Can Pink Eye Cause Vision Loss?
Most types of pink eye are not considered serious or threatening to eyesight, especially when appropriate treatment — when necessary — is given in a timely way.
But when other causes have been ruled out, persistent conjunctivitis can signal a potentially serious underlying disease that often only your doctor can diagnose.
Left untreated, certain types of bacterial conjunctivitis can scar the eye's surface. This may lead to permanent eye damage and vision loss.
In extreme and rare cases of uncontrolled conjunctivitis, an eye might even need to be removed because of infection that spreads throughout the eye and its interior (endophthalmitis).
Pink eye treatment options vary, often depending on whether your conjunctivitis is caused by a virus or bacteria. Antibiotic eye ointments or drops may help bacterial forms of conjunctivitis, but don't work for viral forms.
Unless there's some special reason to do so, eye doctors don't normally prescribe medication for viral conjunctivitis, because it usually clears up on its own within a few days to several weeks.
If you have allergic conjunctivitis, artificial tears may help dilute irritating allergens that may be present in your tear film. Antihistamine allergy pills or eye drops also may help control symptoms.
For all types of conjunctivitis, warm compresses placed on the outside of the eyelids and lubricating eye drops may help eyes feel better.
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