Conjunctivitis, otherwise known as pink eye, is an irritating health issue that some people have to deal with on occasion. While it doesn’t make you sick, it does make your eyes hurt and it is very contagious. You might notice your eye turns red and very pink, and it will start oozing some unattractive stuff. This is pink eye, and it’s best to go to the doctor right away. However, you can help to alleviate symptoms at home.
Don’t Touch Your Eyes
The most important thing you can do to get rid of pink eye is not touch it. The more you touch it, the more you spread it. Touching your eye can irritate it further, making it more difficult to get rid of and more difficult to deal with. Keep your hands off.
Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands often, especially if you touch your eye or face. And do not touch anything else in between. Pink eye is very contagious, and touching things can cause you to spread it to the other people in your house through indirect contact. Keep your hands clean and off your face.
Take Your Contacts Out
You need to take them out. They’re going to irritate your eye and make it feel much worse. Wear your glasses for the duration of your illness and let your eyes heal. In fact, it might be a good idea to throw your contacts out and use a new pair when pink eye is gone just to be on the safe side.
Take Antihistamine
Sometimes pink eye is caused by an allergic reaction and you can handle it with an over-the-counter medication. Not all pink eye is caused by allergies, so you’ll know whether or not yours was if your antihistamine does not help your symptoms and issues.
Call the Doctor
If you have a viral type of pink eye, you will need an antibiotic. It helps to kill the bacteria and treat pink eye. You will want to take it for 24 hours before being around other people to help ensure you are no longer contagious. If you have kids, they’ll be required to stay home from school for 24 hours as well.
(Photo by Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images)
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