Pink Eye Treatment in Stockton, CA

Pink eye can be contagious but isn’t always. For example, people who develop allergic conjunctivitis are not contagious to others, though they may still require treatment to reduce uncomfortable symptoms. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are both very contagious. Patients must take precautions for up to two weeks after their symptoms appear to avoid the spread of infection. Pink eye can spread from one person to another in many of the same ways as other infections. Touching an object that has the infection-causing bacteria or virus on it transfers the pathogen to the hands. If one then touches their eyes, the pathogen can cause pink eye. Bacteria can live on surfaces for approximately 8 hours. Viruses can live on surfaces for up to a few months.

Touching another person could also lead to the transmission of a pink eye, as can cough or sneeze. People who wear contact lenses are more susceptible to pink eye because the bacteria can live on these lenses.

From the time a person becomes infected, it can take from 24 to 72 hours for the symptoms of pink eye to appear. During this incubation period, the infection is not contagious. Once symptoms appear, the infection can be transmitted from person to person so precautions should be taken. At that time, an appointment with the eye doctor should also be made.

Your eye doctor can easily detect conjunctivitis at an exam.

It is possible to determine the type of conjunctivitis that has developed by seeing an eye doctor. The eye doctor performs a thorough examination of the eye as well as a consultation to understand what may have caused symptoms, such as another infection of illness. It can sometimes be challenging to discern the cause of the pink eye because the symptoms are similar regardless of the form that has occurred. Sometimes, a doctor will collect a sample of the discharge from the eye and send it to a lab for testing.

Pink eye may last for a few days or a few weeks. This depends on its cause. Patients do not become contagious until symptoms have developed. When caused by a virus, the infection can last up to two weeks. Bacterial conjunctivitis may also last that long. However, the infection should no longer be contagious beginning 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has started.

Yes. Having pink eye once does not build up immunity to future infections or allergic responses. All forms of this condition, including allergic conjunctivitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, and viral conjunctivitis, can recur. Steps may be taken to decrease the risks of future infection, such as washing hands frequently and avoiding touching the eyes. Cosmetics and washcloths should not be shared, and pillowcases should be washed regularly.

Certain precautions can to taken to avoid the disease and stop its spread. Careful washing of the hands, the use of clean handkerchiefs, and avoiding contagious individuals are all helpful. Children frequently get conjunctivitis because of their poor hygiene.

If you or someone in your household has contracted conjunctivitis, follow these steps to prevent the spread of the infection:

• Every time you touch your eyes or face, including when using medicine in your eye(s), wash your hands thoroughly.
• Wash any clothing touched by infected eyes including clothes, towels, and pillowcases.
• Do not share make-up. If the infection is caused by bacteria or a virus, you must throw away your used make-up and buy new make-up.
• Do not touch the infected eye because the infection will spread to the other eye.

Conjunctivitis must always be examined by an eye doctor. Without examination, it is not possible to understand the source of symptoms. There are different forms of pink eye, such as viral conjunctivitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Treatment must be relevant to the type of pink eye that has developed so adequate relief can be achieved. In addition to the risk of infecting others, the untreated pink eye also carries the risk of potential worsening. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, some forms of the pink eye might spread beyond the conjunctiva to cause more severe infection.