When the surface membranes of the eye are irritated, small blood vessels dilate slightly in the conjunctiva, the clear membrane that covers the white part of your eye. These enlarged red-blood vessels give the appearance of a pink cast to the normally white sclera. Such inflammation is called conjunctivitis.

There are many different causes of pinkeye. Symptoms that may help provide clues as to the source of irritation may include burning, itching, stinging, pain, grittiness, crusting, discharge or sensitivity to lights.

Allergic conjunctivitis is often associated with itching, redness and excessive tearing. A stuffy and itchy nose may go along with the eye symptoms. Over-the-counter allergy drops or antihistamines may reduce these sensations substantially.

Bacterial conjunctivitis often starts in one eye and spreads by way of the hands to the other eye. A sticky or pus-like discharge is common and may result in crusting of the lashes in the morning. Sometimes the lids are literally pasted shut and require a warm wet compress to open them after sleeping. Treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis usually requires antibiotic eye drops, which are prescribed by your ophthalmologist after an examination of your eyes.

In severe cases a small sample of the mucus may be cultured in a laboratory to determine the exact organism that is causing the trouble. Left untreated, bacterial conjunctivitis may result in a deeper infection or ulceration of the cornea — the clear, front window of the eye. Such a complication may cause permanent scarring.

Viral conjunctivitis may affect one or both eyes and generally causes excessive watering and sometimes a light discharge with mild crusting of the lids. Viral conjunctivitis usually requires no specific treatment other than artificial tears for comfort. Like a cold, the symptoms usually clear within a week or so.

Contagious forms of pinkeye may be spread by coughing or sneezing, which causes a spray of tiny droplets of infected mucus to hang in the air. Direct contact with the discharge from an infected person can also transfer the infectious agent to your

Although conjunctivitis can affect people of any age, rapid spreading among young children is common in classrooms and day care settings. Careful and frequent hand washing and covering of the mouth and nose when coughing can help to stop such epidemics.

Usually, conjunctivitis is not serious, but some types may cause scarring of the eye if untreated. Substantial sensitivity to lights may be an indication of the beginning of such a serious condition and should prompt you to see your eyes.

Contact lens wearers are particularly susceptible to conjunctivitis if strict hygiene practices are not followed. Because soft contact lenses are mostly water, bacteria can get into the lenses and continue to irritate the surface of the eye over time. Swimming with contacts is a particularly high-risk activity. Any redness of the eye should prompt a contact lens wearer to remove the contacts immediately.

Prevention of conjunctivitis consists of good hand washing; covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; not sharing eye drops, towels or washcloths, makeup or mascara with an infected person; and common sense measures such as not rubbing your eyes.

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