Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is an infection of the outside of the eye and is associated with the characteristic symptoms of swelling, itching, burning and crusting of the eye lashes when awakening from sleep. The symptoms are caused by an infection of the conjunctiva of the eye. The conjunctiva is a thin membrane that covers the white area of the eye or sclera. During a Pink Eye infection this conjunctiva becomes infected and inflamed causing the symptoms and eye drainage. During sleep this eye drainage clumps around the eye lashes making opening the eye in the morning almost impossible without first cleaning the lashes.

Pink eye is caused by many of the same bacteria and viruses that are responsible for the common cold and other common infections such as ear infections, sinus infections and sore throats. Pink eye can also be caused by allergies. This type of reaction happens more frequently with children and adults who have problems with allergies to pet dander, hay fever and grass and ragweed pollen. There are also times when Pink eye can be caused by a substance in the environment that irritates the eyes such as chlorine, soaps, smoke and fumes. During times when Pink eye is caused by allergies or a chemical substance the irritation is more common in both eyes and the discharge from the eye is usually clear and watery.

This condition is easily spread from person to person by touching an infected person’s hand after they have touched the infected eye or sharing towels, makeup or through coughing or sneezing if a person with a cold is present.

Pink eye or conjunctivitis can be caused by either bacteria or viruses. The infection most commonly starts in one eye but can easily be spread to the other eye by the infected person themselves.

More rarely conjunctivitis can be seen in children with Kawasaki’s disease and certain other inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.