What is pink eye?

Transcription:

Pink eye is when the eye appears red. It's really not a specific diagnosis because you can rub your eye and it gets pink. Smog can give you pink eye. A bacterial infection can give you pink eye. A viral infection can give you pink eye. Inflammation in the eye can give you pink eye. Glaucoma can give you pink eye. Lots of things can give you pink eye. Pink eye, by itself, is not really a diagnosis. It's saying, "Hey, my eye is red." The most common cause of pink eye in a child would be a bacterial infection or allergy. The third problem would be this interesting thing called blepharitis, where your eye lids and all over your eyes are chronically red. It's pretty easy to determine an allergy from a bacterial infection because allergy is itchy, like a mosquito bite. If your child has red eye in both eyes, and is always itching and rubbing, that's allergies. If it's all goopy, that's usually a bacteria.

Video Categories: ALL PARENTS, Health and Wellness, Illnesses and Ailments, TODDLER, Development and Health, Toddler Overview, PRESCHOOL, Development and Health, Preschooler Overview

Kenneth Wright, MD Pediatric Ophthalmologist, shares advice for parents on the most common factors that can cause pink eye in children, and what the symptoms of pink eye are

Transcript

Expert Bio

Kenneth Wright, MD

Pediatric Ophthalmologist

A caring physician, Dr. Kenneth Wright is devoted to the health of children’s eyes. He is an internationally respected pediatric ophthalmologist, and is included in “The Best Doctors in America” and “Who’s Who in Medicine and Health Care.” Dr. Wright is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the USC Keck School of Medicine. He has developed novel surgical techniques for pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. Dr. Wright received his medical degree from Boston University and fellowships in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at Johns-Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, and Children’s Hospital, Washington, DC. Following his fellowships, he then accepted a full-time faculty member position at USC School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles where he served for 10 years. He was later appointed Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, before returning home to Los Angeles to establish a pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus center of excellence.

Dr. Wright has authored of over 100 published scientific papers, seven textbooks including his renowned textbook, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus and has lectured worldwide. He founded the non-profit Wright Foundation with a mission to reduce blindness and suffering in children with eye disorders through research, education, and clinical care. He has established a pediatric eye clinic for underprivileged children. Important to the Wright Center is the principle that patient care always comes first.

An interesting personal note is that Dr. Wright’s youngest son developed crossed eyes as an infant requiring surgery and Dr. Wright operated on his own son. The outcome was excellent and years later his son served in the United States Marine Corps as a top marksman.

Parenting expert on: Diseases and Disorders, Preschooler Overview, Tests and Hospital Procedures, Illnesses and Ailments

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