Pink eye, medically known as conjunctivitis, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white part of your eye and lining the inside of your eyelid. This condition can make the white of your eye appear reddish or pink due to swollen blood vessels. While often mild, pink eye can sometimes affect vision.
How Pink Eye Affects Vision
Pink eye primarily causes redness and irritation, but it can lead to temporary vision disturbances. These often include blurriness or increased sensitivity to light. Such effects are usually indirect, stemming from excessive discharge, tearing, or swelling, which can physically obstruct clear vision.
While permanent vision loss is rare, it can occur in severe, untreated cases or with specific types of pink eye. The vision changes are not due to direct damage to the retina or optic nerve from typical conjunctivitis. Instead, the inflammation can disrupt the normal tear film, causing temporary changes in optical power and leading to blurry vision.
Signs of Vision Involvement
If pink eye is affecting your vision, you might experience persistent blurred vision that does not clear with blinking. Another common sign is increased sensitivity to light, known as photophobia, where bright lights cause discomfort. A persistent feeling of a foreign body in the eye can also indicate vision involvement.
You might also notice pain in the eye, which can range from mild to severe. Changes in vision quality, such as seeing glare around lights, can occur, especially with viral conjunctivitis, due to small white dots forming on the cornea. Excessive discharge, whether watery, yellow, or green, and swollen eyelids can physically obstruct vision temporarily.
When to Get Medical Help
Certain symptoms with pink eye warrant immediate medical attention to prevent vision complications. Seek urgent care if you experience sudden and significant vision changes, severe eye pain, or extreme sensitivity to light. Persistent blurred vision that does not improve after clearing discharge or blinking also warrants attention.
Intense redness, particularly in one eye, or the appearance of a white spot on the cornea, should prompt a doctor’s visit. These could indicate a more serious underlying condition, such as corneal inflammation or an ulcer, which could impact vision if left untreated. If your symptoms worsen despite home care, or if you wear contact lenses and develop any eye pain or worsening symptoms, consult a healthcare professional.
Steps to Protect Your Eyes
Practicing good hygiene is important to prevent the spread of pink eye and reduce the risk of vision complications. Regularly wash your hands with soap and water, especially after touching your eyes or applying eye drops. Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes, and use clean tissues or cloths to wipe away any discharge, discarding them after each use.
If you wear contact lenses, switch to glasses until your eyes have fully recovered, as contacts can aggravate irritation and impede healing. Dispose of any contact lenses and cases used during the infection. Applying warm or cool compresses can help soothe discomfort, but use a clean cloth for each application and avoid sharing personal items like towels, pillowcases, and eye makeup.