Preparing Kids for Optician Appointments

During elementary school, my sister’s teacher scheduled a consultation with my parents. At this meeting, this caring educational professional talked with my parents about my sister’s potential eye problems. My teacher felt my sibling couldn’t see the board in the front of the classroom. My parents sat down with my sister and talked with her about seeing an eye doctor. Thankfully, my sister visited a trusting optician who knew how to successfully work with younger kids. After receiving her new pair of glasses, she began excelling in school. On this blog, I hope you will discover ways to prepare kids for successful appointments at an optician’s office. Enjoy!

The 411 On Conjunctivitis: Understanding And Treating Pink Eye

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Seeing is an imperative part of your daily life, so protecting your vision and the underlying health of your eyes is important. Unfortunately, certain issues may develop that not only affect your health but also the ability to see in a clean, comfortable manner. Conjunctivitis is a common condition that affects the eyes in children and adults, but you may not be familiar with this issue. Using this guide, you will understand this disorder and learn the best options to treat conjunctivitis.

The 411 on Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis causes inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the thin tissue that lines the inside of the eyelid and the white section of the eyeball. Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis makes the blood vessels of the eye more prominent and visible, turning the eye a pink or red color.

Pink eye can develop from viruses and bacteria that are spread from person to person. Once symptoms appear, pink eye is contagious for several days or weeks.

Allergies may also cause pink eye. Allergic conjunctivitis develops as a result of your body's reaction to certain allergens, such as pollen, dust mites, and pet dander.

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

The most common symptom of conjunctivitis is an eye with a pink appearance, but you may also have other symptoms including the following:

  • Swelling of one or both eyelids
  • Increased production of tears
  • White, green, or yellow discharge from the eye
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Crusty buildup on and around eyelids and eyelashes
  • Feeling of gritty buildup in eye
  • Pain in one or both eyes

If you are experiencing one or more of the above symptoms, visit your doctor immediately for treatment.

Treating Pink Eye

The method of treating your conjunctivitis will depend on its cause.

Viral conjunctivitis, which may develop along with the common cold, chicken pox, or the mumps, will usually resolve itself after 2 to 4 weeks. However, you can reduce the discomfort of a viral form of pink eye by managing the symptoms.

Apply a cold compress to the affected eye for a few minutes each day. This will reduce inflammation and ease your pain. Utilizing artificial tear drops is also smart for decreasing the dryness caused by pink eye.

If you are dealing with a bacterial case of conjunctivitis, your doctor will need to prescribe a series of antibiotics. These medications will help heal your pink eye while also reducing the risk of spreading the infection to others.

Medicated eye drops should also be used to ease the inflammation and pain associated with your bacterial conjuvtivitis. In addition, cold compresses help reduce your discomfort.

To treat pink eye that stems from allergic reactions, you will need to reduce your exposure to allergens. Try to stay indoors during peak allergy seasons, such as the spring season when pollen is present in the air. Medicated eye drops will also be prescribed to increase the production of tears, which will help rinse allergens out of the eye.

No matter which type of pink eye you are suffering from, it is important to reduce the risk of spreading the infection. Here are a few tips to avoid spreading conjunctivitis to others:

  • Wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer throughout the day. If using hand sanitizer, make sure it contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
  • Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing to protect the air and others from viruses.
  • Do not touch your eyes.
  • Avoid sharing glasses, contact lenses, washcloths, towels, and tissues with others.
  • Wipe down countertops, faucets, and doorknobs with antibacterial wipes.
  • Reduce your exposure to others by staying home from work and school. Most schools require that children wait at least 24 hours after the start treating pink eye to return to school.

Conjunctivitis causes discomfort, but the swelling and inflammation can also reduce your ability to see properly. Using these tips and the help of your eye doctor, you can understand and treat pink eye. For more information, contact a local eye clinic like Olympia Eye Clinic, Inc., P.S.

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16 June 2016