Conjunctivitis – commonly referred to as “pink eye” or “red eye” – is caused by the inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the thin and clear membrane which lies over the white part of the eye and inner eyelid. As the common names infer, the inflammation leads to redness in these areas.
Conjunctivitis is caused by the spread of certain types of bacteria and viruses, and can be contagious in nature. The most common types of conjunctivitis are:
