by | Mar 14, 2024 | Family Health
How do Most Adults get Pink Eye?
Are you stuck at home dealing with a pesky bout of pink eye? You’re itching to get back to your regular activities, like exploring the Sunsphere from the 1982 World’s Fair and marveling at its gold-infused glass windows. But until you’re back on your feet, here are some tips to avoid another exposure.
The cooler winter months of the northern hemisphere and the forced closeness of indoor living provide the perfect environment for viruses and bacteria, such as pink eye to multiply and spread. The situation is further complicated by a reduction in the body’s production of Vitamin D due to decreased exposure to sunlight. It worsens more if those who become ill do not take proper precautions to avoid passing it on to others.
What is Pink Eye?
Conjunctivitis is the medical name for pink eye which is a common eye infection that makes the whites of your eyes look pink. The conjunctiva is the membrane covering your eye and the inside of your eyelids and is important because it protects your eyes and keeps your eyeball lubricated. When it becomes infected, blood vessels swell causing the pink color.
Virus and bacteria caused pink eye is a nuisance that is not only uncomfortable but can quickly transmit to others if proper hygiene is lacking. Pink eye is spread through direct contact and is most easily passed along by those who have bacterial and viral conditions, like a cold or the flu, both of which are most common in the colder months.
Symptoms of Pink Eye:
- Watery eyes
- Blurred vision
- Green or white stringy discharge
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Crusting of the eyelids or lashes, especially while sleeping
- Redness and swelling in the white of your eye or inner eyelid
- Thick yellow discharge that crusts over your eyelashes, especially after sleep
- Gritty feeling in one or both eyes
The most common causes of pink eye in adults are viruses, bacteria, allergens, or environmental irritants. Viral conjunctivitis is often caused by adenovirus, or a group of viruses, which can lead to infections ranging from mild to severe with cold-like symptoms that can move into the respiratory system. Viruses spread through respiratory droplets or direct contact with those who carry the infection. Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause bacterial conjunctivitis through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or personal items. Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by the body’s reaction to allergens from things such as makeup, medicines, molds, dander, pollen, dust, etc. Those who have other allergic conditions are the most susceptible to this type of pink eye. This form of infection is not transmissible to others.
How Does Pink Eye Spread?
Due to its modes of transmission, both adults and children can get pink eye and pass it to each other. Each year the U.S., alone, reports over six million cases. The infection can last from a few days up to two weeks.
Direct Contact
Close contact with infected individuals such as family or classmates may result in you touching an infected individual’s eye or sharing personal items such as towels, makeup, or bedding with infected individuals.
Indirect Contact
Contact with surfaces contaminated with bacteria like doorknobs, office equipment, phones, and countertops could cause you to become infected if you do not wash your hands often or well enough or touch your face without washing your hands.
Respiratory Droplets
When an infected person sneezes or coughs, you can encounter their respiratory secretions and catch the virus or exposure to the bacteria. If you suffer from any pre-existing conditions or a compromised immune system these can make it harder for your body to fight illness and you may become infected.
How Can I Prevent Pink Eye?
- Regular handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available
- Avoiding touching the face, especially the eyes, with unwashed hands
- Avoiding close contact with individuals who have pinkeye or respiratory infections
- Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and objects regularly
- Using personal protective equipment, such as goggles or face shields, in high-risk environments
- Educating others about proper hygiene practices and the importance of staying home when sick
If your pink eye symptoms include pain, light sensitivity, or a decrease in vision, you should seek medical care. While you may not be able to avoid pink eye, especially if a child with whom you are in close contact becomes infected, you can take steps to minimize your exposure and that of others by remaining mindful of how it spreads and how it is caught. Keeping your hands and environment free of germs will go a long way toward keeping your eyes healthy.
If you or your child is suffering from a case of pink eye, visit AFC Urgent Care Farragut
