Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis frequently accompanies a cold, sore throat or middle ear infection. A particular family of contagious viruses, the adenovirus, is notorious for causing conjunctivitis even without associated cold symptoms. Bacterial conjunctivitis usually looks worse than the viral variety, with more eye discharge, redness and crusting. Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are easily spread to the other eye and to classmates and family members by direct contact- a contaminated hand, wash cloth or towel. Bacterial conjunctivitis is treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointment. When a middle ear infection accompanies bacterial conjunctivitis, the oral antibiotics are secreted in the tears and will take care of the conjunctivitis as well. Since it is often difficult to distinguish viral conjunctivitis from bacterial eye infections, many physicians will also treat viral conjunctivitis with an antibiotic eye drop.

Teens with asthma, eczema, hay fever and seasonal allergies often develop red, itchy and watery eyes. Oral allergy medications, cold eye compresses and prescription allergy eye drops are usually effective. Just as an onion can irritate the eyes, exposure to environmental irritants (for example, chlorine from a pool or cigarette smoke) can cause conjunctivitis. Usually over-the-counter eye drops or elimination of the irritant corrects the problem.

Corneal Abrasions (a scratch on the eye) are among the most common eye injuries in teens. This condition occurs when the cornea is scratched by a dust particle, contact lens, finger nail or any foreign substance. Since the cornea has many nerve endings, the slightest injury causes intense pain, tearing, sensitivity to light and a sensation that a "foreign body" is in the eye. Sometimes the eye is red, but not always. If you suspect a corneal abrasion, you should be seen by your physician or taken to the emergency room. Fluorescein, an orange dye applied to the eye, allows the doctor to see the abrasion under a special blue light. Areas of the abrasion take up the stain and appear green. Although most corneal abrasions heal on their own within 48 hours without complications, antibiotic eye drops or ointment may be prescribed. A snug eye patch for one or two days will allow the cornea to heal without being irritated by normal eye blinking.

A "Black Eye" usually results from direct trauma when you fall or sustain a sports injury to the eye. The shiner is caused by bleeding underneath the skin that comes through as a purplish color. Black eyes have to be explained to everyone who sees you but fortunately will not cause lasting or serious damage. You should, however, consult a physician if you have double, blurred or decreased vision, excessive tearing or increasing pain around the eye. These could be signs of more severe injury, such as a detached retina or orbital fracture.

Ice applied to the area for 15 minutes every hour during the day will reduce the swelling and numb some of the pain. Since pressing too hard on the area will only cause further bleeding, be gentle with the ice pack! The effects of gravity will often cause both eyes to become discolored, even if only one eye was injured. The discoloration sometimes takes three to four months to disappear.

A Sty (Hordeolum) is a bacterial infection of a gland at the base of an eyelash. The blocked gland swells, producing pain and redness. Warm (as hot as you can tolerate) compresses for 10 minutes three or four times a day helps the body clean up the problem. Occasionally, the sty will come to a head as it fills with pus and then will drain on its own. Adolescent girls should avoid eye makeup while the sty is present. If there is no improvement with warm compresses in two or three days, it’s time to seek medical attention. Occasionally, an antibiotic ointment may be prescribed to help fight the infection. A sty is not contagious.

Orbital Cellulitis is an acute infection of the tissues in the bony socket around the eye. It is an extremely serious emergency that needs immediate medical attention. Symptoms include pain, protrusion of the eye, decrease eye movement, redness, swelling and a high fever of about 102-103 degrees F. The condition is usually associated with infection of the sinuses. Without treatment, this bacterial infection can spread to the brain and produce meningitis, a life- threatening infection or damage the optic nerve, causing diminished vision. These individuals require immediate hospital admission, intensive antibiotic therapy and occasionally surgery to drain the infection. The outcome is usually good if proper therapy is started in time.