April, 2021 | Eye Care & Vision Associates

Pediatric conjunctivitis – also known as pink eye – is incredibly common. Many children end up with the condition, though the exact cause can vary. Additionally, pink eye is often highly contagious, causing it to spread quickly among children.

If you have questions about pediatric conjunctivitis, including what it is, common causes, how to treat it, and when to see a doctor, here’s what you need to know.

What Is Pediatric Conjunctivitis?

Pediatric conjunctivitis is an eye condition that typically leads to inflammation and swelling of the conjunctiva of the eye. This causes the impacted eye’s tissues to appear pinkish and irritated, hence why the condition is also called “pink eye.”

There are actually several potential causes of pediatric conjunctivitis. Bacterial and viral infections are the most common cause in children, though allergies may also lead to pink eye.

With infections, conjunctivitis can be highly contagious. If a child touches the infected eye and then touches their other eye, they can spread the infection to the second eye. Similarly, if a child touches the infected eye and then handles an object, someone else who then handles the item could potentially pick up the infection.

Do Home or OTC Remedies Work?

With viral or bacterial conjunctivitis, home treatments and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies can ease the discomfort that can come with pink eye. However, they won’t treat the underlying cause of the infection. Viruses usually need to clear on their own time, and direct treatment of bacterial inflections often requires antibiotics, which aren’t available over the counter.

For allergy-related pink eye, OTC allergy medications may treat the underlying cause. Removing the allergen from the child’s environment is also beneficial, as it limits or eliminates their exposure to the irritant.

To alleviate the discomfort of pink eye, OTC anti-inflammatory medications can help. Lubricating eye drops may also be beneficial. Just make sure that the tip of the dropper never contacts the eye and that those drops are not used by other people, as the dropper can spread the infection if it comes in contact with fluid from the eye.

Using a clean washcloth that is dampened with warm water can also be soothing for bacterial or viral conjunctivitis. The washcloth should only be used once before it is washed. Otherwise, it could potentially spread the infection. For allergy-related pink eye, a cool, damp compress will often work better.

When Do You Need to See a Doctor for Pink Eye?

While pink eye will often resolve on its own, there are times when seeing a doctor is best. If your child is experiencing pain or light sensitivity, treatment by a medical professional is wise. Similarly, if your child is having trouble seeing, seek out treatment from a doctor.

Additionally, if the eye is producing a lot of mucus or pus, or the conjunctivitis is accompanied by a fever, body aches, or other signs of a serious infection, making an appointment with a doctor is a good idea. Finally, if the symptoms persist for more than a week or are getting worse, it’s time for treatment from a medical professional.

At ECVA, our staff works diligently to care for the eye health of our patients. If you suspect that you or your child have conjunctivitis or simply haven’t had an exam recently, schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today.

What Is Dark Mode?

Dark mode is a visual setting that you can either find on your device or in specific apps. Usually, it shifts the look of the screen from a light background with dark text to a darker background with light text. In some cases, other aspects of the screen – such as the images displayed on the web page or in the app – are largely unaffected, though that isn’t always the case.

Overall, with dark mode in place, the amount of blue light a device emits is diminished. However, the reduction is fairly limited.

Does Dark Mode Reduce Eye Strain?

Generally speaking, dark mode doesn’t reduce eye strain. In fact, it could make eye strain more likely for certain individuals.

While dark mode does lessen the screen’s overall brightness, which may seem easier on your eyes, it also causes your eyes to dilate. Since there is less light to take in, your eyes have to work harder to see clearly.

Eye dilation can reduce your vision’s sharpness, so you may have to strain to see well. That can lead to negative side effects, including headaches and eye fatigue.

For anyone who has astigmatism or myopia, dark mode may increase the appearance of halos. When halos are present, what the person is looking at may seem blurry or foggy, a situation that can promote eye strain.

There is one situation where dark mode might reduce eye strain. Dark mode can potentially diminish screen glare, which could be beneficial.

Does Dark Mode Have Any Other Benefits?

Yes, dark mode may have some benefits. Since it does reduce blue light, it can potentially promote better sleep. Blue light, particularly at night, may disrupt your circadian rhythm and make you more alert. When that occurs, falling asleep is harder.

By using dark mode, you can limit your blue light exposure. By doing so, you may have an easier time falling asleep.

However, if poor sleep quality is an issue, it’s best to put all devices away – including computers, smartphones, and tablets, as well as avoiding television – at least two hours before bed.

Beyond health, dark mode may also have some additional benefits. Since it results in lower screen brightness, it may extend a device’s battery life. It could also make viewing a screen in a dark room easier.

Ultimately, dark mode is largely an aesthetic choice, though it may provide some minimal benefits in specific situations. However, when it comes to eye strain, dark mode isn’t a guaranteed solution.

At ECVA, our staff works diligently to care for the eye health of our patients. If you haven’t had an eye exam recently or are struggling with eye strain, schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today.