor. Contact North Suburban Eye Associates, with offices in Waltham, Winchester, and Wakefield, Massachusetts. Call (781) 245-5200 for an appointment today!

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The staff at North Suburban Eye Associates understand that from time to time, patients may experience vision concerns such as blurred vision or dry eyes. When these problems occur, our skilled ophthalmologists can determine the cause of the vision concern and provide the best treatment option to resolve it. For most individuals, these routine issues are not severe and may coincide with conditions such as seasonal allergies. In situations such as this, patients will find that over-the-counter eye drops can provide relief until their allergies are under control.

However, there are times that patients struggle with more serious eye problems. When patients in the Winchester, Waltham, and Wakefield, MA area are dealing with continuous issues, it may be time to schedule a vision evaluation with our team. This can help determine the cause of the problem and find the best solution based on the patient’s unique needs. 

What are some of the more common vision disorders? 

• Myopia (nearsightedness) – myopia is a condition that can cause patients to experience difficulty seeing things clearly from at a distance. This is due to the cornea being longer than normal, resulting in the light passing through the cornea to create blurry far-away images.
• Hyperopia (farsightedness) – on the reverse side are patients with hyperopia, which is caused by a shorter cornea, and can cause patients to have difficulty seeing things close-up.
• Astigmatism – an uneven incline of the cornea can diffuse light as it enters the eye, and patients may have overall vision that is shadowed or blurry. They may also notice increased glaring of lights at night.
• Presbyopia – when the eye’s lens begins to lose focus, patients may be diagnosed with a condition known as presbyopia. This condition often occurs around the age of 45 or older, and can impact overall vision quality.

Many vision disorders can be treated with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses, while others may require surgical intervention if they become severe. 

Are you concerned about a vision disorder? 

Contact the team at North Suburban Eye Associates in the areas of Waltham, Winchester, and Wakefield, MA for a full evaluation. The primary number is (781) 245-5200 and new patients are accepted.

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