What To Do When You Get Pink Eye: Adulting with Ginger

I haven't gotten pink eye since I was a kid. I woke up freaking out that I couldn't see out of one eye, but then slowly realized that my eye was super gross. I then started thinking about what I do next. Do I call out of work? Do I clean everything? What do I do? Do I call a doctor? Well... I called my mom and started googling symptoms.

According to American Academy of Ophthalmology, there are three types of pink eye.

1. Bacterial conjunctivitis- highly contagious form of pink eye caused by bacterial infections. This type of conjunctivitis usually causes a red eye with a lot of pus.
2. Viral conjunctivitis- caused by the same virus that causes the common cold and is also very contagious. A watery mucous is the common discharge in this form of conjunctivitis.
3. Allergic conjunctivitis- is a form of conjunctivitis that is caused by the body's reaction to an allergen or irritant. It is not contagious. The main symptom is itching.

What to do when you catch Pink Eye according to The National Eye Institute: 

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water.
• Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes.
• If you have conjunctivitis, wash any discharge from around the eyes several times a day.
• Do not use the same eye drop dispenser/bottle for infected and non-infected eyes—even for the same person.
• Avoid sharing articles like towels, blankets, and pillowcases.
• Clean your eyeglasses.
• Clean, store, and replace your contact lenses as instructed by your eye health professional.
• Do not share eye makeup, face makeup, makeup brushes, contact lenses or containers, or eyeglasses.

Be careful out there!