Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye)

Conjunctivitis, also known as pinkeye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the thin clear tissue that lies over the white part of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelid.

Children get it a lot. It can be highly contagious (it spreads rapidly in schools and day-care centers), but it’s rarely serious. It's very unlikely to damage your vision, especially if you find it and treat it quickly. When you take care to prevent its spread and do all the things your doctor recommends, pinkeye clears up with no long-term problems.

What Causes Pinkeye?

Several things could be to blame, including:

• Viruses, including the kind that causes the common cold
• Bacteria
• Irritants such as shampoos, dirt, smoke, and pool chlorine
• A reaction to eye drops
• An allergic reaction to things like pollen, dust, or smoke. Or it could be due to a special type of allergy that affects some people who wear contact lenses.
• Fungi, amoebas, and parasites