Tips for Identifying Pink Eye

For most, people looking in the mirror and noticing a reddened eye immediately strikes fear in their hearts, because they immediately assume that they have come down with pink eye. However, this may not always be the case. This article will offer several different tips to tell whether or not you have pink eye.

The first thing that you will need to do if you think that you may have pink eye is to look closely at the affected eye, looking for any of the common symptoms that are usually associated with an infection. You must understand that pink eye is usually viral in nature, and is usually very uncomfortable, itchy, or sticky. People that have been affected by pink eye will usually feel like there is some type of matter or fluid in the eye as well.

Another tell tale sign that you might have pink eye is if you are extremely sensitive to sunlight. Most people that have become affected with pink eye will notice this sensitivity. Be very careful because these symptoms can also be indicative of an abrasion to the cornea or other more serious condition. If this is the case, you should immediately seek the attention of a doctor.

The third sign that you may have pink eye is decreased vision. Viral pink eye often causes fluid or matter to accumulate in the eyes, which often causes haziness in your eyesight. Keep in mind that if you have viral pink eye, this may not be the case, and as always, if you have any of these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention.

The next thing that you will need to do will be to evaluate whether or not there was a history of trauma to the eye that became red? If this is the case, the cause of redness may be a foreign body in the eye that has become lodged under the eyelid. This could also be the result of a scratched cornea. If this is the case, make sure that you seek an immediate evaluation by a health care professional.

The next thing that you will need to do is ask yourself if the person affected is a contact lens wearer. If this is the case, they should be seen by a professional, because people who wear contact lenses are at higher risk of developing pink eye or bacterial conjunctivitis.

If you are able to answer no to all of the above questions, then the person may be infected with viral pink eye instead, and may be able to be cared for at home. Always remember to pay close attention to the condition of the eye. Viral pink eye should actually subside within a few days. (Normally 1-3.) If the symptoms remain for longer than 3 days, be sure to seek the advice of a medical professional immediately.

If you use the tips listed in this article, you should be in a better position to be able to tell whether a person has pink eye or not. Being able to make a self-diagnosis could possibly save you a couple of hundred dollars in medical bills alone.