Conjunctivitis

Your mother called it pinkeye. We call it conjuctivitis. Here is how to soothe pinkeye if you have them.

Wash the red away

A warm compress applied to the eyes for 5 to 10 minutes three or four times a day will make you feel better.

Keep them clean

Conjuctivitis gets better by itself. However to help the healing process, keep your eyes and eyelids clean by using a cotton ball dipped in clean or sterile water to wipe the crusts away.

Baby yourself

A warm compress works well for children, but sometimes adults need a little something more. Adults who have a lot of discharge should make a solution of one part baby shampoo to ten parts of warm water. Dip a sterile cotton ball into the solution and use it to clean off your eyelashes. The warm water loosens the crust and the baby shampoo cleans off the junction of your eyelid and eyelash.

Throw in the towel

This infection is highly contagious. Do not share towel or washcloths with anyone.

Do not chlorinate your eyes

The chlorine in swimming pools can cause conjuctivitis but without the chlorine, bacteria would grow. That could cause conjuctivitis too. So, wear tight fitting goggles while in the water as precautions.

Use ice

If your eye itches like a mosquito bite and you have stringy pus in your eye, most of the time that is the sign of allergic conjuctivitis. Taking an over the counter antihistamine will help that and use cold, not warm, compresses. It will relieve the itch.

Get drugged at night

Germ causing conjunctivitis intensifies when your eyes are closed. That is the reason it gets worse at night when you are asleep. Therefore put any prescribed antibiotic ointment in your eyes before you go to bed.