Pink eye is easy for adults to overcome as we know that we should not touch our eyes and we need to resist rubbing them. Children have a harder time with pink eye because their eyes and eyelids start to itch and they do not realize that itching their eyes will only worsen the condition.

What causes pink eye?
Pink eye is caused from a virus. Usually you can get it from not washing your hands when you are in a public restroom and then touching your eyes. In some people, the virus that causes common colds can also cause pink eye to occur. Pink eye also can occur from feces that are transmitted to the eyes. Children can have this happen by touching animal feces and not washing their hands and rubbing their eyes. Try to put a lid over the kitty litter box so your toddler doesn't think it's a sand pit to play in. Pink eye is extremely contagious so it is important to stay away from anyone that has pink eye so you can avoid catching it.

Symptoms of pink eye
As mentioned above, pink eye causes the eyes to become red or pink in color in the white section of the eye. The eyelids tend to swell and they usually itch and are uncomfortable. Besides redness and swelling, the eyes can also become watery and swollen to the point where you cannot open your eye. Without proper treatment, pink eye can lead to serious problems, like loss of vision or blindness.

Treatment for pink eye
If you have pink eye, stay home. Do not risk spreading it to other people by going to work. It is dangerous to operate a motor vehicle or any type of machinery when you have pink eye because your eyes can become swollen or watery, causing your vision to be corrupted. Seek treatment right away if you suspect that you have pink eye. Usually you will be given decongestant or anti-histamine medication that will help to reduce the itching and redness that comes with pink eye. The medication will also protect your pupils and they will protect the eye from further irritation.

Saline water is another way to help treat pink eye. Using the saline water you can sterilize your eyes. This only works on individuals that have a mild case of pink eye. The saline water helps to flush out the eye to prevent build up of infection in the eyelid. It also prevents scar tissue from occurring, which can lead to loss of vision.

If the itching is unbearable, flush your eye with some cool water and place ice packs over them. Cool water and ice packs will reduce inflammation and swelling in the eyelids. They also help to cool the blood vessels and protect your eye from further damage. Some home remedy treatments include rubbing a pad of Neosporin around the bottom eyelid and then placing an ice pack over it to help the ointment absorb into the skin and to fight off the infection. Always ask your doctor before using this treatment option.

Finally you can use corticosteroids. This is an anti-inflammatory medication that helps to quickly fight pink eye. It does dry up the eye so you will need some eye drops to keep your eye moist.