The conjunctiva in the eye has many small blood vessels and produces a fluid to keep the eye zone moist and protected. When the conjunctiva is irritated or swollen, the blood vessels become larger and more noticeable, making your eyes red.
There are 3 types of conjunctivitis:
Bacterial conjunctivitis
This is a highly contagious form of pink eye caused by a bacterial infection. This type of conjunctivitis usually causes the eyes to look red and secrete pus.
Viral conjunctivitis
The most frequent reason for pink eye is the same virus that causes the common cold.
Allergic conjunctivitis
This type of conjunctivitis is caused by the reaction of the organism to the allergen. It is not contagious.
Conjunctivitis, whether it is viral or bacterial, can be highly contagious. Some of the most common ways to cause a spreadable form of pink eye include:
- Forgetting to wash your hands and frequently touching your eyes
- Using the same cloth or towel to wipe your face multiple times
- Incorrect cleaning of contact lenses
Symptoms of pink eye:
- Slight swelling of the eyelids
- Red conjunctiva or eyelid
- Increased tearing of the mucosa or appearance of pus
- Inflammation of the eyes
- Feeling of a foreign body in the eye
- Itching
- Slightly blurred vision
- Crusts on the eyelashes after waking up