amblyopia - Medical term for an eye with
poor vision despite glasses. That eye's messages to the brain
are weak, and the other eye is preferred by the brain. If amblyopia
is due to strabismus, the condition may be corrected by wearing
a patch over the stronger eye, by strengthening the weaker one.
If the condition is not corrected, the weak eye can become blind.
conjunctivitis - pink eye
Pink eye, the common
name for conjunctivitis, is an inflammation or infection of the
conjunctiva, the outer, normally clear covering of the sclera,
the white part of the eye. The eye appears pink in conjunctivitis
because the blood vessels are dilated. Pink eye is often accompanied
by a discharge, but vision is usually normal, and discomfort
is mild.
Either a bacterial or
a viral infection may cause conjunctivitis. Viruses, which are
more common and last several weeks, may cause an upper respiratory
infection (or cold) at the same time. Unlike viruses, bacterial
conjunctivitis is treated with a variety of antibiotic eye
drops or ointments, which usually cure the infection in a day
or two.
Conjunctivitis can be
very contagious. People who have it should not share towels or
pillowcases and should wash their hands frequently. They may
need to stay home from school or work and should stay out of
swimming pools.
Finally, not everyone
with pink eye has conjunctivitis. Sometimes more serious diseases,
such as infections, damage to the cornea, very severe glaucoma,
or inflammation on the inside of the eye cause the conjunctiva
to become inflamed and pink. Vision is usually normal if the
pink eye is really conjunctivitis. If vision is affected, or
if the problem does not get better in a few days, see an ophthalmologist.
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