Conjunctivitis in Wichita

Book Appointment

Helping You Prevent & Manage Pink Eye

Conjunctivitis, also commonly known as pink eye, is the inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, the clear tissue covering the whites of the eyes and inner eyelids.

Pink eye can be uncomfortable, irritating, and painful, but rarely affects vision and likely won’t lead to long-term consequences.

Early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce the severity of your symptoms and alleviate discomfort while minimizing the spread of the oft contagious eye conditions.

What Causes of Conjunctivitis?

Pink eye can be caused by several different things, from the environment around us to pathogens spread from person to person. Each unique cause of pink eye responds best to treatments explicitly designed for it.

Bacterial Conjunctivitis

Bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by a bacterial infection and is highly contagious. It usually presents with green or yellowish discharge and requires treatment with antibiotics. Several different types of bacteria can cause bacterial conjunctivitis, and in most cases, the transmission is done via hand/eye contact.

Viral Conjunctivitis

Viral conjunctivitis is also highly contagious and can spread quickly. Many different viruses can cause viral pink eye, like those responsible for the common cold, flu, and respiratory infections, including the coronavirus (COVID-19).

There’s no treatment for viral conjunctivitis, so it will need to run its course, which usually takes about 4 to 7 days. However, symptoms can be managed with eye drops or supportive therapy, like warm compresses. We will provide you a specific course of treatment based on the cause and severity of your symptoms.

Allergic Conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis occurs when the body has an allergic response to external stimuli. Seasonal allergy sufferers, like those with hay fever, are at risk of developing allergic pink eye. Treating and managing your allergies will often provide relief for pink eye symptoms as well.

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

The most obvious symptom is visible reddening of the conjunctiva, which lines the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelid. This symptom is what has given conjunctivitis its “pink eye” namesake.

Other symptoms include:

Increased tear production (watery eyes)
Burning, itchy, and scratchy sensations in the eye
Sensitivity to light
Thick, yellowish discharge from the eye (bacterial conjunctivitis)
Thin, watery eye discharge (viral conjunctivitis)

How to Prevent Pink Eye

Because viral and bacterial pink eye are contagious, if you have symptoms, you can reduce the spread by practicing proper hygiene:

Don’t touch your face or eyes.
Wash your hands often and properly.
Use a clean washcloth and towel daily.
Do not share towels or washcloths with others.
Regularly change and clean your pillowcase.
Throw away your eye cosmetics (mascara, eye shadow, eyeliner, etc.).
Do not share eye cosmetics with others.

Visit Our Optometry Practice for Pink Eye Diagnosis & Treatment

A visit to our Wichita clinic is usually faster than a visit to the walk-in clinic. We can diagnose the cause of your case of conjunctivitis and provide the appropriate customized treatment to alleviate your symptoms.

Schedule an appointment

Our Services

Our Location

Our Address

12330 E. 21st St. N.
Wichita, KS 67206

Contact Information

Phone: (316) 315-0321
Email: info@eyegalleryks.com

Our Hours

Monday

9 AM – 5 PM

Tuesday

9 AM – 5 PM

Wednesday

9 AM – 6 PM

Thursday

9 AM – 6 PM

Friday

9 AM – 5 PM

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

Book Appointment

Testimonials

I am very pleased with my experience from entry to exit. I’m so happy I followed through with my friend’s referral to see Dr. Baldwin. Dr. Baldwin was very thorough and efficient and so friendly and listened to my concerns and wishes regarding contacts. The staff is great as well. Anna is very patient and understanding! She listened to my concerns from a few past experiences and took everything into consideration to best fit my needs for Rx sunglasses. For me, ordering Rx sunglasses is very difficult. I’m very happy to be a patient at The Eye Gallery.

Sandra

Megan Baldwin always does an amazing job with my kids! She is always super friendly, patient, and understanding and makes them feel comfortable! I highly recommend her and her wonderful staff!

Rori

Everyone in the office is friendly and professional. I needed help to choose a frame and they all helped me with good advice. The office is clean and working with COVID requirements to provide protection to all customers and workers there.

Anastasiya

Our Blog

A patient sitting behind a phoropter while their optometrist adjusts the lenses.

How Long Does an Eye Exam Take?

An eye exam isn’t just about checking your vision or picking out new glasses. It’s a comprehensive process that evaluates the overall health of your eyes and can help detect potential issues before they become serious. Besides, there are several types of eye exams, each focusing on a different area of your visual health. The […]

May 13, 2025

Children’s eye health, Diabetic eye exams, Eye Care, Eye Exam, Eye Health Conditions

How Long Does an Eye Exam Take?

A pair of sunglasses resting on a table showing multiple scratches on its lens.

How to Remove Scratches from Sunglasses?

Ever picked up your favorite pair of sunglasses, only to notice an annoying scratch right in your line of sight? It’s more than a minor inconvenience; a scratch can compromise your vision and reduce the overall durability of your sunglasses. You might be tempted to remove the scratches yourself. But DIY options often do more […]

May 2, 2025

Buyers’ Guides, Eyewear

How to Remove Scratches from Sunglasses?

A young girl with a lazy eye and an eye patch on her left eye reads on an iPad.

When Is It Too Late to Treat Lazy Eye?

Most parents believe that because their child can see things in the distance, both eyes must be functioning properly. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. They could be only using one of their good eyes and ignoring the image from the other. One of these toughest things is knowing whether your child is having […]

April 10, 2025

Vision Therapy

When Is It Too Late to Treat Lazy Eye?