What exactly is pink eye and how does someone catch it?

My son came home from school with what I've been told is pink eye. His eyelashes are full of "crusty" looking stuff. Do you know how this condition is treated?

What exactly is pink eye and how does someone catch it?
Commonly known as pinkeye, conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and lines the inner surface of the eyelids. It is a fairly common condition and usually causes no danger to the eye or your child's vision. The inflammation can have many causes, the most common of which are infectious, allergic, and irritant. Since your son's eyelashes are full of a crusty discharge it is likely that the cause is bacterial and will need an antibiotic eye drop. If you cannot get him to a doctor immediately a warm washcloth will help. When you start on the eye drops be sure to continue using them for 3 to 5 days after his eyes clear up or else you may risk having the infection return.
Reply:Pink eye is very contagious and is easily spread through direct contact and through contact with objects that the infected person has touched. Everyone has mentioned that your entire family should be washing their hands constantly. Everyone should use his/her own towels and pillowcases. Your son should not go to school. Most cases of pink eye resolve on their own without treatment within 4 weeks, but he WILL BE contagious that entire time. Your best option is to take your son to the eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) for treatment. Treatment varies because pink eye can be caused by bacteria or viruses, but it will speed up the time until resolution and until your son is no longer contagious.
Reply:i cannot tell you anything that the others have not, but please be careful this is very contagious. make sure your whole family washes their hands often and rubs them with soap and water and sings happy birthday at least once through if not twice. do not use the anti bacterial stuff wash your hands. their is not substitute for the real thing. if you have pets, do not let them lick his eyes and make sure you cleans his pillow case or put a cleans towel over the pillow. make sure he does not rub his eyes spreading it one to the other. make sure the drops given by the doc are used until used up. it will go way quickly and it really doesn't hurt, it is just annoying.
Reply:It's an infection of the eye, called conjunctivitis, which is often highly infectious. I am not aware of it causing any long term damage. It's very common.
Reply:He needs to be diagnosed by a physician asap.





Pink eye is conjuctivitis and is extremely contagious but rarely ever serious.





If he has pink eye, he will need precription eye drops ASAP for the affected eye. He may need to stay home from school until it is cleared up.





He also will need to be Very very careful to not touch his eye. If he does, he needs to wash his hands well to avoid spreading the Pink eye to his other eye and to other people.





Good luck!
Reply:All I know is that it is VERY CONTAGIOUS!!! Get your child to the doctor for antibiotics!!!
Reply:its very evil:):):) i mean %26gt;:(

elaine