Pink Eye: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Gritty Feeling

Patients typically notice a gritty feeling in their eyes when they have pink eye. Some describe it as the sensation of sand or dirt in the eye, and the feeling may worsen as the condition progresses. The sensation can be distracting and annoying, and it might keep patients from being able to focus on their work. Since a gritty feeling could also occur when a foreign body is stuck in the eye, the patient may want to have an eye examination to check for foreign objects in the eye. During the exam, the doctor may need to use fluorescein dye to clearly see dust particles and other foreign bodies.

Patients experiencing a gritty feeling in the eyes could blink excessively, and there may also be pressure or discomfort. If doctors determine the gritty feeling is due to pink eye and no foreign body is present, the patient will likely be treated with artificial tears, and it can also help to clean the eyelids with a wet cloth. Patients may not be able to wear contact lenses during a pink eye infection, as these can intensify the gritty feeling and be very uncomfortable. The patient should check with their eye doctor about when to use contact lenses again.

Eye Discharge

Eye discharge is a natural creation of the body, and it can exist even without pink eye. Many individuals refer to this discharge as 'sleep' in the eyes. It accumulates in the corner of the eye while an individual sleeps, and it may make it difficult for them to open their eyes in the morning. Conjunctivitis may present with eye discharge that occurs throughout the day, rather than just when a person sleeps.

The discharge might be sticky and wet, but it may also be crusted and dry if the liquid present evaporates. The protective function of the discharge is to remove debris and waste products from the eye's surface, preventing the eyes from becoming damaged. With conjunctivitis, the discharge tends to be excessive, and it might be yellow or green. Discharge is made of a combination of skin cells, oil, mucus, and any debris that enters the eye throughout the day.