“Can frequent pink eye infections be harmful?”
Every time someone in her school has pink eye, my daughter ends up with the infection. She actually gets pink eye quite frequently, is there any way this would cause harm to her eyes?
8 Answers
Hello!
Chronic pink eye can cause corneal scarring. I recommend that you teach your daughter not to touch her face, and practice frequent, thorough hand washing. Outfitting her with a small bottle of hand sanitizer is helpful. The COVID pandemic makes these measures mandatory for us all, if we’re going to finally control it.
Thanks for your question!
Happy Holidays!
Chronic pink eye can cause corneal scarring. I recommend that you teach your daughter not to touch her face, and practice frequent, thorough hand washing. Outfitting her with a small bottle of hand sanitizer is helpful. The COVID pandemic makes these measures mandatory for us all, if we’re going to finally control it.
Thanks for your question!
Happy Holidays!
As long as it's taken care of appropriately, then typically bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) is limited and resolves within 5 to 7 days.
Yes, repeated infections, especially with high frequency of recurrence, can lead to a reduction in the integrity of the tissue structure (it just doesn't heal up as solidly after having to do so time-after-time-after-time). Our eyes do have a good amount of resiliency, and youth helps this - but any part of our body can be pushed to far, at any age.
As long as the condition is controlled with eye drops/therapeutic intervention, it will limit disease. Teaching general handwashing and hygiene can help minimize recurrences as well. Please visit your local eyecare provider for a full care plan and assessment.
Have her checked by your eye doctor. Normally, the answer is no, but certain types can cause scarring to the front surface of the eye.
Erin Lorraine McCleary
Optometrist
As long as her recurrent infections are treated promptly, there should be no long lasting complications. That being said, children are specifically prone to viral infections in environments where there are many other children, like school. Sometimes antibiotics are indicated (bacterial infections), but sometimes they aren't (viral infections). Seeing your eye care provider is the best way to make sure that she is being treated appropriately.
Here's to fewer pink eyes!
Dr. EM
Here's to fewer pink eyes!
Dr. EM
"Pink eye," also known as conjunctivitis, will not be harmful to the vision in the long-term regardless of repeated infection.
Yes
