Why Pink Eye Is Common During Cold And Flu Season
Cold and flu season is washing over East Tennessee like a tsunami, closing schools and keeping kids and adults alike on the couch. Unfortunately, pink eye rides on the coattails of flu and cold season and is adding to many people’s uncomfortable symptoms.
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is caused by inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the tissue that lines the inside of the eyelid and helps to keep the eyelid and eyeball moist. The condition can be caused by bacteria, a virus, allergens, or other irritants. The same viruses that cause colds and the flu—such as adenovirus, enterovirus, and influenza virus—can also cause pink eye. (more…)
The cornea covers the iris and the pupil and accounts for approximately two-thirds of the eye’s total focusing power. If the cornea becomes infected, injured, or extremely irritated, an open sore may form, which is referred to as a corneal ulcer.
If you’re tempted to try non-prescription contact lenses to make your Halloween costume look extra cool or creepy, you might want to think again. Any of those contact lenses that promise to make your eyes vampire red or zombie white and any color in between may seem like the final touch for your perfect costume, but wearing them for a night of dress-up isn’t worth the risk.
Millions of people wear contact lenses every day, but too many of them aren’t aware that contact lenses pose a risk of developing an eye infection if not used properly. Eye infections can be quite painful and potentially damaging to your eyes, so they’re not to be taken lightly with a wait-and-see approach. Some untreated eye infections can even cause permanent vision loss or blindness.
A stye, also called a hordeolum, is a small, red, painful lump that grows from the base of your eyelash or under your eyelid. Most styes are caused by a bacterial infection. Styes are common in children, people with chronic lid infections, and those with diabetes. You can also get a stye if you have 
The cornea is the transparent, dome-shaped window on the front of your eye that covers the iris and pupil. Its main purpose is to refract light. It also contributes approximately two-thirds of the eye’s total focusing power, even though its focus is fixed. The cornea consists of three layers:
Detecting eye diseases as early as possible gives you the best chance of saving your sight. Some of the most common eye diseases can blind you before you ever notice the first symptoms.
When it comes to preserving your eyesight, being proactive rather than reactive makes all the difference. Regular eye examinations are often put off until our vision becomes blurry or our eyes hurt or we have some other issue with our eyesight. But even if your vision seems perfectly fine, routine eye examinations are vitally important because they are often the only way to detect many of the worst eye diseases before they have robbed you of your sight.
Your eyelids have the important job of keeping your eyes protected and lubricated. However, eyelids are fairly thin-skinned and are full of nerves and blood vessels, so the slightest irritation can cause extreme itching. If your eyes become infected or inflamed, your eyelids will itch even more. So how do you determine if your itchy eyelid is due to an eye infection, allergies, or something else?