How A Walk In Clinic Can Help Treat Your Pinkeye

If you've contracted a case of pinkeye over the weekend and can't make an appointment with your regular doctor or an optometrist, a walk in clinic can provide quick and inexpensive treatment. Pinkeye, or conjunctivitis, is a common eye infection or allergic reaction. Most cases are non-threatening, but the symptoms can be severely irritating, impairing daily tasks. Some forms of conjunctivitis are also highly transmittable, so it is important for those suffering from an infection to refrain from activities that may spread the problem to others.

Pinkeye is fairly easy to diagnose at home, but a test can also be performed at a walk in clinic. Common signs include chronic redness (debris and dryness can cause a temporary discoloration, so the key is that it is continual), wateriness, and itching. Different types of conjunctivitis will have additional symptoms. Viral spreads quickly from one eye to another and usually accompanies a cold. Bacterial types exhibit severe crusting and oozing due to discharge that can be yellow or grayish in color. The eye may also have an uncomfortable "gritty" feel as if something was trapped inside. Another type of conjunctivitis is caused for entirely different reasons. The same symptoms of pinkness and irritation can be due to chemicals entering the eye and therefore will not be infectious to others. Allergies can also cause similar symptoms and is not contagious.

More than half of conjunctivitis cases clear up on in a few days without treatment, but people suffering from persistent symptoms or those with severe irritation should not hesitate to seek medical help. In some cases, it may not be pinkeye at all but rather the signs of a serious underlying illness such as glaucoma, meningitis, or Lyme disease. At a walk in clinic, antibiotics and eye drops are often prescribed if tests rule out any other possible problems. These generally prove to successfully control symptoms and eliminate all traces of the infection in less than four days.

Bacterial and viral forms of pinkeye are highly contagious, so it is important to prevent spreading the problem to others. This can be an issue with school children. To prevent infecting others, time should be taken off from work or school until the symptoms have cleared. Receiving antibiotic treatment from a walk in clinic can help reduce duration of the infection, which can lessen missed days. Other preventative measures include washing the hands frequently, refraining from sharing any objects especially hygienic items, and avoiding contact with the eyes and face.

People who wear contact lenses will have to be particularly careful in order to avoid continual flare-ups. Once pinkeye is contracted, any used lenses should be thrown away and all equipment used such as contact cases washed and sterilized thoroughly. Lenses should not be worn in the eyes during a case of conjunctivitis until it has been completely cleared. Even if you don't have an infection, lenses should be removed when entering bodies of water as bacteria can easily get caught under the lens, putting wearers at a greater risk for developing the condition.