Conjunctivitis and Styes

Kaiser Permanente Health Matters

Conjunctivitis The following tips will help to nose) toward the outside. Use prevent the spread of pinkeye: a clean surface for each wipe so Conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, is an •Wash your hands before and that drainage is not rubbed inflammation of the delicate after touching your eyes, face, back across the eye. membrane (conjunctiva) that or using medicine in the eyes. •Do not wear contact lenses or lines the inside of the eyelid and •Do not share towels, handker- eye makeup until the infection the surface of the eye. It can be chiefs, or washcloths with a is gone. Discard eye makeup caused by bacteria, viruses, aller- person who has pinkeye. after an eye infection. gies, pollution, or other irritants. •If a chemical or object gets into •If eye drops are prescribed, The symptoms of pinkeye are red- your eye, immediately flush it insert as follows: ness in the whites of the eyes, red with water. Refer to the index and swollen eyelids, an itching or in your Kaiser Permanente burning feeling, lots of tears, and Healthwise Handbook to get a sandy feeling in the eyes. There more information about how to may be a discharge that causes the flush your eye with water. eyelids to stick together during Home treatment sleep. Although most cases of conjunc- Prevention tivitis will clear up in five to seven Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis days on their own, viral pinkeye are contagious and spread very can last many weeks. People with easily through contact with the infectious pinkeye should not Inserting eyedrops eye drainage. Rubbing an infected attend day care, school, or go to eye leaves drainage on your hand, work until symptoms have For older children and adults which can spread the infection to improved. Pinkeye due to allergies Pull the lower lid down with two your other eye. If you touch an or pollution will last as long as fingers to create a little pouch. object when you have drainage on you are exposed to the irritating Put the drops there. Close the your hand, the drainage can substance. Good home care eye for several minutes to let the transfer to the object, and the should help speed healing and drops move around. virus or bacterium can be spread. bring relief. Poor hand washing is the main •Apply cold or warm compresses For younger children cause of the spread of pinkeye. several times a day to relieve Ask the child to lie down with discomfort. Use a clean com- eyes closed. Put a drop in the press for each application. inner corner of the eye. When • When cleaning the eye, wipe the child opens the eye, the drop from the inside (next to the will run in.

Regional Health Education Be sure the dropper is clean Styes Home treatment and does not touch the eye, •Do not rub the eye, and do eyelid, or any surface. Eye A stye is a noncontagious infec- not squeeze the stye. drops are washed out by nor- tion of the eyelash follicle. It •Apply warm, moist compresses mal tearing, so they will need looks like a small, red bump— for 10 minutes, 5 to 6 times a to be replaced at least three much like a pimple—either in the day until the stye comes to a times a day. eyelid or on the edge of the lid. It head and drains. Wash your •Putting antibiotic ointment in comes to a head and breaks open hands before applying a com- the eye can be tricky, especially after a few days. press. Use a clean cloth or piece with children. If you can get it Styes are very common and are of gauze moistened with warm on the eyelashes, it will melt not a serious problem. Most will water. Do not use hot water, and get into the eye. resolve on their own and do not which can cause burns on the •Make sure that any over-the- require removal. eyelid and surrounding areas. counter medicine you use is Styes respond very well to warm “ophthalmic” (for eyes), not compresses and time. “otic” (for ears). •Do not wear eye makeup or •Wash your hands thoroughly contact lenses. after treating pinkeye. Call Kaiser Permanente if … Call Kaiser Permanente if … • the stye interferes with vision •there is pain in the eye (rather • the stye gets worse despite your than irritation), blurring, or home treatment loss of vision, not cleared even • the redness centered on the stye for a moment with blinking spreads over the entire lid •the eye is painfully sensitive to •a stye becomes very painful, light grows larger quickly, or contin- •you feel there is a foreign ues to drain object in the eye •the eye is red and there is a Other resources thick, greenish-yellow discharge that does not go away in 24 •Visit our Web site at hours www.kp.org. •there is an abnormal difference • Check your Kaiser Permanente Stye in size of the pupils Healthwise Handbook. (small pimple on • the problem continues for • Call the Kaiser Permanente margin of eyelid) more than seven days Healthphone at 1-800-33-ASK ME (1-800-332-7563). For TTY, call 1-800-777-9059. •Visit your local Health Education Department or Center.

This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other medical professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have further questions, please consult your doctor.