PINKEYE!

We have all heard it, we all fear it, and we all want to avoid it!

The board-certified eye doctors at Florida Eye Center diagnose and treat hundreds of patients that have pinkeye each year.

Pinkeye infections keeps millions of people away from school or work each year. It costs America hundreds of millions of dollars and the high social cost of this illness because of staying home, calling in sick, taking care of our kids, etc.

Conjunctivitis means an inflammation or infection of the white of the eye. It is an extremely common condition, but fortunately almost never blinds anybody. Infectious conjunctivitis is caused by either a virus or bacteria. Up to 90% of the cases are caused by a virus. Most of the time it is a virus just like any rapidly contagious virus, such as the flu virus, or measles, etc. But sometimes it is from other viruses like herpes, which is the same virus that causes recurring fever blisters on your lips.

Most of the time, mild conjunctivitis from a virus or bacteria is self-limited and heals. But sometimes dangerous bacteria such as gonorrhea can be the cause of pinkeye. This can be sight-threatening and could blind a patient if powerful antibiotics are not started almost immediately. For that reason, patients with pinkeye symptoms of new pus and puffiness should get an eye exam.

Bacterial conjunctivitis responds to antibiotics. Pinkeye from virus will never respond to antibiotics and antibiotics would be a waste of money.

Unfortunately, there is no good treatment against viral conjunctivitis that is very effective. We do have potent anti-virus drops and potent anti-inflammatory drops and treatments, which do help. The most common cause of pinkeye is from the virus and it is highly contagious. In addition, the virus is very tough and resilient and lingers on surfaces such as doorknobs and counter tops, waiting for the next person to touch that spot and "catch" the infection. Because of how contagious it is and how rapidly it spreads, there are often well known out-breaks of eye infections at daycare centers, military barracks, schools, factories, and even in the people at the same swimming pool. Viral pinkeye treatment is mostly for relieving the symptoms, such as using cold compresses for comfort and to decrease the eyelid swelling.

Most importantly, obsessive hand washing to limit the spread to other friends and family is our best advice.

Deciding to start the anti-virus eye drops and the new anti-inflammatory drops are based on the doctor's exam. We now have special Betadine drops in the office at Florida Eye Center that speed the healing and reduce the virus population from spreading.

We are also excited about a possible new antiviral gel that is being studied and used with increased success, and may prove to be effective and available for our patients as early as next year.

So in summary, an eye exam and an early, accurate diagnosis and the proper, effective treatment will help us shorten the pinkeye problem and especially, decrease the spread of pinkeye disease to family members, coworkers, and associates.