Conjunctivitis (aka Pink Eye) is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane that lines your eyelid and part of your eyeball, and may make you feel as if you've got something in your eye that you just can't remove.

Conjunctivitis is most often caused by a virus but can also be caused by bacteria, and can also result from an allergic reaction or - in newborns - an incompletely opened tear duct. 

Allergic Conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis occurs more frequently among kids with allergic conditions such as hay fever.

It's typically seen only at certain times of the year, especially when caused by allergens such as grass or ragweed pollen.

Other allergy -causing substances like animal dander or dust mites can cause year-round symptoms of conjunctivitis.

Chemicals such as those in chlorine and soaps or air pollutants such as smoke and fumes also can lead to allergic conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis (pink eye) may make you feel as if you've got something in one or both of your eyes that you just can't remove.

It may feel like sand is in your eye. You may feel as you just woke up or tired throughout the day, and even with artifical tears the dry eye feeling just will not go away.

When you wake up in the morning, your eyes may seem to be pasted shut from yellow or white discharge coming from your eyes.

You may experience redness, and your eyes may produce lots of tears. 

The whites of your eyes may begin to have a pink discoloration, and you may not see as clearly as you did before.

Your eyelids may be swollen.

Exposure  to allergens be it dander, dust mites, pollen, pollutants, etc. is the primary risk factor for allergic conjunctivitis.

• Severe eye pain
• Change in vision
• Extreme sensitivity to light
• Marked heat & swelling of eyelids

In these cases an appointment should be made with an eye doctor immediately.

For allergic conjunctivitis, avoid rubbing your eyes so that you don't release more histamines. Instead, use cool clean compresses to soothe your eyes.

Your doctor may prescribe one of many different types of eyedrops. These may include;

• antihistamines,
• anti-inflammatory drops (Naphcon-A or Opcon-A)
  
• decongestants,
• mast cell stabilizers,
  
• steroids.

Avoiding allergens is the best way to prevent allergic pink eye.

Though the inflammation of pink eye makes it an irritating condition, it rarely affects your sight. If you suspect pink eye, you can take steps to ease your discomfort.