A lot of people overlook the severity of conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, and people wearing contact lenses are likely to become victims. Treatment of this condition with antibiotics isn't always the best solution, and you should insist that your optometrist test for adenovirus or allergies before you take medication.

Conjunctivitis isn't always benevolent, and some cases may lead to complications like vision loss and sensitivity.  You need to find the source of your illness, so the optometrist can prescribe the best treatment, and help prevent further irritation or ocular complications.

Easy-to-Notice Signs of Conjunctivitis

There are some common signs that are easy to notice when you are suffering from pink eye, like:

• Sore or swollen eyes.
• Redness in and around the eye.
• Watering and itchiness.
• Blurred vision.

A rash around the eye, severe pain, or loss of vision are all serious concerns. You'll want to get to an optometrist right away if any of these symptoms exist.

Cases that Do Require Antibiotics

If your condition is caused by a bacterial infection, like Streptococcus pneumonia or Staphylococcus aureus, don't hesitate to take the antibiotics.

Cases to Avoid Antibiotic Treatment

Pink eye can be caused by many things other than bacteria, and antibiotics won't help these cases. Your optometrist will prescribe other methods of treatment and testing if you have conjunctivitis caused by allergies or the adenovirus.

Adenovirus

This is a DNA virus that you doctors will detect through a variety of tests. A nasopharyngeal aspirate test may be conducted, along with an eye or faeces swab. This virus is most commonly a respiratory problem, but can become exposed to the eyes through nasal or oral secretions.

The body can usually overcome the virus on its own within a week's time, but the patient must rest and stay hydrated. Over-the-counter eye drops and medication can help with discomfort.

Allergic Conjunctivitis

Patients that have been exposed to seasonal or perennial allergens can get enough irritation to cause conjunctivitis. This will usually be treated with an antihistamine and eye drops, but testing may be required to find out what is causing the reaction.

If you think that you could have pink eye, go to the optometrist to get a professional examination. You don't want to take the incorrect medication for your problem, and you want to treat the issue before something irreversible happens to your eyes. Check out Eye Supply for more information.