What is a pink eye?

Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is an inflammation of the thin membrane that covers the white area of your eye and lines the inside of your eyelid. It affects one or both eyes and can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, allergies, or an irritant such as dirt or smoke.

The most common symptom is redness in one or both eyes. The redness may feel like grit on the surface of your eye and you may find it difficult to open your eyes when waking up due to discomfort in addition to heavy tearing and discharge from your eyes. Other possible symptoms include swollen eyelids, sensitivity to light, itching/burning sensation in one or both eyes, decreased vision depending on severity of infection / irritation , blurred vision if accompanied with excessive tears, pain in/around the affected eye(s), crusty lashes after sleeping overnight.

Treatments vary based on what is causing pink eye but can range from over-the-counter topical medications (such as artificial tears) for mild cases all the way up to prescribed antibiotics for contagious cases caused by bacteria. In any case it is always a good idea to seek medical attention so that you can get properly diagnosed and treated accordingly!