Having an eye issue is always frustrating. Whenever your vision is affected, it can ruin your day or make it hard to function normally. This is especially true if you have begun to have symptoms of pink eye!

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, occurs when the transparent membranes around your eye become inflamed or infected. The little blood vessels in your eye become irritated and turn red, which gives your eye that classic “pink eye” color.

If you think you are experiencing symptoms of pink eye, our care team at AFC Urgent Care Louisville can help you with testing and treatment.

How Do You Get Pink Eye?

Conjunctivitis is caused by a reaction to your surroundings, so you can contract it in a variety of ways! A virus, allergies, bacteria, a foreign object or a chemical can all get into your eye and irritate the sensitive membranes enough to turn into conjunctivitis.

Usually, pink eye cases aren’t serious and will eventually go away on their own, but it doesn’t make them any less annoying to deal with! In each case, you should still come see us to rule out any more serious eye conditions.

Pink Eye Symptoms

• Redness in the affected eye(s)
• Itchy eyes
• A gritty feeling in your eye
• Crust around your eye in the morning

Do All Conjunctivitis Cases Need to Be Treated?

While the majority of cases will resolve on their own, it is still important to address your symptoms to prevent the problem from getting worse. The longer you wait to treat your symptoms, the higher the chance that the infection or inflammation will start to affect your vision.

You can help aid in your healing by applying a cold compress to your eye, staying hydrated and resting as much as possible. It is also important to avoid spreading it to another person.

Avoiding the Spread of Pink Eye

• Wash your hands often.
• Avoid touching your eyes.
• Don’t share towels or washcloths.
• Throw away any eye products like makeup and purchase new ones.

If you are concerned that your recent eye irritation may be related to conjunctivitis, we can help! Come see us at AFC Urgent Care Louisville.