Your eyes can contract diseases and illnesses just like any other part of your body. The mucosa in your eye sockets have a lot to do with how rapidly the illnesses or diseases catch and spread. If your eyes are suddenly itchy, inflamed, red, dry, sticky or irritated (like you have a splinter of something in them), then you need to see your optometrist as soon as possible. He or or she will examine your eyes and determine which illness or disease you are dealing with. The following three possibilities are the most common eye illnesses. How they are contracted is also listed below.
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis, or "pink eye," is highly contagious. Any number of other illnesses can start pink eye, but it is spread from the contaminated eyes and hands of a person who has it to the surfaces that other people touch, as well as other people's hands. Although it produces the bloodshot eye look that is also common with allergies, the red eyes of someone with allergies cannot give you their "pink eyes" because (in this instance) they are not contagious. Your optometrist will give you some medicated eye drops to kill the infection and help alleviate the irritation in your eyes.
Allergies
Allergies produce itchy, sticky, watery and sometimes bloodshot eyes. You may get "allergy eyes" from an upper respiratory reaction to an allergen, but your eyes can have the same reaction when you touch an allergen and then touch your fingers to your eyes. Repeated contact with the allergen (via your fingers) only makes the illness worse, and flushing your eyes with water may not help. There are some over-the-counter eye drops for allergy eyes. If you try them and they clear your eye problem up right away, then your problem was allergies all along. However, you should still see your optometrist to make sure that was the problem and not something else.
Dry Eyes
Dry or irritated eyes are caused by a lack of tear production. About the only thing that this condition can be compared to is when contact lens wearers leave their lenses in while they sleep and wake up with the dried out, crusty hard lenses stuck to their eyes. Dry eyes is not contagious, but it may be genetic, so if you have a parent with the disorder, you too may get it eventually. Your optometrist will prescribe medicated eye drops that you will need to use the rest of your life, because dry eyes is a condition never goes away. Contact an optometrist like one from Linden Optometry PC for more information.
Share13 December 2015
My name is Natalie Hunter. I am 29 and an elementary teacher. I created this website because I recently discovered something and wanted to share it with others. I had been suffering headaches for the past year that seemed to be gradually growing in severity. I had tried over-the-counter medications, homeopathic remedies and even made appointments with my doctor. I was given a CT scan and tried prescription medications. Finally, the doctor asked if I have had my eyes checked, as eye strain and eye issues can also cause headaches. I made an appointment with an optometrist, received a prescription for eyeglasses and suddenly, my headaches went away. It seems easy, but I had no idea. If you have headaches, I hope my website helps you understand what to expect when visiting an optometrist and how it can help with your headaches.