How To Prevent Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Pink eye, medically known as conjunctivitis, develops when the conjunctiva (a clear membrane that lines the eyelids and the white parts of the eyes) becomes infected or inflamed. The condition can be caused by both viral and bacterial infections, and it may also occur in infants who have a tear duct that has not completely opened. Symptoms of pink eye include redness, itching, and a gritty feeling in one or both eyes, and patients may experience tearing and a discharge from the eye. Most episodes of pink eye are caused by viruses, and both the bacterial and viral forms of this condition are contagious.