Okay guys, here’s the scoop – there is no such thing as pink eye. Oh sure, your eye can be pink, but “pink eye” is not a diagnosis, it’s a description of the way your eye looks. So now that we’ve cleared that misconception up, what causes eyes to become pink?
One of the most common causes of pink (or red) eyes is some form of conjunctivitis. The term conjunctivitis is also very nonspecific and vague – so let’s break it down into more understandable terms. The conjunctiva is the clear thin covering of the white part of the eye and the insides of the lids and the term “itis” derives from the Greek and means “inflammation of”. So quite simply, conjunctivitis means that the white part of the eye is inflamed, and when body parts become inflamed, they get red or pinkish. There are three main forms of conjunctivitis:
- Bacterial Conjunctivitis – like it sounds, it’s caused by bacteria – not only is the eye red but there is usually green discharge as well that can cause the eyes to be glued shut upon awakening in the morning. This is pretty contagious and is treated with topical antibiotic drops or ointment.
- Viral Conjunctivitis – caused by viruses, the eyes are watery, red and sometimes itchy. This is also very contagious and since it is a virus, antibiotic drops don’t work. This usually runs its course over a week or so – cool compresses and artificial tears can be helpful.
- Allergic Conjunctivitis – the hallmark symptom of this type of conjunctivitis is unbearable itching. Usually this is a reaction to pollen or ragweed during peak allergy season (spring or fall) or to pets, dust, or other known allergens. It is not contagious and can be treated conservatively with cool compresses or high quality artificial tears. Oral antihistamines are helpful if there is also nasal congestion and sneezing, prescription eye drops work best if it only affects the eyes.
Other causes of pink or red eyes are dry eye and blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) as well as contact lens complications which can range from infections to corneal ulcers. Environmental causes of pink eye are irritants such as dust, smoke, air pollution and chemical exposure. It is important not to self diagnose or use somebody else’s eye drops. If your eyes get red or pink and your symptoms are getting worse or not going away it is important to have your eyes checked by an eye doctor to ensure proper and prompt treatment.
Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of vision loss in patients over the age of 60 in the United States. Since February is AMD awareness month let’s talk a little about the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of this potentially visually devastating condition. The macula is the central part of the retina and if it is damaged central vision becomes impaired. There are two types of AMD, one is “dry” and one is “wet”. Dry AMD comprises roughly 90% of AMD patients and is characterized by thinning of the central retina and deposition of yellow spots (called drusen) in the macula. Although dry AMD is slow to progress and vision loss may be minimal, it can progress to a more intermediate or advanced form of dry AMD which can then progress to wet AMD. Wet AMD happens when abnormal and fragile blood vessels grow underneath the retina and then bleed (this is why it is called ‘wet’) causing destruction of the central vision. Dry AMD has no treatment per se, however there are lifestyle changes that can be taken in order to deter the progression from dry to wet. These lifestyle changes include smoking cessation, UV protection such as sunglasses, and ingestion of nutrients such as lutein and zeaxanthin in foods such as spinach or kale or in a vitamin supplement. Wet AMD is treated with drugs that are delivered into the vitreous (inner jelly like portion of eye) and go under the the broad umbrella term of “anti-VEGF” agents. Laser treatments and PDT (photodynamic therapy) are other treatments utilized in wet AMD.
Symptoms of macular degeneration include blurry vision, darkening of vision, loss of color vision and visual distortion. Once the central vision is lost, there is no way to restore it and low vision devices such as telescopes and magnifiers can be helpful to maximize the remaining vision. Early detection of AMD is crucial in order to preserve central functional vision which is why yearly eye exams are so important.
November is National Diabetes Month and this gives me the opportunity to get up on my soapbox and shout through my megaphone about the importance of yearly eye exams. For patients who know they have diabetes, dilated eye exams are crucial in order to ensure that there is no 
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