Nowadays, it is common to find children and adults with swollen and red eyes. It is the result of conjunctivitis also called pinkeye or “Apolo”. It makes one or both of your eyes red, itchy and painful. The affected eye will have white or yellowish discharge. Allergies, viruses, or bacteria can be the cause. The symptoms may last a week or 10 days, maybe longer. Here are some easy steps you can take to ease the symptoms of pinkeye.

PREVENTION

PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE

Good hygiene is the most critical prevention method to halt the spread of conjunctivitis. Exclude people with conjunctivitis from childcare, school and work until discharge from the eyes cease. Good personal hygiene must be followed. Careful hand washing, using soap and warm water is imperative. If soap and warm water are not available, use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands. Do not share towels and wash cloths. Avoid swimming in a pool. Bathing before bed might help, too. 

AVOID CONTACT LENSES 

If you wear contact lenses, you should go without them until your pinkeye clears up. You may need to throw away your contact lenses and case, because bacteria or viruses may be living in it and you can re-infect yourself.

TREATMENT

USE EYE DROPS

Treatment depends on the type of conjunctivitis. With viral conjunctivitis, eyes are watery, itchy and sensitivity to light. When sticky, with yellow discharge in the corner of the eye, it is bacterial conjunctivitis. On the other hand, allergic conjunctivitis symptoms are watery, burning, itchy eyes; often accompanied by a runny nose. Both eyes are affected, but it’s not contagious. Treatment methods, however, vary from person to person. Some people say they found relieve in cleaning their eyes with warm saline water, while others applied breast milk. But medics prescribe the use of antibiotic eye drops or ointment.

CLEAN EYELIDS 

Choose a lint-free cloth and soak it in cool water. Wring it out and press it gently to your closed eyelids. Don’t press hard, as you don’t want to injure your eyes. If you only have pinkeye in one eye, keep the compress away from the other one, or it could get infected. If a warm compress feels better, then use warm water. Don’t make it too hot, it could make your pinkeye worse. Use a compress for a few minutes at a time, several times a day. Make sure no one else uses the cloth.