Viral Conjunctivitis

Viral Conjunctivitis is often secondary to an upper respiratory infection. If you or your child first had a common cold, then the resulting pink eye may be due to an adenovirus that commonly invades moist, membrane-like tissue lining nasal passages and eyes. This is why it spreads easily through schools and families by sneezing and coughing. It is often the cause of pink eye epidemics.

Virus-based illnesses such as measles and mumps, while not nearly as common as they once were, also can lead to viral forms of pink eye.

When pink eye is present, it's a good idea to keep a can of disinfectant spray handy and use it often.

Signs and Symptoms

This condition often affects only one eye, which has redness and excessive watering and a light discharge. Crusting on eyelids sometimes occurs, and the eyelids are usually swollen. Generally, vision is still good.

Treatment

Eye specialists won’t normally prescribe any medications for this type of pink eye, because it usually clears up on its own in a few days to a few weeks (like most common viruses). You may benefit from certain types of eyedrops to help your eyes feel better:

Antihistamines can help to relieve itchiness and irritation.
Vasoconstrictors compress blood vessels in the eye to reduce redness.

Your Optometrist also may look for other signs to confirm viral infection, such as small bumps (follicles) on the eye or eyelids and an enlarged lymph node located in front of the ear.

Read on for advice on how to prevent catching pink eye. What about allergic conjunctivitis?
Have I got bacterial conjunctivitis?

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