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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines your eyelid and part of your eyeball. Inflammation causes small blood vessels in the conjunctiva to become more prominent, which is what causes the pink or red cast to the whites of your eyes.
The cause of pink eye is commonly a bacterial or viral infection, an allergic reaction or — in babies — an incompletely opened tear duct.
Though the inflammation of pink eye can be irritating, it rarely affects your vision. If you suspect pink eye, you can take steps to ease your discomfort. But because pink eye can be contagious, early diagnosis and treatment is best to help limit its spread.
- Conjunctivitis. American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://one.aao.org/asset.axd?id=70977954-f688-41e3-a009-d2beb86765a9. Accessed April 26, 2010.
- Jacobs DS. Conjunctivitis. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed April 29, 2010.
- Care of the patient with conjunctivitis. St. Louis, Mo.: American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/documents/CPG-11.pdf. Accessed April 26, 2010.
- Conjunctivitis. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/conjunctivitis.xml. Accessed April 26, 2010.
- Conjunctiva/sclera/iris/external disease. In: Ehlers JP, et al. The Wills Eye Manual: Office and Emergency Room Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008. http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&NEWS=N&PAGE=booktext&D=books&AN=01337416/5th_Edition/3&XPATH=/OVIDBOOK%5b1%5d/METADATA%5b1%5d/TBY%5b1%5d/EDITORS%5b1%5d. Accessed April 26, 2010.
- Olitzky SE, et al. Disorders of the conjunctiva. In: Kliegman RM. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/189473994-2/0/1608/0.html#. Accessed April 26, 2010.
- Koby M. Conjunctivitis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191205553-2/0/2088/0.html#. Accessed April 26, 2010.
- Kapadia MK, et al. Evaluation and management of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2006;39:959.
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